Lesson 1 Summary: Why Do Sadhana?
In this foundational talk, Mark Griffin emphasizes that sadhana—spiritual practice—is the means by which the aspirant moves from discursive knowledge gathering toward wisdom itself, from potential to realization. He frames sadhana as the disciplined effort to know the Self, not through intellectual understanding, but through direct experience.
Mark explains that while the world encourages us to identify with the body, mind, and personality, the spiritual path urges us to identify with the our deepest core of true identity— the vast, eternal Self. He underscores the importance of daily meditation, concentration, and devotion as methods for awakening this deeper awareness.
Sadhana is not merely a lifestyle—it is a purifying force that clears away obstructions, awakens dormant faculties, and prepares the vessel for the grace of Realization. He also speaks to the mystery of why someone feels called to the path at all, describing that pull as the echo of the Self remembering itself.
🌀 Questions for Contemplation
Contemplation is the means by which we can “feel” our way into the deep, existential questions of life. In this way it is a mode of “thinking” that differs from discursive fact gathering —the step-by-step means by which we assemble and organize information. While this form of knowledge gathering can be crucial to our mastery of a subject, contemplation activates the intuitive faculties of mind that lead towards insight, wisdom, and realization.
Begin to observe how this ability to feel deeply into a subject differs from the more rudimentary stages of learning. Let Mark’s words move you into a space where the mind has room to integrate your own fields of deeper knowing. Towards that end each module will offer an opportunity for focused contemplation. We recommend journaling as a means to engage with these questions and to activate one’s own intuitive faculties.
Contemplate
- What first drew me to the spiritual path—and what continues to call me now?
Explore the subtle longing behind your journey. What truth or freedom are you really seeking? - In what ways do I still identify with the body, the mind, or the personality—and how do these identifications shape my experience of reality?
Begin to notice the layers of identity that veil your deeper Self. - What does daily spiritual practice clear away in me? What does it reveal?
Reflect on how consistent effort affects your inner landscape, and what this new found awareness brings to the table. - Can I feel the difference between knowledge I’ve gathered, and wisdom I’ve realized?
Where in your life has insight arisen—not from thinking, but from direct experience, and how does this differ from what I’ve learned through fact gathering?