While your mind will naturally take you off course and away from your pure Self, your mind is also the key to your liberation – because it conjures the thought to enroll you in the path to freedom. Picture your mind as a vibrant landscape, where each thought and desire plants a seed that can either flourish into a beautiful garden or conjure a tangled thicket.
In this inner world, desires take two forms: those that elevate and those that bind – those that are noble – focused on enlightenment and love, and those that are base – devoid of light and love.
The noble desires, akin to rays of sunlight, guide you toward enlightenment and freedom. They are the seeds of compassion, love, and a deep yearning for spiritual growth. These desires illuminate your path, clearing the way for a journey filled with purpose and liberation.
On the other hand, base desires such as lust, envy, vengeance, and greed are like shadows that obscure the beauty of your inner garden. They cloud your understanding and hinder your progress on the spiritual path. Recognizing these desires for what they are is the first step toward transformation.
“I am no longer the wave of consciousness thinking itself separated from the sea of cosmic consciousness. I am the ocean of Spirit that has become the wave of human life.” ~ Paramahansa Yogananda
Some might say that most of our desires are tainted – but you can cleanse your desires through thoughtful scrutiny and discernment. You can dissect each desire before taking action on it. If you use a simple method of evaluation, you can determine which aspects of each desire should stay and which should be removed. You are the master of your desires, if you wish to be.
Many of us thrust into our desires the moment they emerge. We barely pause to breathe before embracing even the most base desires. We believe that our natural urges are continuously working in our favor, but they are not. Our natural urges are born from an unmonitored ego and mind. These urges respond to chemicals running through our bodies, not our most divinely inspired intentions.
Each thought you have is either a gift or a hindrance. It’s up to you to evaluate it in the moment – and take care to pause if the thought is working against your peacefulness and divine nature.
From our thoughts, we establish intentions. From intentions, we conjure actions. From our actions we create our lives. Be careful with each thought that arises so that you are continually protecting the present moment and the path ahead.
What Is Sadhana & How Does It Help?
Sadhana, or spiritual practice, cultivates a profound and illuminating exploration of the soul and helps us establish streams of noble desires. Tending to your garden with care in this way, a calmness will blossom as a sign of your spiritual evolution.
When we practice Sadhana through meditation, chanting mantras, engaging in prayer, performing rituals, practicing yoga, offering selfless service, smiling, or loving others unconditionally, we open our hearts to universal joy and a blissful consciousness. With practice, our lives become vibrant tapestries emanating divine light and love to benefit all Creation.
Sadhana, in its myriad forms, is not merely a set of practices but a way of life that guides us back to our true Selves. It is a journey that begins with a single step towards inner transformation, leading us through the false and stuck layers of our Being, to the core where our spirit resides. In this sacred space, we find clarity and purpose, and our daily actions become reflections of our love of The Divine.
Meditation, the primary modality toward our liberation, is a profound tool for transforming the mind, offering a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond the moments of stillness. At its core, meditation cultivates a deep sense of inner peace, clarity, and awareness, enabling individuals to navigate the complexities of life with greater ease and resilience. By regularly engaging in this practice, one learns to quiet the incessant chatter of the mind, become a witness to thought, thereby reducing stress and enhancing overall well-Being.
Meditation helps us release emotions and dissolve the cores of our traumas. Over time, it improves focus, creativity, and emotional intelligence. As we become more present and attentive to Now, we develop a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us, enriching our experiences and relationships. Meditation is the most profound pathway to spiritual growth.
In essence, the value of meditation lies in its ability to transform our relationship with our minds, opening the door to a life marked by peace, purpose, and profound joy.
“The more space you create between your body, mind, and spirit, the more your focus rises into the heart and crown chakras, inviting non-linear, non-physical, divine, and other extraordinary experiences.” ~ Shri Krishna Kalesh
As we chant mantras, the vibratory energy resonates within, harmonizing our inner frequencies with the universe. This alignment brings forth a sense of unity and belonging, reminding us that we are not isolated entities but integral parts of the cosmic whole. Prayer, in its sincere form, becomes a dialogue with The Divine, where our fears, emotions, challenges, hopes, and gratitude are shared, fostering a relationship built on faith in the eternal and providing nature of The Cosmos.
