Sadhana

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Sadhana is the 4th chapter of Ananda Marga Caryacarya Part 1 written by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar.[1]

Chapter synopsis

In this chapter Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar told, the goal of doing sadhana or spiritual practices is the all-round elevation of human beings. He told, sadhana or spiritual practices do not teach renunciation of the world, they teach only the proper utilization of the subtle and crude potentialities.

Sarkar told, to develop a healthy body and mind, the following items must be strictly followed—

Yama Sadhana and Niyama Sadhana

One should learn special instructions regarding the items of Yama and Niyama from an ácárya/á. The potentiality of an ideal humanity is inherent in Yama and Niyama. Those who are established in Yama and Niyama attain emancipation from the aśt́apásha and śad́aripu arising from Avidyá [the extroversial force]. In this connection it is important to remember that overcoming the aśt́apásha and śad́aripu is not the same as eliminating them. In order to survive, one will have to maintain these páshas and ripus, but you should not be subservient to them, rather they should be subservient to you.

Asana

Sarkar described Asanas as postures in which one can remain in physical comfort and psychic composure. The practice of asanas cures the body’s glandular system of all its maladies and helps the mind to attain balance for spiritual practices. He also suggested that asanas should be practised only after obtaining instructions from an ácárya/á.

Pranayama

Pranayama is the scientific process to control respiration and hence the mind, as a result of which sadhana is especially facilitated. Sarkar told, there is an inseparable relationship between the váyus of the body (ten basic energy flows) and the mind. Unsteadiness of respiration means unsteadiness of mind and vice versa.

He also told, the practice of meditation becomes difficult if meditation is not properly practised. Pranayama must be learned from a tranied acarya/a, else it might be harmful.

Pratyahara

The word pratyahara literally means "withdrawal" — withdrawing the unsteady mind from the allurement of particular objects.

Dharana

Dharana is the process to concentrate the mind on a certain point.

Dhyana

Dhyana or meditation is the unbroken flow of the mind-stuff, or citta, in one continuous stream, like the flow of oil, where all the propensities of the mind are fixed on the goal..

Samadhi

Samadhi is the state in which the tendencies of the mind are completely suspended following the practice of dhyána is called nirvikalpa samádhi.

References

Preceded by
The Process of Initiation
Ananda Marga Caryacarya Part 1
With: Sadhana
Succeeded by
Táttvika, Ácárya/á, and Purodhá