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

by Anthony de Mello

Christian Exercises in Eastern Form

Truly a one-of-a-kind, how-to-do-it book, this small volume responds to a very real hunger for self-awareness and holistic living. It consists of a series of spiritual exercises for entering the contemplative state -- blending psychology, spiritual therapy, and practices from both Eastern and Western traditions.

Anthony de Mello offers here an unparalleled approach to inner peace that brings the whole person to prayer -- body and soul, heart and mind, memory and imagination. In forty-seven exercises that teach things such as awareness of physical sensations, stillness, healing of hurtful memories, and consciousness of self and world, de Mello succeeds in helping all who have ever experienced prayer as difficult, dull, or frustrating. The essential key, he notes, is to journey beyond mere thought-forms and discover satisfying new depths in prayer from the heart . This allows for a greater sense of awareness amid silence, and disposes the one who prays to untold riches, spiritual fulfillment, and ultimately, a mystical experience of God-centeredness. Drawing on Scripture, as well as insights from Eastern and Western spiritual masters, the author has a unique appeal that transcends time, culture, and religious background.

For many years a bestseller in the English language, Sadhana has now been translated into more than two dozen foreign languages. Readers the world over have eagerly received this sincere spiritual leader, who has led many toward the wealth of insight and spirit that dwells within them.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Catholic, Christianity, Christian, Theology

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality. An internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, writer and public speaker, de Mello hosted many spiritual conferences.

The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.

In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... 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."

Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 ever since. 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 his exercises. While peacefulness is wonderful, without God it is not. I googled him, and there is a vatican document where Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict 16) warns against studying Anthony de Mello's work.

This is the document:
NOTIFICATION

CONCERNING THE WRITINGS OF
FATHER ANTHONY DE MELLO, SJ


The 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.

[Salome · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started to read this book, it was less religious than I expected but if that it's disappointed to you, I suggest to have an open mind about it, because the exersices actually are helpful to pray; many times it's hard to concentrate or stop thinking to much, and that could make hard to hear the voice of God, so the first exercises could help. But my favorite were the ones what help you to heal pain, or speak with Jesus, or imagine yourself in a biblical history. I love it

[Kusnady dharmawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

...difficult...only easy to read...

[Beryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Anthony de Mello's challenges, the way he thrusts ideas in your face and tells you to take it or leave it. One can't cling to safe old beliefs in his presence. He doesn't care whether you listen or not. It's up to you to take what you want and discard the rest. As a matter of fact he tells you to junk it when you've reached that point of inner silence where God dwells. Sadhana is a step by step introduction to silence. The final section of the book contains exercises that include religious sentiments for those who remain uneasy in the Dark Night.

[Edward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A way for the Christian seeker to practice and affirm a personal spiritual meditation. A model based on an Eastern tradition, to engender a contemplative inner state and lasting simplicity. The author, Anthony de Mello, S.J. gives to his readers, a rich history to the contemplative process that adopts from the Hindu tradtion to his Christian faith. He offers the reader a place to integrate and come to synthesis an easy step by step process to journey, and widen one's depth in the spiritual practice.

[Tiia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harjoituksia, jotka etenevät asteittain kehontarkkailusta mielikuvaharjoitteisiin saakka. Päämääränä on yhteyden tunne (jumaluuteen) ja siten rukouselämän vahvistuminen.

Teos sopii eri poluilla kulkeville, vaikka kirjoittaja onkin jesuiittapappi. De Mello ammentaa paljon itämaisesta meditaatioperinteestä. Jeesus on mukana etenkin loppupään harjoituksissa, mutta ei-kristityllekin kirja on antoisa, jos vapautuu ajattelemaan Jeesusta vertauskuvallisena hyväntahtoisuutena. Harjoitus 23: symboliset mielikuvat oli oma suosikkini, etenkin jälkimmäinen; "kuvanveistäjä".

[Ashley Vaughan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1054. The Christian religion, due to cultural and theological differences, is undergoing a Great Schism as the Latin church of Rome forces Eastern Orthodox churches in its jurisdiction to conform to Papal governance or else close. In retaliation, Constantinople enforces the closure of Roman churches in the East and the geographical landscape of worldwide Christianity is forever split in two. Western Christianity would later diverge further under the Protestant Reformation of Martin Luther et al, while the Eastern church continued to operate under the rule of the Ottoman and Russian Empires and latterly Communist rule, in much the same way the original church had functioned under oppressive Imperial Roman rule. Truth can be found in both traditions and others besides, whilst both have their issues and inconsistencies as well. In super-simplistic, reductionist, terms, the Augustinian notion of original sin adopted and extrapolated further by the likes of Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin in the Western Church is not a feature of Eastern Christianity. Human beings, to the Eastern Orthodox mindset are not ‘totally depraved’, inherently hell-deserving sinners in need of salvation and restoration to the image of God only available through the gruesome death of Jesus, but are rather image-bearers of God, created inherently good and whole, yet sometimes prone to waywardness and self-centredness that can lead to the pain of ostensible separation from God/the Whole.

