Sadhana Pancakam by Adi Sankaracarya

Hailed as the second Swami Vivekananda, Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanada (1916-1993) has left a great legacy behind for mankind. On realising the true purpose of life, he worked tirelessly and with tremendous energy for more than four decades to spread the message of Vedanta. A great orator, writer, leader, patriot and spiritual giant, he is one of the finest representatives of Indian spiritual heritage. The sprawling worldwide organisation of Chinmaya Mission carries on the torch lit by this great saint.

CCMT is delighted to present before its readers the revised edition of Sadhana Pancakam with a revamped cover and layout meeting its longstanding demand. We have also attempted to eliminate errors and have incorporated diacriticals making the book a s reader friendly as possible.

We would like to thank Chinmaya Prakasanam and Chinmaya Kalpanam for their efforts in bringing out the book.

Sadhana is the hallmark of a seeker and is the means to transport oneself into the realms of the Infinite. Suave and sublime, Sankaracarya enumerates the many components of sadhana according to philosophy of Vedanta.

In these five verses Adi Sankaracharya enumerates some 40 items that constitute the sadhana as per Vedanta. Ritualism can be a discipline only in the field of the many-dvaita. In advaita there cannot be sadhna in the form of worship, invocation, surrender or sacrifice. Yet, the student who is entangled in his mind-intellect equipment is still in the level of (PFT) the ego (jiva-bhava). He is to be shown path by which he can steadily raise his vision into the younger, beyond the frontiers of the many (BMI and OET) into one Self, the state of Peace that passeth all understanding.

Adi Sankara in these five simple looking verse lovingly lists the ways and means which can readily be followed by all students of Vedanta, seeing direct experience of the divine state, beyond the mind, the spring of Consciousness. Any seeker who sincerely follows these pointers will surely not miss his way and wander into the labyrinth of futile, self- defeating, negative arguments and false conclusions.

Sankaras shows here the great path to Truth, the path that was trodden by the innumerable Masters of vedas and the Upanisads.