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?
Great question. Personally I don't find too much use for putting it in words, sometimes I do, but anything I write down or say usually changes over time. But I do practice and find immense value in simply feeling it... like a fire or a drive that is usually in my chest, when I pray, it's just this feeling that I let express itself in words, the content of which can vary massively from day to day. When I sit down to practice, I recall this feeling, or knowing, or longing. For me, this has always been the most authentic 'why'.