Question:

Dear Ektaji,

What is the purpose of Sadhana? Is it to strengthen my witnessing stand? 

Answer:

There is only ONE sadhana dear – The sadhana of NOT betraying one’s own true Self, as discussed in the earlier verses of Ishavasya Upanishad.
If you betray yourself, that is not sadhana, my dear.

How does one betray oneself?

1. 1. By considering oneself to have the identity of the possessor of an independently existing physical body.
   2. By considering oneself to have the identity of the possessor of a continuously existing breath.
   3. By considering oneself to have the identity of the possessor of a continuously existing mind. 
   4. By considering oneself to have the identity of the possessor of a continuously existing intellect.
   5. By considering oneself to have the identity of the possessor of a continuously existing memory.
   6. By considering oneself to have the identity of the possessor of a continuously existing ‘I’ [whether one calls it the Ego or the Soul].

Sadhana means NOT betraying oneself. How does one NOT betray oneself? 
By being true to oneself.

1. 1. Standing in one’s true WITNESSING stand means NOT betraying oneself. 
   2. Acknowledging that I-the-Witness cannot be the doer means NOT betraying oneself.
   3. Accepting that I-the-Witness cannot be the experiencer means NOT betraying oneself. 
   4. Endorsing that I-the-Witness cannot be the possessor of the world objects means NOT betraying oneself.

As the false ‘I’ must die to finally accept the above 4 truths, patiently prioritizing the ‘I’s death is Sadhana, my dear! 

What is NOT Sadhana?

1. 1. Believing oneself to be the body that does tapasya or intensive yogic physical-penance like difficult body-postures, walking on fire, self-flagellation for purification, etc, is NOT SADHANA. 
   2. Believing oneself to be the mind that does tapasya or intensive yogic concentration practices to force mental discipline until the attainment of levitation, starvation, not moving for days until environmental pests infect the body, etc, is NOT SADHANA. 
   3. Believing oneself to be the intellect that does tapasya or intensive yogic concentration practices like energy movement, breath control, etc, is NOT SADHANA. 
   4. Believing oneself to be the controller of speech that can inculcate concentration practices like continuous mantra chanting, singing praises of the Lord, etc, is NOT SADHANA. 
   5. Believing another Waker to have the power to bless your body-mind, chasing Gurus for miracles, human-worship, and requesting blessings and grace of an authoritative human, etc, is NOT SADHANA. 
   6. Believing a celestial God has the power to bless your body-mind and indulging in Idol worship, holy pilgrimages, and religious establishments is NOT SADHANA. 

P.S. If you indulged in any of these in the past, it’s wise to consider it as old, ignorant conditioning and shed it. Turning inwards, strengthen your Witnessing stand. Recognize that you ARE what you ARE! You do not have to create, build, or develop the Witness. The Witness IS! Simply recognize that you were ignoring.

What is Sadhana?

In every Gnyana Sangha book, you will see the same Sadhana page on Taking the Witnessing Stand. Letting go of old conditioning and accepting the real YOU beyond the layers of conditioning is Sadhana. Everything else is bogus, meant for those who lack the mental introversion and courage to accept the true nature of the SELF, my dear.

Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, J Krishnamurthy, St Kabir, Adi Shankaracharya, Ashtavakra all proclaim loudly that this path is for the Dheeraha – the brave one! 

Ask yourself – Am I a Dheeraha? Am I ready for the death of the false ‘I’?

#AdvaitaVedanta #Non-duality