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Sadhana is a word in Sanskrit meaning "spiritual practice."
The inference of the word is that there is a fundamental aspect of this
life that goes beyond the merely physical, and that various practices
can be utilized to attain this transcendent view. Sadhana should
be engaged in with the object of purifying oneself. The assumption might
be made that "purifying" has only to do with outward observations
related to the body. This is only partially true. Real purification, the
goal of sincere sadhana, is to purify oneself of the idea that
one is merely this mind and body. The devotee must overcome the firm conviction
that he is an individual separate from everything seen outside himself.
Sadhana brings a person eventually to the understanding that there
are not many, but only One.
The specific practices depend somewhat on temperament,
personality and background. A devotee may be especially engaged in selfless
service, meditation, japa (repetition of a mantra), worship, study
or a combination or any of these. Swami Sivananda believed in Integral
Yoga, which involved using as many different beneficial practices as possible.
Yes, the human personality must be considered in the choice of the sadhana
and its specific aspects, but it should always be kept in mind that one
must overcome the merely personal and ultimately merge with the Absolute.
Because the path of sadhana is like treading along a razor's edge,
it is imperative to have the guidance of a qualified guru to show the
aspirant the proper way.
A very comprehensive guide to almost every aspect of
spiritual practice can be found in Swami Sivananda's book Sadhana.
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