Regardless of culture, religion, or creed, many walks of life encourage a point of transition, rite of passage, or commitment to growth. Aboriginals are known for taking the walkabout, where a young person goes into the outback alone to survive among the elements for a certain number of days. Christians sacrifice some part of their life for 40 days every year during the Lenten season. Such experiences are said to deepen one’s understanding of their own life, to bring about a shift, a change, or a catalyst for realizing one’s greater purpose.
A consistent meditation routine (sadhana) will help prepare the student for greater spiritual realization. Yogi Bhajan, a revered and honored teacher in the Sikh tradition, suggested taking sadhana for a period of forty days to heighten or intensify one’s practice. Forty Days of Sadhana is considered a deep spiritual practice in which the student makes a commitment to daily meditation and personal growth. The time period of forty days is believed in this tradition to contain a regeneration of physical elements, like blood cells, and there is an opportunity for everything, spiritual, physical, and mental, to reset. It is said one gains grace for any commitment or effort taken towards spiritual growth, regardless of the outcome. During forty days of Sadhana, Sikh students believe that the rhythm of the mind and body can become more attuned to that of the universe, a greater power, a higher consciousness, and ultimately, the Self.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras outline an eight-limbed path that is considered a guide to a divine way of being in this life. The first limb is Yama, which is the manner an individual approaches the external world and interacts with society. One element of Yama is called Brahmacharya, which literally translates as “Divine Conduct.” Associated with this Yama is an optional vow of purity taken by a yogi for a period discussed with a spiritual teacher. During this time the student maintains celibacy (often wearing white from head to toe) and practices silent meditation daily. Brahmacharya vows are often marked at the beginning and end by a practice of a puja, or devotional ceremony. For the duration of the vow, everyday action is conducted with a deeper intention of being pure at heart. With this in mind, interaction with the outside world shifts to a more gentle and calm place. Expression of anger and cursing are avoided altogether. The body is purified by regular hatha yoga practice, and a vegetarian diet free of alcohol and other intoxicants. The mind is purified by daily meditation and consistent redirection of focus from tension to the bliss that can be found inside. It is not a practice of deprivation for deprivation’s sake, but rather an approach to life that requires finding contentment, even in the most trying moments, within.
Spiritual experiences are different for everyone, and need not be part of a construct or prescribed plan. The essence of this practice is simply a personal commitment to seeking a fulfillment and happiness that comes from within. For many, the method of fasting or going without is used as a way of becoming disciplined in mind and body. Taking a step back from vices, indulgences, or even necessities, gives one the opportunity to acknowledge attachment to both tangible and intangible things. We don’t often realize the extent to which we lean on the minor aspects of our lives until they are taken away from us. Is such a state, it becomes paramount to practice mindfulness and openness, as we have to tap into at a part of our being that is not dependent upon external stimuli for soothing, problem solving, or contentment.
In looking at the many different ways there are to heighten spiritual awareness and practices, it becomes evident that the goal is the same across the board: coming to a place of contentment within that involves a connectedness to something greater than our own individual selves. When we let go of the crutches that we lean on, we have the opportunity to learn to stand on our own. Setting one’s intention towards a meditative practice can calm the urges of the mind, brings discipline to a new level, and become a new beginning in this spiritual life.