How do we incorporate Spirituality into our everyday life?
How do we live in a way that brings forth our best self? What exactly does it mean to have a Spiritual Practice?
For many of us, daily life can have us going through the motions. Each day we get up, fulfil obligations to our families and the world, get the practical stuff done, and before we know it, the day comes to an end. For many of us, the end of the day brings a feeling of exhaustion. We collapse, sleep. And then the cycle starts all over again.
Many of us have an intention to live with more consciousness and awareness, but with the way our busy lifestyles are set up, it can seem impossible and out of reach.
So how do we ensure that we incorporate spiritual growth and evolution into everyday living?
The yogic teachings suggest that all aspirants of yoga develop their own spiritual practice. Such a practice is called a sādhana.
Sādhana is a ritualised and regular commitment to your evolution in order to know and experience something beyond the boundaries of your current existence. It is a method of self-discipline to temper the ego. A means to ensure we move forward in our evolution and grow as a human BEings, not forever DOings!
Traditionally, sādhana is a combination of physical and mental practices designed to clear the mind, and create greater alliance with the Higher Self, so that we operate with a clearer level of consciousness throughout the day.
In short, your daily sādhana is an opportunity to cultivate the greatest version of yourself and to polish the lines of communication between you and your Higher Awareness.
The more you are in communion with this deeper part of yourself, the easier it will be to hear your inner voice of Guidance. This voice is the Inner Knowing that calls you to operate from a place that is in harmony with your soul.
Your personal sādhana also serves a greater perspective too. The idea is that as we work upon ourselves as individuals, our actions will also create ripples into the world around us.
‘We but mirror the world…If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change…This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is, and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do’.
– Mahatma Ghandi
Therefore, to commit to a sādhana will not only bring tangible benefits to your life, your evolution will also make a difference to those around you. In a world where many of us feel helpless about how to create greater change, this can be an empowering and legitimate way to make a difference and create a positive effect.
How to create a personal sādhana:
1. Find a time that suits your sādhana and stick to it.
Traditionally, the morning is an ideal time to perform your spiritual and devotional practices as it is a potent way to set up the day. However, find a time that suits you best and that you are most likely to commit to.
2. Make it achievable.
Start with a small goal that you know you can achieve and then build from there. Perhaps your sādhana is a ten-minute commitment. That’s ok!
3. Make it your own.
A classic sādhana is a combination of physical practice (such as asana and pranayama), mental practice (such as meditation and chanting), and devotional practice (such as prayer or gratitude).
A modern Sādhana may also be a regular ritual of self-care, time in nature, keeping a gratitude journal, self-transfiguration or reading spiritual texts. Identify what will best suit your spiritual needs at this time.
Yogi Bhajan says:
‘What is sādhana? It’s a committed prayer. It is self-enrichment. It is not something which is done to please somebody or to gain something. Sādhana is a personal process in which you bring your best.’
We look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming One-Day Awaken Retreat, in which we’ll work through a process called ‘Yogic Life Design.’ This will give you an opportunity to identify what is needed to create balance and harmony in your daily life. Part of this process will involve creating a personalised sādhana – actionable steps in the form of a daily practice that supports you. This event is likely to sell out, so make sure you book!
Words by Nilanthi and Emma