Sadhana Panchakam, Introduction

Translation and Commentary by Jayaram V

Introduction

About 35 years ago, I happened to listen to a three-day discourse on Sadhana Panchakam by Swami Chinmayananda. I was then working as a direct recruit officer for a major public sector undertaking, and was posted to a remote town in Andhra Pradesh on my first assignment. A colleague of mine invited me to the event, and I thought it would be a good diversion.

I forgot everything the Swamy said or I heard. All that I remember was sitting cross legged on the floor in open, listening to his strong and forceful voice, and the advice I was given at the beginning of the discourse, each day for three days. All the attendees were to remain totally silent and make no noise. If the Swami heard even a little sound, he might stop speaking and walk away.

Decades later, I chanced upon the small booklet, containing the five slokas of Shankaracharya, which was given to the attendees at the beginning of that event. I do not even remember how and why it followed me to the USA, and how it remained with me all these years. Probably it was inside some other book. I thought it was divine providence that I should return to it and reexamine it in my own way in the light of my previous studies and my current understanding.

Therefore, I am now presenting this ancient teaching of Adi Shankara, known as Sadhana Panchakam or the fivefold spiritual practice. Each sloka contains eight suggestions or instructions. The five slokas together contain 40 useful instructions. They are sufficient for any initiate or a yogi to engage his or her mind and body in spiritual practice and experience oneness with the true self.

The fivefold knowledge is a transformative yoga of wisdom and enlightenment (jnana yoga) in itself. It is simple, direct, easy to understand, practical, and rooted in the wisdom of the ancient rishis, munis, yogis and masters. Most instructions are universal which can be practiced by anyone belonging to any spiritual tradition or religion. It is also a holistic approach, which aims to transform the mind and body for the ultimate experience of mental absorption, unified consciousness, oneness or self-realization.

There are numerous translations of Sadhana Panchakam. As I have done in the past, I have done this translation and commentary as a part of my own sadhana and contemplative, spiritual inquiry. It was also an opportunity for me to practice satsang with the wisdom of Adi Shankara. I dedicate this work to Maha Shiva, the teacher of all and my very soul and consciousness.

Jayaram V
Hinduwebsite.com

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