I encourage you to start a sadhana and make it second nature to your being. Sadhana is a Sanskrit term that means "daily spiritual practice." This means you must commit to practicing it every day. All other practical affairs should be built on top of the Sadhana.
Here is a guiding framework for you to help make your own sadhana:
1. BRAHMA MUHURTA
- At 4 a.m., get up. Respond to nature's cries.
- Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth out.
- If at all feasible, take a bath.
- Make plans to sit for Dhyana as soon as possible, because Brahma Muhurta is ideal for God meditation.
2. ASANA
- Practice sitting in only one Asana at a time, preferably Padmasana or any other comfortable posture that allows you to sit for lengthy periods of time without causing physical strain.
- Sit in a straight line with your body, head, and neck.
- Sit for at least one hour at a stretch between 5 and 6 a.m., with no physical movement.
3. PRAYER
- Mentally prostrate yourself before Acharyas, your Guru, and Ishta Devata or Divinity of Choice.
- Pray for the happiness, serenity, and enjoyment of all beings.
- Recite a few Slokas or Hymns of prayer to generate magnificent ideas.
- Only pray for wisdom and dedication.
4. JAPA
- Mentally chant the Ishta Mantra for 5 to 10 Malas (108 beads) every day.
5. DHYANA
- Simple Pranayama should be practiced for two minutes before going into true meditation.
- Feel the Lord's presence and take on his shape inside you. Consider the Lord's traits in and around you, such as purity, love, perfection, all-pervading intellect, bliss-absolute, omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.
- Consider Ishta Devata's form right now. When your attention wanders away from your meditation object, recite the Ishta Mantra. This will help to calm the mind.
- At night, have another meditation sitting. Meditation is crucial, so don't overlook it. Regular meditation practice is a process of divinizing oneself in preparation for God realization.
6. SVADHYAYA.
- Every day, read one chapter or 10 verses of the Bhagavad Gita, or any sacred literature that can improve your psychological and spiritual culture.
7. FITNESS EXERCISES.
- Asanas, Surya Namaskara,
- Or any other effective exercise for physical movement of the body in whatever manner that is most appropriate for you should be practiced.
8. EAT LIGHT AND SIMPLE FOOD.
- Maintain a well-balanced diet.
- On Ekadasi days, fast or eat just milk and fruits or root.
- Every bite of food you consume should be offered to God.
9. SEVA OR SERVICE (BOTH DEVOTIONAL AND SOCIAL).
- Give one hour of unselfish service every day, or one or more hours on Sundays and holidays.
10. ENERGY AND POTENCY.
- For two hours each day, and four to eight hours on Sundays and holidays, practice abstinence from speaking and remain devoid of worldly ideas.
- Observe celibacy in accordance with your age and situation.
- Limit yourself to once a month for any indulgences.
- Reduce it to once a year over time.
- Finally, make a lifelong pledge of abstinence.
11. REGULATED SLEEP.
- Go to bed early, preferably before 10 p.m. It is not required to rest for more than six hours.
12. SPIRITUAL DIARY.
- Begin keeping a daily journal the day you begin Sadhana.
- At all costs, stick to your daily routine; never say tomorrow, for tomorrow never arrives.
- The spiritual journal you keep in your secluded Sadhana practice serves as an absentee Guru, reminding you to stay consistent in your everyday habits and spiritual activities.