Rituals, physicalized metaphors of our union with The Divine, with their symbolic gestures and offerings, connect us to the traditions and wisdom of the past, anchoring us in the present with a conscious acknowledgment of our power and presence. Yoga, as a holistic practice, unites body, mind, and spirit, offering a physical and metaphysical balance that radiates health, purity, divinity, and serenity.
Selfless service, or Seva, allows us to step beyond the confines of our ego, to touch the lives of others in powerful ways. This act of giving without expectation purifies the heart and cultivates compassion and empathy, qualities essential for spiritual transformation. Smiling, a simple yet profound gesture, has the power to break barriers and build bridges, spreading joy, inspiring hope, and fostering the birth of light and love in the world.
Loving others unconditionally is perhaps the most challenging yet rewarding aspect of Sadhana. It asks us to look beyond the surface, to recognize and honor the divine spark in every Being. This love, free from judgment, projection, and expectation, heals and transforms us all, creating environments where kindness flourishes.
“Stand up tall. Do not be afraid any longer. There’s nothing that can hurt you. There’s nothing in this world that can actually do anything to you. You are free. You are the substratum of all existence. Everything is an image on Consciousness. The whole universe, all the planets, all the galaxies, are all images, on consciousness, and you are consciousness. Know yourself and be free.” ~ Ram Dass
When we commit to Sadhana, we invite light into our lives, dispelling the shadows of doubt and fear. Our perspectives shift, our relationships deepen, and our actions gain meaning. Challenges become opportunities for growth, and setbacks, lessons in resilience. We learn to embrace each moment with gratitude, seeing the beauty in the mundane and the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Our lives, enriched by these practices, become beacons of hope and inspiration for those around us. We realize that happiness is not a distant goal but a present reality, accessible through the simple act of turning inward and extending outward with love and compassion. In this way, Sadhana becomes not just a practice but a celebration of life itself, a testament to the transformative power of love and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Approach Sadhana with an open heart and tempered mind. Be ready to embark on this journey of Self-discovery and freedom. This will elevate you as you contribute to the upliftment of the world, creating a legacy of love and peace that transcends spacetime.
From Broken To Divine Mind
Our fears and worries, those shadowy figures that often loom large in our minds, are indeed creations of our own making. Before they took root in our consciousness, they were non-existent, mere potentialities that we breathed life into through our thoughts and perceptions.
This realization is both sobering and liberating, for it reveals that just as we have the power to create our fears, we also possess the power to dissolve them.
At our core, we are Beings of light, embodiments of peace and love. This is our natural state, our most authentic self. However, over time, our minds, like gardens untended, can become overrun with the weeds of negative thinking, past traumas, and societal conditioning. These influences distort our perception of reality, leading us to view life through a lens of fear and scarcity rather than one of love and abundance.
“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
Our apparently broken minds are not inherently flawed but simply misguided, having lost their way in the dense forest of egoic illusion (Maya). The fears and worries we experience are not reflections of the world as it is but projections of our inner turmoil. They are phantoms, devoid of substance, yet they wield immense power over us, clouding our judgment and leading us away from our divine intentions.
The journey back to our pure Selves, to a life of peace and fulfillment, begins with the recognition of our fears as creations of the mind. By observing our thoughts without attachment, we can start to see these fears for what they truly are – transient, insubstantial, and ultimately, conquerable. This practice of mindfulness, a key aspect of Sadhana, allows us to detach from the mental narratives that feed our anxieties and to return to the present moment, where peace resides.
Engaging in positive perspectives, meditation, and other spiritual practices can help reprogram our minds, replacing fear-based thinking with thoughts rooted in love, gratitude, and trust. As we cultivate a more loving and compassionate relationship with ourselves, our perception of the world changes. We begin to see opportunities where we once saw obstacles, and our problems become less intimidating, more like puzzles to be solved with creativity, patience – even laughter. Yes, laughing at ourselves can go a long way!
