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The Integral Sadhana

Posted August 8th, 2008 by Robert MacNaughton in Integral Sadhana

An Integral Life in Practice

In this blog I will share thoughts, data, and projects related to my Integral Life Practice. Whether short-term goals or lifestyle visions and plans--this feed is my public-facing, accountability-generating outlet for all my experiments as they arise, fall-apart and hopefully feedback into successive iterations.

I was originally introduced to the word "Sadhana" by one of my Naropa yoga teachers as he was outlining our structured practice for the semester. After doing a little research, I found many other definitions; but the word most simply means: "Spiritual practice." One of my favorite definitions that I found stated that a sadhana is a training through which a form is meditated on in preparation for formless practice. To me this translates as working with structure before I can live spontaneously--without consistently being controlled by my lower self in the moment.

Feedback in the form of comment threads will help me as I continue to develop these practices and as we eventually develop community co-created structures that folks new to ILP can use to help develop their own practices in the future.

 

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personal Sadhana

Posted August 11th, 2008 by Jason Digges

Robert,

I have heard you use the term Sadhana a few times, and have formed my own internal definition.  I think of it as "an intentionally rigerous practice for a defined period of time."  For instance I chose a period of 1 month to meditate everyday upon first waking.  I would set a timer and sit for the first 15 minutes of my day.  This was a learning experience for me because I normally meditate for an hour 2-3 times a week in the evenings or on days off.  I no longer do this every day but it did help me learn something about my own relationship to the practice of meditation.

I have had the most success with Sadhana in terms of diet.  Try eating NO SUGAR for 3 weeks.  Its really hard.  but if you can do it, you can influence your food choices permanently toward eating healthier.

What makes a sadhana integral?  perhaps the interpretive framework through which one decides to take on certain practices.  And also the learning that occurs during and after the practice is completed.

 

 

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Jason Digges Video Designer