Finding One’s “Why” of Sādhana
Was pondering over the weekend — why does one actually do sādhana? The primary motivations I can think of:
1. A grudge against suffering — a raw pull to escape duḥkha.
2. Existential seeking — life feels hollow after running the hedonistic treadmill, so you turn inward looking for meaning.
3. Boredom fuelled by curiosity — a restless itch to answer: “Is this really all life has to offer?”
Personally, I struggle to pin down my own motivation clearly. Over time I’ve developed a kind of callousness — the everyday troubles and trifles of life don’t really touch me. Which sounds freeing, but it also means I can’t point to a sharp pain or crisis that drives me to the seat.
So I’ve been trying to find my own authentic “why.”
Curious to hear from others — how did you find yours? And for those driven mainly by curiosity: has that alone been enough to sustain a serious, long-term practice?
Sadhana aim for me - the sense organs and objects were manufactured to look outwards. By tempering them briefly and even train them to look inwards, you are allowing yourself to be on a date with Brahman.
antarmukha samaradhya, bahirmukha sudurlabha - which means look inwards as its not gonna be found outside. Any practice is essentially a way to start focusing gaze inwards and redefine "I" as something absolute rather than mere name and form.