Sadhana Panchakam

Sadhana Panchakam is a short work of five verses written by Sri Adhi Sankara.  In these five verses Sri Sankara has listed 40 sadhanas.  The literal meaning of sadhana is “the means to sadhya”, sadhya meaning goal.  The sadhanas listed here are for achieving the highest sadhya, Moksha or Liberation. Each verse contains four lines and the sadhanas are listed  two per line. The sequence of sadhanas is like the ascending steps in the ladder, leading a sadhaka progressively to the goal of Moksha.  So this work is also called “Sopana Panchakam”.   The entire teaching of Advaita Vedanta is packed in these five verses as instructions and so the work is known as “Upadesa Pancha Rathnam” and also as “Upadesa Panchakam”.  The instructions were for the guidance of his disciples but they are valid even today with a little modification to fit the changed times, for all the mumukshu sadhakas.  For each verse the meaning is given in the list form of instructions for practice.

Verse 1

vedo nityamadhiyatam taduditam karma svanusthiyatam
tenesasya vidhiyatamapacitih kamye matistyajyatam |
papaughah paridhuyatam bhavasukhe doso nusandhiyatam
atmeccha vyavasiyatam nijagrhatturnam vinirgamyatam ||

01. Study the Vedas (scriptures) daily .
02. Perform diligently the karmas  prescribed by the scriptures .
03. Treat all those actions as worship unto GOD.
04. Gradually give up performance of kamya karmas
05. Filter from your mind sinful adharmic likes and dislikes .
06. Recognize the inherent defects of material pursuits and sensual pleasures.
07. Seek the knowledge of Self with constant and consistent effort.              .
08. Get out from the bondage of activity and attachments.

The scriptures are the ultimate Pramana (source of knowledge) regarding Dharma (righteous duties) and Moksha (Liberation) and they prescribe a wide range of duties to people based on their age, gender, class, station, and inner inclinations.  The performance of these duties will in turn help the performer attain purification of the mind (chitta-shuddhi) which is essential to absorb the Vedantic teachings at a later date.  They also must be performed as nishkamya karmas with Iswararpana buddhi.  The sadhaka should be alert to eschew adharmic thoughts as well because thoughts are the seeds for future actions.   The sadhaka should understand the inherent defects of worldly pursuits and sensual pleasures namely, dukha mistritatvam, mixed with pain; athriptikaratvam, not fully satisfactory; and bandhakatvam, enslaving one to addiction and turn his full attention to spiritual pursuits, namely the seeking of Athma Jnanam.  He should develop vairagyam and free himself of attachments and associated activities.

Verse 2

sangah satsu vidhiyatam bhagavato bhaktirdrḍha dhiyatam
santyadih pariciyatam drḍhataram karmasu santyajyatam |
sadvidvanupasrpyatam pratidinam tatpaduka sevyatam
brahmaikaksaramarthyatam srutisirovakyam samakarnyatam || 2 ||

09. Seek the company of wise and holy people.
10. Be established in firm devotion to GOD.
11. Gain qualities such as sama, dama etc.
12. Give up karmas that are desire ridden actions.
13. Seek Knowledge from a Sat Guru .
14. Serve The Guru .
15. Ask for Brahma Vidya .
16. Listen in depth to the Upanishadic declarations.

A Sadhaka must cultivate Satsangha as being in the company of holy and spiritual persons is conducive to spiritual growth.  In unswerving devotion to the Lord, one’s mind, intellect and the whole personality gets integrated and purified and one’s mind gets fit to absorb the knowledge of one’s True Self.  The qualities of sama,dama, uparama, titiksha, sraddha, and samadanam when acquired help to develop an equanimous mind that can endure the pairs of opposites; heat cold, likes dislikes, pleasure pain etc without complaints, a sadhana that will be prescribed later (in verse 4, no.29).  Mundaka Upanishad defines a Sat Guru as one who is both Strotriya (having Sastric Jnanam) and Brahma-Nishta (firmly established in Brahman).   Serving such a Guru helps remove one’s ego and acquire values in life.  Under this Guru’s guidance one should enquire into the Upanishadic statements

Verse 3

vakyarthasca vicaryatam srutisirah paksah samasriyatam
dustarkatsuviramyatam srutimatastarko nusandhiyatam |
brahmasmiti vibhavyatamaharahargarvah parityajyatam
dehe hammatirujhyatam budhajanairvadah parityajyatam || 3 ||

17 . Analyze the meaning of the main Upanishadic teachings  (Maha Vakhyas).
18 . Perform such analysis by sticking to scriptures.
19 . Keep away from vain arguments .
20 . Follow the reasoning of the scriptures .
21 . Always be absorbed in the attitude ( bhav ) " I AM BRAHMAN " .
22 . Renounce pride, vanity and arrogance.
23 . Give up the delusory misconception " I am the body " .
24 . Do not argue with wise ones.

One should conduct enquiry (vichara) into Maha Vakhyas that reveal the the identity of one’s Self with Brahman.  While making this enquiry one should take care to follow the line of reasoning of the Upanishads and steer clear of distorted reasoning and wrong logic.  After the sravanam and mananam stage one should engage in nitidyasanam.  At that stage one should guard against developing Vidya garvam that he has acquired Jnanam;  give up completely identifying with his body; avoid arguments with wise persons trying to impress upon them with his knowledge; but only keep on contemplating with the attitude that he is Braman with the upadhi of body-mind complex.

Verse 4

ksudvyadhisca cikitsyatam pratidinam bhiksausadham bhujyatam
svadvannam na tu yacyatam vidhivasatpraptena santusyatam |
sitosnadi visahyatam na tu vrtha vakyam samuccaryatam
audasinyamabhipsyatam janakrpanaisthuryamutsrjyatam || 4 ||

25. Consider hunger as a disease.
26. Treat hunger, the disease, by taking bhiksha food as medicine.
27. Seek no delicious food.
28. Live contentedly with whatever comes your way as prasadam .
29. Endure the pairs of opposites; heat cold, likes dislikes, pleasure pain etc..
30. Avoid wasteful talk.
31. Be indifferent and avoid groupism.
32. Do not get attached to either someone's kindness or criticism.

When taking Bhiksha annam he should take it as if it is the medicine to treat his disease of hunger.  Since it is taken as a medicine there is no craving for variety or for pleasing taste in the food he gets.  Besides he should develop prasada buddhi in Biksha annam. As stated earlier he should accept opposite experiences of life unperturbed.  In mixing with others he should take care - to avoid wasteful time-passing talks or arguments; not to identify himself  with non-spiritual groups; not to be swayed by sympathy or praise and not to get annoyed with criticism.  These instructions are for getting stabilized in Athma Jnanam in nitidyasanam , attaining vasana kshaya.

Verse 5

ekante sukhamasyatam paratare cetah samadhiyatam
purnatma susamiksyatam jagadidam tadvadhitam drsyatam |
prakkarma pravilapyatam citibalannapyuttaraih slisyatam
prarabdham tviha bhujyatamatha parabrahmatmana sthiyatam || 5 ||

33. In solitude also, live happily.
34. Keep your mind focused on GOD.
35. Realize and see the Self in everything, everywhere.
36. Recognize the Universe as a finite projection of the Self.
37. Through Jnanam destroy the Sanchita karma.
38. Through giving up doership and enjoyership avoid Agami karma.
39. Experience and exhaust the Prarabdha karma.
40. Live absorbed in the bhava "I AM BRAHMAN " .

The first four instructions are for one who has attained Brahma Jnanam to mature into a Brahma Nishta, as in the previous verse.   He should be as much happy and joyous in solitude as in an agreeable company, preferring solitude to company.  As he becomes a Brahma Nishta there is no moment when in his subconscious mind he is free of the thought that he is not the body-mind complex but he is the all-pervading Brahman.   He gets the Sarvathma Bhava through which he sees everything and everyone as only an extension of his Self and even the world he views as a finite projection of his Infinite Self.  The instructions 37 to 40 describe what happens to one as a Brahma Jnani.  His accumulated karmas from countless previous births, Sanchitha karma, gets liquidated as the Ahamkara that accumulated the karmas is no more, being destroyed by Athma Jnanam.  Since he has no karthruthva bhava and bhokthruthva bhava (doership and enjoyership) Agami Karma also does not accrue.  Only balance of Prarabhdha karma that brought about his birth stays and at its exhaustion through living he attains Videha mukthi.   Until its exhaustion at Videha mukthi  he stays in the body with mind in Brahman only and  “I am Brahman” is the one Bhava that comes to govern thereafter in all his actions, feelings and thoughts. 

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