The Meaning of Sadhana
By Sara Dechen Lhamo
The word sadhana, refers to a spiritual routine. It is a Sanskrit word that means a spiritual practice we do on a routine basis. Yogapedia defines sadhana as: “[T]he discipline of routine spiritual practice and the routine surrendering of the ego through activities such as meditation, yoga, chanting or prayer."
Believe it or not, this is actually related to the word “religion”. The word “religion” comes from the Latin word “religare” which means “to bind” and later “religio” which means, “obligation, bond, reverence”. To do something “religiously” is to have a *routine.* This is also related to the word “regulate”. To have a routine is to place an obligation on our time. And in spiritual practice what we are often trying to do is regulate (or bind) our worst impulses and encourage our better ones.
Real religion, true religion, is a spiritual practice done "religiously". In other words done every day: a spiritual routine, or sadhana. If one has a spiritual routine (sadhana) that they practice every day, or on a regular basis, to improve themselves and make themselves a kinder, and better person: that is a religion. The reason this is so, is because becoming a better person takes deliberate effort. And deliberate effort to be effective takes regular practice. And hence, the purpose of a sadhana.
A lot of people who claim to be spiritual, don't actually have any routine that they do, that they actually regularly practice, that makes them a kinder, better person. And a lot of people who claim to be religious, don't have a spiritual routine that they do either. (Or in some cases, if they do practice something, it's a routine that may actually make them a worse person!)
True Religion, a true spiritual practice; has both: both an actual spiritual practice done on a regular basis, (a spiritual routine, a sadhana): and one which results in the practitioner becoming a kinder, better, more compassionate person. If either of those two elements is missing: it's neither a functional spiritual practice, nor a functional religion.
"Real religion, true religion, is a spiritual practice done "religiously". In other words done every day: a spiritual routine, or sadhana."
Many people are afraid of the word religion. Or highly averse to it. This is because they’ve seen the abuse that people do in the name of organized religion. Some of these people have been subject to this abuse, or witnessed it first hand. But it needs to be mentioned, that these abuses are a perversion of religion, —of a spiritual routine, and not the true purpose. Indeed, the term has become something of a pariah in the West, largely because of such abuses. However it needs to be noted the previously mentioned two essential elements of a true spiritual practice: that of having a routine spiritual practice (a sadhana), and one that actually results in one becoming a wiser, better, kinder person. In fact, that’s the reason we give religions tax-exempt status at all: because they provide an organized system of routine, where people congregate, and are supposed to become kinder, better people.
Some people think that Buddhism is not a religion. Well, the reason why it is a religion, is because it has sadhana. Every branch of Buddhism has some form of spiritual practice that is done as a routine. Otherwise Buddhism wouldn’t work. Whether it be Nichirin practitioners chanting their "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo;” or Zen practitioners who have a daily sitting and meditation practice; or Theravadins who have their regular practices of Dana and prayer; or Vajrayanists with their regular tantric visualizations: every branch of Buddhism has some form of sadhana. And, if we remember the second part of it, the second key ingredient; is that in most of these cases, these practices, these sadhana, result in the people doing them becoming kinder, better people: then this is what the true purpose of religion is. This is what the true purpose of any yogic or spiritual practice is; —to become kinder, better people.
"[T]he true purpose of religion is... ...to become kinder, better people."
And this is key, and often misunderstood about religion. People assume because they’ve had their concepts raped by religious abuses; that there is no proper purpose of religion at all. And that the only thing left is to throw the entire concept out and only have mental philosophies, or “ways of life”. But there is a true purpose to religion, to a true spiritual sadhana. And this is it’s true meaning: to be a form of spiritual routine that makes us kinder, better people. And that is it’s true function. If you think of religion as an organized school, or system that teaches sadhana, (that teaches a true spiritual routine), and has experts and various proficient practitioners in it (priests, teachers, etc), who share and pass that on: that is a religion. And if people congregate, and hear the teachings and learn the practices of that school, learn their sadhana, —that is a spiritual practice right there, that is a religion.
So the next time you hear someone say Buddhism isn’t a religion: maybe stop and think about what the true purpose of religion, is. Is it to manipulate and abuse others? Or is it to provide a regular spiritual routine that makes us kinder better people? And when you think about that, consider asking if the forms of abuse that many people consider religion, even really are at all? Or if perhaps they’re just charlatans wearing the name?
Something to consider. Perhaps the problem is not the term “religion” itself: perhaps we need to update our concept of it, and go back to the original meaning, and consider that these forms of abuse we consider religion, may not be at all, or at least not true religion. For if they were a true religion, a true spiritual practice, routine, or sadhana, they would result in people becoming kinder, better people now wouldn’t they? And that is something to consider indeed.
Perhaps we need to rethink what religion really is, and give it a “software update” so to speak. Or if people think the term needs to be abandoned, and has too much baggage attached to it? Perhaps a replacement can be suggested. Why not sadhana? It’s what a true spiritual practice really means anyway.
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Homage to the Buddha
Homage to the Dharma
Homage to the Sangha
© 2019, Sara Dechen Lhamo