I have been interested to read that the teachings of Anthony de Mello have been warned against by the Catholic Church, notably by the recently deceased Pope Benedict XVI, in spite of the fact that, in this book at least, his language is distinctly, deliberately and unapologetically Christian. He talks of ‘God’, of ‘Christ’, and the power of prayer, using words like ‘intercession’ and forming a clear distinction between ‘contemplation’ and ‘prayer’. It is clearly written for a western Christian audience and many of the practices (it is an almost entirely practical book) would presumably not feel alien or out of place to a reader from the Eastern tradition. Whilst he draws inspiration from Hindu and Buddhist traditions, he seems at great pains to re-claim such practices as he describes for Christian devotional utility. De Mello’s is a mystical approach, which serves to use Christian prayer and contemplation as a means of deepening presence and groundedness and experiencing deeper joy, peace and love as well as efficacy in prayer. It seems odd then, that Christians would have a problem with this kind of teaching, but apparently many do.

This is not the sort of book that I would go to for deep and profound spiritual or theological insights, though there are some, but is rather a practical guide; a sort of ‘how-to’ written by an experienced mystic and leader of spiritual retreats. Meditations in the book range from the sublime (cultivating awareness of breathing, bodily sensations and audible sounds) to the outright ridiculous (imagining your own decomposing corpse as a means of contemplation). I think it would be more suitably used as a guide for groups to work through together than as a book to read from cover to cover the way I did, but that said, I enjoyed some of the deeper poetic timbre of the text. Not least of these incidents was de Mello’s insight about listening to ‘the deep silence at the heart of all sounds’. This line alone for me is worth an extra star in the review and is the main thing I take away from the book. Overall, not bad. I felt that even at a mere 140 pages, it was still longer than it needed to be, but it does what it sets out to do. Whether that’s to annoy religious people of a certain ilk or to inspire spiritual awakening in others is up for grabs. It seems to do both.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE RETEAT MASTER PROPOSES A NUMBER OF EXERCISES

Jesuit Anthony de Mello wrote in the Introduction to this 1978 book, “I have spent the past fifteen years of my life as retreat master and spiritual director helping people to pray. I hear dozens of people complain that they do not know how to pray; that, in spite of all their efforts, they seem to make no progress in prayer; that they find prayer dull and frustrating. I hear many spiritual directors confess helplessness when it comes to teaching people how to pray or, to put it more exactly, how to get satisfaction and fulfillment from prayer. This always amaze me because I have found it relatively easy to help people to pray… I attribute it to some very simple theories that I follow in my own prayer life and in guiding others in the matter of prayer. One theory is that prayer is an exercise that brings fulfillment and satisfaction and it is perfectly legitimate to seek these from prayer. Another is that prayer is to be made less with the head than with the heart. In fact, the sooner it gets away from the head and from thinking the more enjoyable and the more profitable it is likely to become. Most priests and religious equate prayer with thinking. That is their downfall.”

He continues, “A Jesuit friend once told me that he approached a Hindu guru for initiation in the art of prayer... the guru said, ‘The air you breathe is God. You are breathing God in and out. Become aware of that, and stay with that awareness.’ My friend… discovered, to his amazement, that prayer can be as simple a matter as breathing in and out… The exercises I propose in this book are very much in line with the approach of that Hindu guru… I have frequently proposed these exercises to groups of people. I call them… ‘Contemplation Groups’… If you plan to conduct a Contemplation Group and use this book as text, all you have to do is take the text of each exercise and read it slowly to the group and have the group follow the instructions you read to them… 0These exercises are no substitute for personal experience and spiritual expertise. But they will serve as a good beginning, and they will certainly do you and your group some good…”

In one exercise, he observes, “Most people have trouble with distractions during their awareness exercises, so I want to say something here about how to deal with these distractions. You may find it a help… to keep your eyes not closed but slightly open…Another help … is, believe it or not, having your back erect. I have as yet discovered no scientific reason for this. But I am convinced from my own and others’ experience that this is so.” (Pg. 23-24)

He makes a distinction between “two types of prayer, the devotional and the intuitional. Intuitional prayer would coincide roughly with what I called contemplation, devotional prayer with what I called prayer. Both forms of prayer lead to union with God. Each of them is more suited to some people than to others… Devotional prayer too is geared to the heart, for any prayer that limits itself to the thinking mind alone is not prayer really but, at best, a preparation for prayer.” (Pg. 37)

