How Should a Sadhaka Lead His Life?

The following points are good guidelines for a Sadhaka. They cover two main areas.

1. Guru and His Teachings

  1. Search for a Guru. You can ask around, observe, test, and clarify your doubts before deciding to follow. There is nothing wrong in doing due diligence with respect. If you find that the Guru is not compatible with you, it’s better not to proceed.
  2. Once you have chosen a Guru after the above steps, stay committed to him or her for a long time.
  3. Do not mix your Guru’s teachings with those of other Gurus. Stay with what you have been taught and avoid unnecessary confusion.
  4. Understand that each Guru may have different rules and methods, but the ultimate goal of all Self-realized Gurus is the same — moksha.
  5. If you have doubts, clarify them only with your Guru, not with others. This is very important.
  6. Follow the process your Guru gives, even if it seems to contradict other schools of thought. The method has been tested within that lineage and will work if practiced as instructed.
  7. Either believe in your Guru or don’t — avoid the middle path of conveniently selecting teachings from multiple Gurus.
  8. A Self-realized Guru is rare to find. Questioning the methods that have proven effective for them and their lineage is unwise.
  9. Sticking to one Guru, one Deity, and one philosophy brings faster and more meaningful results than following many paths at once.
  10. Avoid comparing yourself with great saints or seers who follow multiple paths. They reached that stage after mastering one system sincerely. Follow one path deeply before thinking of anything else.

2. Related to Sadhana

  1. Practice one mantra for life. Multiple mantras can confuse the mind; your subconscious can absorb only one deeply.
  2. The question of whether to perform Nyasa or not should be left to your Guru’s decision. Simply follow what is instructed.
  3. The mind is like a monkey, jumping from one thought to another. Japa makes this monkey stay on the same branch, gradually purifying it.
  4. Pranayama quietens and stabilizes the mind; Japa purifies it; Meditation dissolves it.
  5. When the mind dissolves in meditation, you reach a state of samadhi, where realization happens.
  6. Do not expect immediate results from your sadhana, or even results at all. The outcome depends on karma, which plays an important role.
  7. Only when karma decreases will sadhana begin to show its effects. Still, no sincere effort ever goes waste — even if results are not visible now.
  8. Ego is one of the greatest obstacles to meaningful spiritual growth.
  9. Siddhis (spiritual powers) are useful only for realized beings, who use them selflessly for the good of others. For ordinary seekers, they can increase attachment and distraction. It is best to ignore siddhis.
  10. Anger can destroy years of progress in a moment, wasting the energy that should be preserved for spiritual growth.

This article is written by Shri Jayanth Chandramouli who can be contacted at Jayanth@manblunder.com