Just a quick note about what I mean with this term because it is not often heard.
The dictionary meaning of Infrastructure is: the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
So for spiritual sadhana – what is the infrastructure that we need?
It would depend on the actual sadhana itself, but for example let’s consider meditation.
What Infrastructure do I need for my daily Meditative practice?
I would need a quiet place. Enough space so I can sit in cross legged posture with adequate empty space around. A reasonably clean place. A saatvic ambiance by using flowers, lamps, aesthetics would be helpful. Lighting needs to be properly maintained so when I close my eyes it doesn’t bore in. Some protection from the elements especially during rainy or very cold/hot climates.
Meditation is one of the simplest activities, where one just sits down in one place. But as I highlighted, when you really think about it there are a few different requirements that need to be met for a proper facility for meditation. And considering that I am always looking for a conducive place to meditate – very often on my travels I find that my personal apartment is the best place.
In India the only other avenue – are the temples, maths, kunds and a lot of other sacred spots which are maintained specifically for religious/spiritual sadhana.
How are these places sacred?
Because a lot of older spiritual seekers and enlightened beings used them for sadhana. Moreover, they have been consecrated and there are ongoing rituals to keep a certain environment and ambience around which can be more conducive for someone looking to do sadhana.
Places to Meditate or do some other Sadhana in India
As a spiritual seeker if I want to meditate in the city – in India, the temples are the best places. Yes, I know a lot of the temples aren’t very clean or as quiet as I would like. But they are much better than any other place. Gardens are sometimes available then it is an option – but there it can easily get very noisy while I am meditating. Moreover, someone can start playing ball and it may come and hit me. But in a temple, usually if someone is meditating (and there is ample space around) there shouldn’t be any disturbances.
This is true of also other sadhana.
So a lot of people think that because I visit Hindu temples I “believe in Hinduism”, it isn’t true. I am just making use of that infrastructure to meditate. I also go to Jain or Buddhist temples and meditate. And a lot of these ancient temples are consecrated and tend to be very powerful in other ways too that just helps further!
But it is not just these places, it is also the myriad rituals and traditions…
Spiritual Infrastructure is also the option of Different forms of Sadhana
I only took meditation as one example above. There are many other activities that are available through the Indian culture and religion for sadhakas. For example, fasting, idol worship, chanting, bhajans, pradakshina, meditations, giving alms and many, many more… These form a very formidable spiritual support system for the sadhaka.
I may want to go on a hill trek as a pilgrimage and then meditate on top of the hill. In India I have so many options, in almost all parts of the country. Even if I want to go solo, I have many options. There are simpler climbs like Arunachalam is 45 minutes or so with a powerful Skandasramam and Virupakshi cave on top, while the Jain Shatrunjaya mountain is a few hours of climb but again with a whole temple complex on top. I can pick and choose. Depending on the place I choose I may get water and something to eat too. That is a robust infrastructure – all these myriad options and ideas and the facilities to experience them!
In international countries where it is safer, I could trek solo somewhere and then meditate on top. It is still however not the same because if I was to trek chanting loudly or bowing down after every step it is going to stick out. If there are people around they may respond in any manner. If it is a deserted place then yes I can do my sadhana without hindrance… but I may not get any infrastructure like food or water on the way. I am just giving an example, about how our Indian spiritual/religious infrastructure helps a sadhaka. Sadhana is possible anywhere though, but the infrastructure helps. And we must cherish this.
A lot of people use this infrastructure as a reason to fight wars but they will anyway fight a war – what matters is that these can be tools for many people to move into a different level of being and existence – get beyond the sufferings of the mind. And for this reason it is invaluable.
Without the Spiritual Infrastructure
People can also reach a higher inner state through a plethora of random life activities and not necessarily a “spiritual practice” but the chances of it is much lower. At the end of day, the spiritual sadhana is an internal state. For example, the idea is not to meditate as an activity, but rather one needs to inculcate a perpetual meditative quality within. But the steps to it usually involves some active daily practice. And to be able to stick to this practice and do it in a supportive environment is spiritual infrastructure.
And the most important thing is, when one wants to improve the quality of life and inner state CONSCIOUSLY – is there an actual method to do it? Yes. It is here.
Very apt examples priyanka 😊 surely an Indian privilege to have such a great spiritual infrastructure