He acknowledges, “When you first start out on the type of contemplation proposed in the exercises that have preceded, you are likely to have misgivings regarding the value of these exercises. They seem to be neither meditation nor prayer in the traditional sense of the words. If prayer is understood as SPEAKING WITH GOD, there is very little or no speaking at all here. If meditation is taken to mean reflection, lights and insights, resolutions, then there is hardly any scope for meditation in these exercises… This form of prayer is particularly painful to the young and to those who set great store by achievement---people to whom effort is more important than just being.” (Pg. 56)

He observes, “Each of us carries in his heart an album of lovely pictures of the past: memories of events that brought gladness to us… This return to past scenes where you felt love and joy is one of the finest exercises I know for building up your psychological health.” (Pg. 71-72)

In another exercise he suggests, “Imagine now that you have said your final farewells to everyone before you die and you have just about an hour or two of life left. You have reserved this time for yourself and for God… Talk to each of the limbs of your body: your hands, your feet, your heart, your brain, your lungs… Say a final farewell to each of them… Love each one of your limbs… Now imagine that you see Jesus near you. Listen to hm thank each of the members of your body for the service it has given you in life…” (Pg. 96)

He states, “Most people are familiar with the distinction between vocal prayer and mental prayer. Vocal prayer is popularly considered to be prayer that is recited. Mental prayer is generally considered to be prayer that is recited. Mental prayer is generally considered to be prayer that is made with one’s mind and heart. Vocal prayer is also frequently thought of as more apt for beginners in the spiritual life, for people who are not develop0ed enough mentally to go in for serious reflection, and so it is thought of as a form of prayer that is decidedly inferior to mental prayer. The popular opinion in this matter is quite erroneous. It was only toward the Middle Ages that this clear-cut distinction between vocal and mental prayer was made in the Church…” (Pg. 111-112)

He observes, “Petition was almost the only form of prayer that Jesus taught his disciple when they asked him to teach them to pray. One can hardly claim to have been taught to pray by Christ himself if one has not learned the practice of petitionary prayer.” (Pg. 128)

This book will appeal to those interested in spirituality.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieses Buch eignet sich nicht zum Durchlesen, eher zum Durcharbeiten.

Ich habe die deutsche Ausgabe "Meditieren mit Leib und Seele" gelesen. Als Christ mit evangelikal-konservativen Wurzeln gehört Meditation und Stille von Haus aus nicht zu meiner spirituellen Praxis. Trotzdem habe ich noch an dieses Buch gewagt. Und ich war erstaunt, dass mir einige Übungen aus meiner Gebetspraxis vertraut schienen.

Ich habe das Buch als große Bereicherung erfahren. De Mello führt sehr gut und schrittweise an die Übungen heran. So kann man sich nach und nach einlassen. Einige fernöstliche Gedanken sind mir fremd. Nicht alles würde ich so vertreten. Und doch konnte ich von den Übungen profitieren. Ganz nach dem Motto "prüft alles, behaltet das Gute".

Bei manchen Übungen brauchte ich mehrere Anläufe. Die haben sich aber gelohnt. Besonders die Phantasieübungen haben mir sehr entsprochen. Am hilfreichsten fand ich Übung 22, eine ignatische Meditation in der man sich in der Phantasie in eine biblische Geschichte begibt.

Abschließend: ich glaube, dass dieses Buch nicht für alle Christen etwas ist. Es spricht sicher nicht jeden an und erfordert gewisse Offenheit gegenüber dem Unbekannten. Wer diese aber mitbringt wird sicher genau so bereichert wie ich.

[Kevin Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've known Anthony deMello primarily as a storyteller. When I first ordered this book I assumed, without adequately examining it first, that this book would be like the other ones I read and appreciated.

So these exercises were a wonderful addition to his work. What I found most valuable about this book was its practicality. I appreciated the breadth of prayer practices that he provided. But I found the introduction spoke well to me in that he identified in his work as a retreat master and SD, that people came to him mainly to ask for help with their prayer lives. I’ve found that to be true in my pastoral vocation as well. But the conversation usually starts with people wanting to understand the bible better, which to my mind means that they want to connect with the Divine more meaningfully. So scripture reading leads to prayer as I guide people from reading scripture examining their spirituality through their prayerful reading of the bible which then leads to other forms of prayer.