In this light, our fears and worries are not curses but imagined disruptions. If we can command them into nothingness, we can grow our faith and deepen our connection with The Divine. Our mental perseverations remind us that we are still allowing the mind and ego to rule the day.
Truly, we are not bound by the creations of our minds unless we choose to be. In every moment, we have the choice to return to love, to align our thoughts, words, and actions with our most divine intentions, and to live a life of peace, hope, and limitless potential.
“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” ~ Ram Dass
In this way, we not only liberate ourselves from the shackles of fear and worry – but also light the way for others, proving that a life beyond stress and anxiety is not only possible, but our birthright.
Imagine your purified mind as a clear, tranquil lake, reflecting the sky above without a ripple. This calmness is not just a state of mind but a beacon guiding you forward. You can live in partnership with this beacon, continuously hearing its call and responding with right thought, right intention, and right action.
Dive deeply into your heart with your purified mind and a resounding peace and clarity will emerge. When we allow this to happen, we embolden our resolve to become Self-realized.
Enlightened Masters On Desire
Sri Ramana Maharshi, Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi), and Paramahansa Yogananda, though coming from distinct spiritual backgrounds, share common ground in their understanding of desires and suffering. Each, in their unique way, addresses the root causes of suffering and the role of desires in the spiritual journey.
Sri Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi taught that not all desires inherently lead to suffering; rather, it is only the base desires that lead to suffering, while the noble desires illuminate our lives toward liberation. the attachment to the outcomes of these desires that causes pain.
Maharshi might ask a seeker to inquire, “Who is it that desires?” By deeply investigating the source of desire within the Self, one realizes that true happiness and peace are not found in the fulfillment of desires but in the recognition of one’s true nature as the pure eternal Self (Brahman), extending far beyond the ego, mind, and their cravings.
Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)
Amma, with her boundless compassion and love, might approach this question by acknowledging the natural human experience of desire but would also highlight the importance of discerning between transient pleasures and the deeper longing for spiritual fulfillment. She could explain that desires rooted in the ego and materialism lead to suffering because they are insatiable and fleeting.
Even in death, we are confronted with the loss of the results of our desires and that all desires are not real. She teaches that the desire to grow spiritually, serve others selflessly, love unconditionally are expressions of The Divine within us and lead us toward true happiness and liberation from all suffering.
Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda, with his teachings on Kriya Yoga and Self-realization, differentiated between worldly desires, which can entangle us further in the cycle of karma and rebirth, and divine desires, which propel us toward our ultimate goal of union with The Divine. Yogananda often taught that by practicing meditation and living a spiritually-focused life, one can transcend lower desires and cultivate divine desires, thus reducing suffering and moving closer to God-realization.
“The mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it.” ~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Finally
Our desires are born from our essence. If we are purifying ourselves daily, our desires become purified. This results in less suffering and further cements our habits and path toward enlightenment.
By embracing Sadhana, our spiritual practices, we embark on a transformative path, gently unraveling the false and concreted layers of our Being to uncover the essence of our true nature.
Through these ancient practices, you will eventually distinguish between the transient cravings of your ego and your soul’s deeper yearnings for a divine and fulfilling transcendence.
Begin with just a few minutes of meditation and prayer each morning and evening. This will help you lay the foundation for habits that blossom into preferences, guiding you ever closer to embodying your purest Self amid purified desires.
This simple, yet profound, commitment to Sadhana can illuminate your heart and mind, and transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Over time, your daily practices can lead you to the realization that within you lives an infinite wellspring of peace and a constant flow of boundless love from The Cosmos to YOU.
Nourish your connection to your spiritual essence, one breath at a time, one moment at a time, one day at a time, and so on. You are far more expanded than you realize.
You will love The Shankara Oracle as it will take you deeply within yourself and connect you with your pure, divine Self.
