Sadhana
Sādhana (IAST)Translation: "self-effort / spiritual discipline"
A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy
Sanskrit: साधन
Transliteration: Sādhana
Translation: "self-effort; spiritual discipline; means; the way (from the verb root sādh = "to go straight to the goal")"
Definition:- Generally "the means to release or liberation."
- Jainism is the three jewels (Tri-Ratna) comprised of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.
- Buddhism is the eight-fold path (Ārya-Aṣṭāṅga-Mārga).
- Sāṅkhya is discrimination between spirit (Puruṣa) and matter (Prakṛti).
- Yoga is the eight-limbed yoga (Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga).
- Mīmāṃsā is action (Karma) or injunction (Vidhi).
- Advaita Vedānta is ultimately right knowledge (Brahma-Jñāna), with the preliminary aids of the fourfold prerequisites (Sadhana-Catuṣṭaya) and hearing, reflecting upon, and digesting the liberating knowledge (Śravaṇa, Manana, and Nididhyāsana).
- Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta is action (Karma Yoga) and knowledge (Jñāna-Yoga), ultimately culminating in devotion (Bhakti-Yoga). The other accepted path is total surrender (Prapatti).
- Dvaita Vedānta is discrimination followed by knowledge, followed by grace (Vairāgya, Jñāna, Māhātmya-Jñāna, Niṣkāma-Karma, Bhakti, and Prasāda).
- Śaiva Siddhānta is external acts of worship (Caryā), then acts of intimate service to God (Kriyā), then contemplation and internal worship (Yoga), and finally divine knowledge of God (Jñāna).
- Vīra Śaivism is the eight protections to be observed (Aṣṭa-Āvaraṇa) and the five codes of conduct (Pañcācāra).
- Kashmir Śaivism is divine Self-remembrance (Pratyabhijñā) with the means of Anupāya, Śāmbhavopāya, Śāktopāya, and Āṇavopāya.
- Śivādvaita is contemplation (Tatkratu-Nyāya—one becomes what one contemplates) which leads to the realization of one's own true and essential nature.
Reference:
- Grimes, John (1996). A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. Albany: State University of New York Press