I found his acknowledgment that many of these prayer exercises were compatible with Hinduism refreshing. He didn’t downplay or hide the connection with a non-Christian spiritual, but showed the common mystical framework that informed his presentation of these exercises

[David Levey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic, simple-yet-difficult, book on attentional prayer that brings together some spiritual practices of the East, particularly Hinduism, and Christianity. Unfortunately the Roman Catholic authorities are uneasy about this author and have required that a disclaimer be inserted: that Fr De Mello's books are not to be regarded as manuals of catholic [sic] instruction. I would say, read it and pray through it yourself, and then make up your mind!

[Sori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este no es un libro de espiritualidad como pensé cuando lo compré, es más un libro sobre ejercicios de oración y meditación, literalmente solo te dice como hacer para concentratre, para persivir de una mejor manera al mundo y a Dios. No digo que sea malo, pero es un libro para ponerse en práctica, en algún retiro o si llevas una vida asceta y espiritual.

[Raúl Mora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este manual permite un acercamiento guiado a los pasos necesarios para preparar el ambiente y la disposición orante en la persona que desea salir de la aridez y desconcentración al orar con meditaciones y ejercicios de contemplación. El formato del libro permite ser utilizado como instructivo para grupos y esto me resultó muy útil.

[David Doel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had barely begun this book before I realized that it was the perfect positive task for Lent. Can it be accidental that there are 47 prayer exercises in the book and 47 days starting at Ash Wednesday and concluding at Easter? I doubt it. So, my plan is to experience it more slowly beginning on March 5, 2025.

BTW, my cover is different, but the ISBN is identical.

[Danielle Shroyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just wasn’t what I expected. It’s a nice little collection of meditative, prayerful exercises- not much else. A helpful resource on the shelf but felt a little cold and flat without further commentary surrounding it, which took away some of the book’s purpose, I thought.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought it AFTER I read a copy. I wanted my own. I love the exercises that are written step by step so it is easy to do.

[Cara Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad I slowly worked my way through the prayer exercises, as intended. I imagine de Mello was an incredible retreat leader, even if his writing is slightly sub-par.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Para aprender a rezar conscientemente.

[Rob Eastwood Dewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best 'how to' book on prayer I have read. Rooted in the author's experience as a retreat director, and also (one suspects) his own deep spiritual rootedness.

[Ryan Cutter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically a book on how to pray/meditate. Kinda disappointed in this.

[Scott Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely concrete and useful. I used several of these exercises in group spiritual direction.

[Samson Vowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read many De Mello books.

This was my least favourite.

It meandered and was less incisive

[Daniela Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó, son ejercicios que ayudan mucho a darle sentido a la oración y a comunicarnos con Dios de forma cercana.

[Gloria Fransisca Katharina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ada enam hal tentang menemukan Tuhan yaitu; Hening, Damai, Sukacita, Hidup, Kemerdekaan, dan Cinta. Camkan!

[mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me during a spiritual retreat I attended in 2007. It presented me with many different ways I can get closer to God, leading me through self-awareness and contemplation with combined practices from Eastern and Western traditions. To be honest, I was overwhelmed. I tried to do the exercises as I read along, but I only had so many days there and I wanted to finish the book. Didn't contemplate enough, I would say. I had however, taken down notes as I read along and when I referred to them recently, they made sense.

My rating is a 3.5 for the fact that it overwhelmed me. This book will serve well as a reference, whenever I'm in need of a particular way of prayer.

Would like to re-read this book and this time, I will digest its content slowly.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lent this forgotten book to my boarder for a few years, as old friends have the privilege of keeping such treasures as need allows; having the book returned to me I found my favorite meditations, and promptly changed my review to 5 stars.

This is one of the 6 books on breath work I recommend to patients with anxiety with respiratory comorbidities if they express a spiritual and or religious orientation.

The book is hard to find, but we’ll worth the search.

How simply the author instills reverence for the gift of a single breath! Gratitude slows the slows the heart and stills the mind. Thank you so much dear author for your life’s work.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series of spiritual exercises that fit well into a contemplative and/or centering prayer practice. This is a book not just to read through, but to savor and to use slowly time and time again, as one draws water from an artisan well. This is a book of reference; one to acquire and use as a guide. A must have!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a sit down and read kinda book. This is a work your way through, back and forth, skipping and returning kind of book. It is a series of exercises that helped me get in touch with what's really important in my life. de Mello is a deeply spiritual person whose presentation is appropriate for anyone, regardless of their path.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this guided meditation book and practiced this with friends I lived with back in the late 1970s.

The practice came up later for me in 2005 when a colleague from Indonesia spoke about it and had the same version of the book I had.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

de Mello masterfully links eastern meditation forms to western Christian forms of prayer, and includes many simple exercises for doing them. Blew my mind when I was 15... still great.