Sadhana, a Way to God: Christian Exercises in Eastern Form

Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit spiritual director and writer, prior to his sudden and untimely death in 1987.I first read Sadhana probably 12 or 14 years ago. This time, I brought it with me into the hospital as a back-up read, but didn't start it until I came home. The book is in three sections and divided into 47 "exercises" or short chapters, and should be read over a period of time - I took almost five weeks, reading one or two exercises a day.The three sections are entitled Awareness, mostly having to do with various thought, concentration, and breathing exercises. I used exercise five for four weeks (you'll have to get the book to find out what exercise five is!)The second section is Fantasy but perhaps would be better labeled Imagination, and is somewhat Ignatian. Imagine yourself in a Gospel story, imagine you are dying and say good-bye to your body, the joyful (and sorrowful) mysteries of your life - stuff like that.The last section is Devotions, with lessons like The "Benedictine" method, the Jesus Prayer, the Prayer of Intercession.The book is very good and once read can serve as a sort of reference - go back and re-use the things you found valuable. Of course the trick is to actually do the exercises over a period of time. Time is important - it takes time for the value of these approaches to affect you. Or as some would say, to "sink in".I guarantee that when you finish the book you will NOT be able to levitate, have visions, etc, but you probably will be a calmer and saner person. Not bad.

This book is without a doubt the most important book for beginners and experienced practitioners of Prayer and Meditation.This is perhaps the greatest book ever written on prayer and meditation. As a veteran of different styles of prayer & meditation, this Sadhana was a great aid in my daily prayers and meditations, quickly accelerating my Spiritual growth through Prayer and Meditation. I was able to experience aspects of my spiritual life from these simple to complex exercises by Anthony DeMello. Anthony DeMello was a Jesuit Meditation Master, the Instrutor of the Jesuit's meditation center, who died in his sleep with no medical explaination in 1987. Most people are unaware of the Jesuits and their unique place in Priestly Orders. The Jesuits are the only priests whose Order is unique for their meditations on the life experiences of Jesus. Meditations unique in Christianity and last for days at a time. They are masters of Meditation and Prayer, and Anthoney DeMello was the Master of the Jesuit's school or retreat on meditation. Mr. DeMello was an Indian Jesuit Priest, and the long traditions of the Hindus, Buddhists, and others probably helped his Christian Religious experience. The word Sadhana can be translated from the Hindi to English as "Path to God". I know without any doubt that anyone who purchases this book will not be dissapointed.

Sadhana is a book that continuously leaves my possession into the hands of friends. It is the best written, most comprehensive book on meditation; as suitable for the beginner as it is for someone like myself who has been meditating for almost 30 years.Although deMello intended the book to be a guide for group meditation, it serves the individual as well. In Sadhana, deMello has conjoined Eastern and Western techniques whose origins include Ignatian and Benedictine methods, yoga, Zen Buddhism, and Christian mysticism. The result is 47 exercises that are broken down into three groups; awareness, fantasy, and devotion. deMello's Jesuit proficiency as a teacher is reflected as he guides the reader through each exercise.I have supplemented my meditation schedule with several of these exercises and as a result, my spiritual development has become enriched.

This book is de Mello's instructions in how to do some of the things he talks about. It is an earlier book for him. I like his personal talks on YouTube more because he really had a different approach later in his life. You like Father Tony? You'll like this, but it is different from the other things they compiled of his and put into books.

somewhere my last copy disappeared, so I had to buy a replacement. I often use the text as introductory exercises for classes I offer on adult spiritual formation. love deMello, his material is life changing in the best way possible.

a very good combination of eastern and western mystical prayer and meditation. although the book is a little more geared for those that are more catholic in orientation and wanting a more fulfilling prayer life. some good meditation exercises. the jesuit priest has a well rounded experience and background.

Fr DeMello uses eastern meditative techniques to approach material from St. Ignatius Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. The book itself is helpful, but more helpful is the cd set which one can buy -- it allows one to be "led" through the meditative exercises. All the same, this is a valuable work on Christian spirituality.

I am Christian and I teach Buddhist meditation. For those of my students who worry about straying too far out of bounds of their Christian beliefs, this book is absolutely spot-on for getting people to quiet their minds before prayer.Prayer is when I'm talking to God.Meditation is when I'm listening.Namaste and deep gratitude to Mr. de Mello

Just great

Interesting ideas...

