Textual Tuesday

Hari Om

The schema of study devised at Chinmaya Mission is the subject of this post each week. To see all texts referred to, click the label below ("SuggtdReading")

The next text suggested for you to consider studying is the SAADHANA PANCHAKAM, which is deceptively small but packed to the gunnels with words to live by!

This little text is a complete description of living a spiritual life. The title is translated as 'daily practice in five verses.' Each of the five shlokas is broken into eight padas (sentences), bundled into four lines per shloka. Each of those eight contains an instruction. Thus, everything from how to begin to advanced practice and outcomes is depicted here in forty steps.

The very first line states clearly that one must study the scriptures daily; the second injunction is that one follow the instructions in those scriptures and the duties they allot; the third step is that one performs all actions as a worship to the Higher and then the fourth is that in doing these things, one purifies one's mind in readiness for higher knowledge.

Just those opening stanzas alone take much to practice, and the shloka goes on to acknowledge that daily living must also be attended to... A tiny text with enormous potential!