Sadhana (साधनम्)
Sadhana (Samskrit: साधनम्) is a term widely used in the Vedantic and Yoga texts to primarily represent instruments or means which are helpful in leading an aspirant to experience the higher states of consciousness.
Sadhana in the practical context is always used to indicate the essential preliminary (human) discipline that leads to the attainment of the spiritual experience which is regarded as the summum bonum (the highest good or Siddhi, i.e., completion and perfection) of existence. Sadhana includes all the religious practices and ceremonies that are helpful to the realization of spiritual experience, and therefore may be regarded as the practical side of religion, as distinguished from the discussion of the theories of the relation of divinity to man and the universe and other such topics which constitute the theoretical aspects in the domain of philosophy. Sadhana is that by which "Siddhi" or perfection is attained i.e., the instrument of perfection.[1] An aspirant is a Sadhaka who
परिचयः ॥ Introduction
It is well known that there exist distinct theoretical and practical aspects of Indian philosophical systems as manifested in the different sampradayas. There is an essential connection between theory and practice, and Sadhana has a place in both philosophy and theology, emphasizing the true significance of the course of discipline prescribed by the different religious systems for the attainment of spiritual realization.
Philosophy grows out of an experience which is more or less intuitive, and a philosophical system is an elaboration of the experience through reason. Reason can justify the experience, can at best show the experience to be consistent, but cannot yield the experience itself which transcends reason. Here we find the need for sadhana. It is sadhana which makes the realization or the experience possible.[1]
The inherent division between thought and being, idea and existence, which modern psychologists recently noticed, was long before perceived by the Indian Seers, and was sought to be healed up by Sadhana. All the theories on the nature of truth except the Vedantic one fail to recognize that the slightest interval between idea and reality is an impediment to the attainment of truth.[1] The idea exists because of the real, not that the real exists because of the idea. But the Vedantic argument for the existence of Brahman (ब्रह्मन्) is not open to any such charge. Brahman or the Absolute is not merely an idea that is supplied by reason, it is reality or "vastu" which is anubhava-gamya (realized in experience). While Brahmatattava is very subtle in its nature, it is to be recognized (as applicable in this present context) as svayamprakasa and svayamvedya - self-luminous and not revealed or proved by anything else (hence exclusion method of neti-neti is used). Here the Ontological Argument takes a different turn. It is not manana or reason
व्युतपत्तिः ॥ Etymology
Derived from the root साधँ in the sense of संसिद्धौ, Sadhanam (साधनम्) is Kridanta term having the ल्युट् pratyahara.[2]
According to Shabdakalpadhruma, Sadhanam is defined as साध्यते कर्म्म निष्पाद्यतेऽनेनेति साधनम् । that by which any work is achieved or attained. In general usage, Sadhanam literally means "that by which something is performed" or more precisely "a means to an end".
According to the Apte Sanskrit English Dictionary[2] a few other meanings of Sadhana are given below.
--1 Accomplishing, effecting, performing; as in स्वार्थसाधनं.
--2 Fulfilment, accomplishment, complete attainment of an object; प्रजार्थसाधने तौ हि पर्यायोद्यतकार्मुकौ R. 4. 16.
--3 A means, an expedient, a means of accomplishing anything; शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनं Ku. 5. 33, 52; R. 1. 19. 4. 36, 62.
--4 An instrument, agent; कुठारः छिदिक्रियासाधनम्.
--5 The efficient cause, source, cause in general.
--6 The instrumental case.
--7 Implement, apparatus.
--8 Appliance, materials.
--9 Matter, ingredients, substance.
--10 An army or a part thereof; Mu. 5. 10.
--11 Aid, help, assistance (in general).
--12 Proof, substantiation, demonstration.
--13 The hetu or middle term in a syllogism, reason, that which leads to a conclusion; साध्ये निश्चितमन्वयेन घटितं बिभ्रत्सपक्षे स्थितिं व्यावृत्तं च विपक्षतो भवति यत्तत्साधनं सिद्धये Mu. 5. 10.
--14 Subduing, overcoming.
--15 Subduing by charms.
--16 Accomplishing anything by charms or magic.
--17 Healing, curing.
--18 Killing, destroying; फलं च तस्य प्रतिसाधनं Ki. 14. 17.
--19 Conciliating, propitiating, winning over.
--20 Going out, setting forward, departure.
--21 Going after, following.
--22 Penance, self-mortification.
--23 Attainment of final beatitude.
--24 A medicinal preparation, drug, medicine.
--25 (In law) Enforcement of the delivery of anything, or of the payment of debt, infliction of fine.
In the context of this article, sadhana is used in a technical sense as the means of achieving Brahmajnana, and here the discussion is about the essential characteristics that lead to the attainment of the highest spiritual experience.
ब्रह्मज्ञानसाधनन्तु नित्यानित्यवस्तुविवेकेहामुत्र- फलभोगविरागशमदमादिसम्पन्मुमुक्षुत्वम् । इति वेदान्तसारः ॥[2]