How can spiritual awareness be cultivated?
To cultivate spiritual awareness, one must move from tamas to sattwa. This is the definition of spiritual awareness, of spiritual realization. Identify not with the changing and craving nature of the mind but with the pure, luminous and peaceful nature of the mind. The journey from tamas to sattwa is the spiritual journey. This is the essence; this is the secret of spiritual life.
The process which takes one from tamas to sattwa has a name, and that is sadhana. Generally, when the word ‘sadhana’ is used, people identify it with a spiritual discipline, a spiritual practice. However, sadhana means attainment of perfection in that which one does.

What is the role of mind management in sadhana?
The regulation of sensory and mental behavior is known as sadhana. Sensory education takes place at the physical level, the sensorial level and the interactive level. It is an interactive process: you and the world.
Sadhana is a process that leads to mastery and perfection. It is a type of discipline, as without discipline no sadhana can be achieved or fulfilled. Therefore, the main subject and focus of sadhana is the preparation of the mind. The mind is always being directed outward, and this mind has to be retrained. Keeping the mind happy does not mean allowing it to follow its whims. It means not coming into direct confrontation or conflict with the mind. The mind must be guided just as one would guide a child to do certain things, to behave and act in a certain manner.

 

 

In this way, guide the mind, but do not fight with the mind. The moment one fights with the mind, one becomes the loser; there is disturbance and loss of peace, shanti. It is mental training that allows one to discipline the mind and, after that discipline, to embark on the path of sadhana. The management of the mind and entry into sadhana begins with the cultivation of mental awareness and by knowing, “What is my mood at present? How is that mood or mental condition making me behave, act and respond? Is it an appropriate or inappropriate response? Is it a positive or negative interaction?” This understanding has to come first. When one knows how the mind responds, certain disciplines can begin to be incorporated into the mental behaviour; through discipline, the patterns of thought, the patterns of expression and the patterns of understanding can be changed.

Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, Bhakti Yoga Book 6

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A guide to sadhana in daily life

How can spiritual awareness be cultivated?
To cultivate spiritual awareness, one must move from tamas to sattwa. This is the definition of spiritual awareness, of spiritual realization. Identify not with the changing and craving nature of the mind but with the pure, luminous and peaceful nature of the mind. The journey from tamas to sattwa is the spiritual journey. This is the essence; this is the secret of spiritual life.
The process which takes one from tamas to sattwa has a name, and that is sadhana. Generally, when the word ‘sadhana’ is used, people identify it with a spiritual discipline, a spiritual practice. However, sadhana means attainment of perfection in that which one does.

What is the role of mind management in sadhana?
The regulation of sensory and mental behavior is known as sadhana. Sensory education takes place at the physical level, the sensorial level and the interactive level. It is an interactive process: you and the world.
Sadhana is a process that leads to mastery and perfection. It is a type of discipline, as without discipline no sadhana can be achieved or fulfilled. Therefore, the main subject and focus of sadhana is the preparation of the mind. The mind is always being directed outward, and this mind has to be retrained. Keeping the mind happy does not mean allowing it to follow its whims. It means not coming into direct confrontation or conflict with the mind. The mind must be guided just as one would guide a child to do certain things, to behave and act in a certain manner.

 

 

In this way, guide the mind, but do not fight with the mind. The moment one fights with the mind, one becomes the loser; there is disturbance and loss of peace, shanti. It is mental training that allows one to discipline the mind and, after that discipline, to embark on the path of sadhana. The management of the mind and entry into sadhana begins with the cultivation of mental awareness and by knowing, “What is my mood at present? How is that mood or mental condition making me behave, act and respond? Is it an appropriate or inappropriate response? Is it a positive or negative interaction?” This understanding has to come first. When one knows how the mind responds, certain disciplines can begin to be incorporated into the mental behaviour; through discipline, the patterns of thought, the patterns of expression and the patterns of understanding can be changed.

Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, Bhakti Yoga Book 6