Sādhanā

(Quoted From Wiki)
Sādhanā (Sanskrit साधना, literally "a means of accomplishing something")^[1] is spiritual practice.^[2] It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.

Kinds of Sādhanā

ādhanā or spiritual practice need not be directed towards a higher cause like enlightenment or moksha. Sādhanā can be done by individuals for lower aims like obtaining worldly pleasures. Sādhanā is also done by a group for the society at large.

Sakām sādhanā

Sakām sādhanā (Devnagari = सकाम, sa = yes / with, kām = desire) is spiritual practice done for worldly pleasures. This is the lowest form of sādhanā. There is no spiritual progress with sakām sādhanā. Examples of sakām sādhanā are praying for any worldly goals like getting money, a job, marriage or any other aim which are temporary and will not last beyond death.^[7] In Ramayana it was mentioned that though Ravana and Kumbhakarna were great devotees of Shiva and performed various tapas, they were performing sakām sādhanā as their main aim was to become powerful and rule the world.^[8]The fruits of this kind of spiritual practice are used to fulfillthe worldy desires of the individual and no spiritual progress takes place. Thus it is not possible to reach enlightenment, moksha or even heaven as the merits needed to achieve this are used up. So sakām sādhanā provides only temporary happiness and no spiritual progress.^[9]

Niṣkām sādhanā

Niṣkām (Devnagari = निष्काम, niṣ = no / without, kām = desire) sādhanā is spiritual practice done for higher aims. It is done to achieve the aim of enlightenment or moksha. It is done for the spiritual upliftment of the individual so that he is taken out of the cycle of life and death (samsara).^[10]

Vyaṣṭi sādhanā

This is niṣkām sādhanā done for one's own spiritual upliftment. No one else is benefitted except the person doing vyaṣṭi sādhanā. Thus this form of spiritual practice is an individualistic practice. This form of sādhanā is very important if one wants to do samaṣṭi sādhanā.^[11]

Examples of vyaṣṭi sādhanā

Chanting God's name (nāmjap)

1. Meditation
2. Karmayoga
3. Hathayoga
4. Reading books on Spirituality

Benefits of vyaṣṭi sādhanā

1. Spiritual Progress
2. Increase in Sātvikta
3. Increases Bhaava(faith)
4. Increases the talmal (Desire for God)
5. Lower level Anubhuti (Spiritual Experiences)

Pitfalls of vyaṣṭi sādhanā

Note: These pitfalls exist if the sādhanā is done without a guru and if not accompanied by samaṣṭi sādhanā.

1. Ego can increase
2. Needs a lot of time for little spiritual progress
3. One can lose motivation as fast progress is not achieved

Samaṣṭi sādhanā

This is the kind of niṣkām sādhanā which is done collectively for the spiritual progress of entire humanity. It is the highest level of sādhanā. For samaṣṭi sādhanā to be maintained, vyaṣṭi sādhanā is a must. The same logic that a teacher must read the book first before teaching the students can be applied to this.^[12] In Kaliyuga, samaṣṭi sādhanā is important as the people do not know the significance of sādhanā. This kind of sādhanā is more difficult and increases the sātvikta of the entire area. Samaṣṭi sādhanā is not possible without a guru.

Examples of samaṣṭi sādhanā

1. Taking satsangs
2. Helping in organising satsangs, meditation camps, etc.
3. Telling others about spirituality.
4. Helping others overcome ego by telling them their mistakes from the point of view of spirituality.

Benefits of samaṣṭi sādhanā

Samaṣṭi level sādhanā is more difficult compared to vyaṣṭi but it has added benefits.

We become closer to God

1. Faster Spiritual progress
2. Love for all living beings (prīti) increases
3. Superior level spiritual experiences (anubhutis)
4. After death we go to higher planes of existence ( swarga or heaven and beyond )
5. Ego and Personality Defects can be easily removed
6. Movement from saguna to nirguna

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