Sadhana: practice to achieve the discriminative discernment

Pedro Nonell: facilitate access to knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita Book (Yoga of Wisdom, Gandhi, Sivananda) Pedro Nonell
Swami Vidya Prakashananda: Author Gita Makaranadam
Sri Ramakrishna, Harmony, so many paths, so many religions Swami Vivekananda Vision: Liberating humanity from ignorance (Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta)
Bhagavad Gita recited in Spanish (Pedro Nonell) and Sanskrit with music (Dr Ghazal Srinivas) Recitation of the Bhagavad Gita in Spanish (Pedro Nonell)
Bhagavad Gita Course (Philosophy of Yoga) according to Gandhi, comments Sivananda) in Spanish
☰

Discriminative discernment (Knowledge, Bhagavad Gita): practice or discipline (Yoga Sutras Patanjali)

Dhyana Yoga Course

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita (Samadhi Pada, Vibhuti Pada, Kaivalya Pada)

The Sadhana Pada of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali contains 55 Aphorisms or Sutras.

It focuses on the analysis of the constant practice or discipline (Sadhana) to follow to achieve the discriminative discernment (in the Bhagavad Gita it is called Discriminative knowledge - Jnana), that is, discerning the Seer (consciousness) from its objects and obstacles.

It is a common term throughout the philosophy of Yoga, Raja Yoga (Sankhya), Buddhism, Jainism... For the Dalai Lama, Sri Ramakrishna assimilated the Sadhanas of different religions:

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa: Incarnation of Divinity (Dalai Lama)

In the Bhagavad Gita, Sadhana is understood as the practice that facilitates detachment, and that can be followed in any of the paths of yoga:

  1. Karma Yoga (Selfless Action)
  2. Bhakti Yoga (Devotion)
  3. Dhyana Yoga (Meditation)
  4. Jnana Yoga (Knowledge)

Swami Vivekananda stated that Sadhana was the synthesis of the four Paths of Yoga:

Swami Vivekananda - Philosophy of Yoga of Synthesis - Bhagavad Gita

  1. Impurities (Mala) can be removed by following the path of selfless action (Karma Yoga)
  2. Mental wanderings (Vikshepa) can be eliminated through devotional path (Bhakti Yoga)
  3. And the veil (Avarana) produced by ignorance can only be removed through the path of knowledge (Jnana Yoga)

Bhagavad Gita in Spanish Sadhana (Sutras) práctica, discriminative discernment.

Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles


Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles

In the Sadhana Pada two systems of yoga are defined:

  1. Kriya Yoga
  2. Ashtanga Yoga ('eight limbs of yoga')

The difference between Karma and Kriya is very subtle. From a point of view of the Yoga Sutras we could say that Kriya Yoga refers to those internal actions, that is, carried out with the mind.

In the Bhagavad Gita no distinction is made between external or internal actions, any activity that human being does, even breathing is Karma. Nishkama Karma means action performed without any expectation of fruits, it is the pillar of the path of Karma Yoga.

Bhagavad Gita 3.4 Karma Yoga of Selfless Action

You only have the right to Work, not its fruits. Gita 2-47 (Sankhya Philosophy of Yoga)

Liberation through Karma Yoga (Philosophy Bhagavad Gita)

Swami Vivekananda - Karma Yoga: purification of the mind through work

We could conclude that Karma Yoga includes Kriya Yoga.

