Dr. Svoboda explains the Sanskrit word “sadhana,” or to accomplish, in this short video.

Sādhanā is an interesting Sanskrit word because its literal dictionary meaning differs from the way it is commonly used today.

Literally, sādhanā means the achievement of an end or goal. Today, it often means a method used to reach a goal. This appears to turn the end into the means, but, as Vimalananda used to say, the end can never justify the means because the end is the means. There is therefore no contradiction between sādhanā as a means and sādhanā as an end.

When you perform sādhanā, remember that its purpose is to accomplish your aim. It is important to have an aim or goal, whatever it may be. In a world where attention is scattered and focus is often absent, we need to create adequate focus and profound attention within ourselves so that our sādhanā can be successful.