What is sadhana?

Quote:

In explaining the line param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam of Mahaprabhu's Siksastaka, Prabhupada [here Srila Gurudeva means Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura] wrote that this is the Gaudiya Matha's mode of worship. There are three stages: the beginning stage of sadhana, the intermediate stage of bhava, and the final attainment of produced by that bhava which is called prema.

Sadhana is that practice by which suddha sattva bhava arises, and if that doesn't arise, what one is practicing cannot be called sadhana. We can all examine ourselves and see if we are practicing the sadhana which makes bhava arise or not. Are the symptoms there, or not? We may not even have proper aim in our sadhana.

If someone is striking a match, what is his aim? To obtain a flame; and if after striking one match a flame is not obtained, then he will take another match and try again. Our endeavor to reach the final attainment through the practice of sadhana is like that. Spiritual 'hunger', satisfaction, and strength (Khudanuvrtti, tusti, and pusti) - these three things should appear, and if they don't, then we are not really practicing sadhana and cannot be called real sadhakas.

Whatever we do should be done with this vision: "By performing this activity, bhava for Krsna will arise."

- from Srila Gurudeva's Sri Prabandhavali, Chapter 4


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