Kriya Yoga in the Yoga Sutras is a preparation for Ashtanga (with three special elements of the Niyamas, second branch):

  1. Tapas: austerities
  2. Tapas: austerities
    Svadhyaya: means self-knowledge or self-study of the scriptures or Shastras. The Bhagavad Gita is a Gita-Shastra, a Moskha-Shastra and also a Yoga-Shastras. Therefore, the study of the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita or the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is recommended
  3. Ishvara Pranidhana: devotion to god or pure consciousness

These three elements are also widely explained in the Bhagavad Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita-Shastra is Yoga. Bhagavad Gita is Yoga-Shastra

The Bhagavad Gita explains that there are three types of austerities or Tapas based on the Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas

For example, the concept of Tapas or austerity is found for example in verse 14 of Chapter 17 - The Yoga of the Threefold Faith:

"Homage to the gods, the Brahmins, the Gurus and the sages; purity, righteousness, Brahmacharya and Non-violence (Ahimsa), constitute the austerity (tapas) of the body." Bhagavad Gita 17.14

This chapter also explains those types of austerities (Tapas) contrary to the Sastras (rules). In Chapter 18 we see that we must not abandon the Tapas since they purify man:

Bhagavad Gita 18-5. Acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be abandoned, they purify the wise

In the first verse of Chapter 16 - The Yoga of Distinction of Divine and Demoniac Nature of the Bhagavad Gita both Tapas and the study of the Shastras are also mentioned:

“Courage, purity of heart, steadfastness in Jnana (knowledge) and in yoga: knowledge and action, charity, self-control, sacrifice, spiritual study (Shastras), austerity and righteousness” Bhagavad Gita 16.1

The philosophy of work applied in the Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda is based on emphasizing work (Karma Yoga) rather than austerities (Tapas).

Swami Sivananda affirmed about Saddhana and austerities

“Unnecessary torture of the body in the name of Tapas (austerities) is very despicable. This is Asuric Tapas (demonic austerities), it is of ignorant people. He is condemned by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. The body is the mobile temple of the Lord. It is an instrument for self-realization. You cannot do any Sadhana if the body does not remain strong and healthy.” Sri Swami Sivananda.

Ishvara

In Chapter 11- The Yoga of the Universal Form of the Lord of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna tells Sri Krishna:

Thou art verily as Thou hast described Thyself, Parameshvara (Parabrahman)! Bhagavad Gita 11.3
Parameshvara (Parabrahman)

The concept of Ishvara as Creator God, Supreme Person or even personal God is also found in the Bhagavad Gita, for example in verses 9 and 11 of Chapter 11 - The Yoga of the Universal Form of the Lord

Thou art verily as Thou hast described Thyself, Parameshvara (Parabrahman)! Bhagavad Gita 11.3
Parameshvara (Parabrahman)

With these words, the great Lord of Yoga, Hari, revealed His supreme form as Ishvara Bhagavad Gita 11.9
Universal Form as Ishvara, Yoga of the Supreme Person

Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles

Ashtanga Yoga, or the Yoga of the eight limbs. It is structured in Yamas (ethical rules), Niyamas (self-discipline), Asana (yoga postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal) and Dharana (concentration)

In Chapter 2 of the Yoga Sutras, five “indirect aids” are described for the purification of the mind and understanding:

  1. Yamas (restrictions or ethics of behavior)
    1. Ahimsa (Nonviolence)
    2. Satya (truthfulness)
    3. Asteya (Do not steal)
    4. Brahmacharya (Chastity)
    5. Aparigraha (Non-possession)
  2. Niyamas (observances):
    1. Saucha (Cleaning)
    2. Santosha (happy)
    3. Tapas (Austerity)
    4. Svadhyaya (self-study)
    5. Ishvara Pranidhana (Devotion to the Lord)
  3. Asana: A physical posture in which one can be firm and comfortable
  4. Pranayama: control of Prana (breathing)
  5. Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses
  1. Non-repetition of the Yoga Sutras
  2. Length of the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras
  3. Bhagavad Gita (Shruti), Yoga Sutras (Smriti)
  4. Style: Yoga Sutras (formal), Bhagavad Gita (poetry)
  5. Bhagavad Gita (dialogue), Yoga Sutras (scientific text)
  6. Philosophy of Yoga and Vedanta
  7. Spiritual Science (Para-vidya)
  8. Science and the Philosophy of Yoga



(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell

Religions, Ethics, and Global Business

Top of page