I can see how the author was inspired by the idea of Sadhana, but he should have called his book Spiritual Practice. The author does not explain the meaning of Sadhana, or the culture or philosophy from where it came. He does not discuss or differentiate between Sadhana the intentional practice and Sadhana the philosophical stance. However, what I do find valuable in this book are the sets of spiritual practices. These offerings are thoughtful and appreciated.

Love it!

I don't know...I am not sure I can recommend this book for Christians. I have come back to my Christian faith two years ago after leaving it in my early 20s, having grown up Catholic. Since 2006, I have meditated: first, Vipassana and then I had an experience at a retreat which led me back to Christianity, where I have practiced contemplative prayer. Both vipassana and contemplative prayer are similar, but they also have important differences. In Sadhana, Anthony writes about "emptiness" and "darkness" as good things to achieve, and he recommends to "empty the mind of all content". But in contemplative prayer, and from my limited experience, a Christian doesn't empty the mind or find "emptiness" but the mind becomes full, with a lightness and a "suchness". Never a trance, always more of being in the present moment, watching thoughts. Some of his awareness exercises are definitely helpful, but not his language. And I would worry people would not learn the wonderful benefits of abiding with Christ, but would simply find some "peacefulness", as the author promotes, if doing these exercises. While peacefulness is wonderful, without God it is not. I googled him, and there is a vatican document where Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (to be Pope Benedict 16) warns against studying Anthony de Mello's work.This is the document:NOTIFICATIONCONCERNING THE WRITINGS OFFATHER ANTHONY DE MELLO, SJThe Indian Jesuit priest, Father Anthony de Mello (1931-1987) is well known due to his numerous publications which, translated into various languages, have been widely circulated in many countries of the world, though not all of these texts were authorized by him for publication. His works, which almost always take the form of brief stories, contain some valid elements of oriental wisdom. These can be helpful in achieving self-mastery, in breaking the bonds and feelings that keep us from being free, and in approaching with serenity the various vicissitudes of life. Especially in his early writings, Father de Mello, while revealing the influence of Buddhist and Taoist spiritual currents, remained within the lines of Christian spirituality. In these books, he treats the different kinds of prayer: petition, intercession and praise, as well as contemplation of the mysteries of the life of Christ, etc.But already in certain passages in these early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. In place of the revelation which has come in the person of Jesus Christ, he substitutes an intuition of God without form or image, to the point of speaking of God as a pure void. To see God it is enough to look directly at the world. Nothing can be said about God; the only knowing is unknowing. To pose the question of his existence is already nonsense. This radical apophaticism leads even to a denial that the Bible contains valid statements about God. The words of Scripture are indications which serve only to lead a person to silence. In other passages, the judgment on sacred religious texts, not excluding the Bible, becomes even more severe: they are said to prevent people from following their own common sense and cause them to become obtuse and cruel. Religions, including Christianity, are one of the major obstacles to the discovery of truth. This truth, however, is never defined by the author in its precise contents. For him, to think that the God of one's own religion is the only one is simply fanaticism. "God" is considered as a cosmic reality, vague and omnipresent; the personal nature of God is ignored and in practice denied.Father de Mello demonstrates an appreciation for Jesus, of whom he declares himself to be a "disciple." But he considers Jesus as a master alongside others. The only difference from other men is that Jesus is "awake" and fully free, while others are not. Jesus is not recognized as the Son of God, but simply as the one who teaches us that all people are children of God. In addition, the author's statements on the final destiny of man give rise to perplexity. At one point, he speaks of a "dissolving" into the impersonal God, as salt dissolves in water. On various occasions, the question of destiny after death is declared to be irrelevant; only the present life should be of interest. With respect to this life, since evil is simply ignorance, there are no objective rules of morality. Good and evil are simply mental evaluations imposed upon reality.Consistent with what has been presented, one can understand how, according to the author, any belief or profession of faith whether in God or in Christ cannot but impede one's personal access to truth. The Church, making the word of God in Holy Scripture into an idol, has ended up banishing God from the temple. She has consequently lost the authority to teach in the name of Christ.With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm.The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, at the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, approved the present Notification, adopted in the Ordinary Session of this Congregation, and ordered its publication.Rome, from the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, June 24, 1998, the Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist.