Sadhana: An Introduction

Written by Administrator Tuesday, 01 June 2010 19:15

Sadhana (Tib: sgrub thabs ) literally means "method of accomplishment". In a general spiritual context it is another term for "spiritual practice". In the more specific context of (Hindu and Buddhist) tantric liturgy it means "procedure for practice", usually emphasizing the development stage. The typical sadhana structure involves a (1) preliminary part including refuge and generating bodhichitta, (2) a main part involving the (self- or in in-front-) visualization/generation of a buddha and the recitation of the mantra(s), and (3) a concluding part with dedication of merit to all sentient beings.

Sadhanas are usually composed by authoritative teachers and vary quite a bit in length (and scope). There are long or extensive, medium-length, and short or abbreviated ones. As rule of thumb, most Nyingma and Kagyu sadhanas tend to be shorter than their Sakya and Gelug counterparts, mainly because the latter employ a gradual, very detailed (self-) generation of the deity, whereas in the former employ very often an "instantaneous arising" of the deity, foregoing a detailed account of the looks and implements. There are also differences depending on the purpose of the sadhana. A daily practice for a particular deity may be just two pages long whereas the retreat and/or self-initiation sadhana of the same may span over some fifty or more pages. When taking on a new practice it is usually recommended to start with the long sadhana, and only when you have familiarized yourself with it sufficiently switch to a shorter one.

Preliminaries
The preliminary part of a sadhana can have two parts: (a) General and (b) Special Preliminaries. General Preliminaries can (but don't have to) contain: Lineage Prayer/Supplication, Refuge, Generation of Bodhichitta, the Four Immeasurables, the Seven-Limb Prayer, long or short Mandala Offering, Vajrasattva Meditation (for purification; sometimes with breathing exercises), and some form of Guru Yoga (e.g. the Ganden Lha Gyama ).

Specific Preliminaries are found mostly in Anuttara Yoga Tantra practices, such as Yamantaka, Chakrasamvara and Guhyasamaja. They may contain: Instantaneous Arising (as a Sahaja for m of the deity), Consecration of the Inner Offering , Consecration of Torma Offerings, Consecration of the Outer Offerings to the Self-Generation, Meditation on various forms of the

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Sadhana: An Introduction
Written by Administrator Tuesday, 01 June 2010 19:15

Protection Wheel, and the Dissolution (of the Sahaja deity).

Main Practice
The main part of a sadhana unsually starts with the Mediation on Emptniness (through the SVABHAVA mantra). It is followed by either the Generation as Deity, or, in the case of multi-deity mandalas, the Visualization of the [Mandala] Residence and the Visualization of the [Mandala] Residents; followed by the generation of a Body Mandala if the practice calls for it. Various offerings, supplication, requests, etc. may also be part of the Main Practice. At the end of it comes the Mantra Recitation, maybe followed by the Request for Forbearance through the recitation of the Hundred-Syllable Mantra. It closes with the Dissolution of the deity.

The Three Kaya Meditation

In the Gelug tradition every sadhana of the Highest Yoga Tantra class contains the Three Kaya Mediation woven into the main part of the practice. In this meditation we cultivate experiences similar to those we have when we die by imagining that we perceive (1) the signs that occur during the death process, from the mirage-like appearance to the appearance of clear light; (2) going through the bardo state; and (3) being reborn (as pure being in a pure realm). The bases to be purified are death, intermediate state, and samsaric rebirth; the methods to purify them are: - Taking Death into the Path of Dharmakaya - Taking the Intermediate State into the Path of Sambhogakaya - Taking Rebirth into the of Nirmanakaya

In the Downloads section an example of(an extremely abbreviated  Yamantaka Three is Kaya Mediation 51.6 kB ) (for registered users only). More on the Three Kaya Mediation .

Conluding Practices
The conluding part of a sadhana usually consists of some form Praise and/or Prayers; and always the Dedication (of one's merits tro the benefit of all sentinet beings). It may also containTorma Offerings to various deities and/or protectors, etc.

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Sadhana: An Introduction
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