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

Anthony de Mello (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1998

Father Anthony de Mello addresses the average person for whom contemplation may be an unfamiliar experience, drawing on the teaching of mystics of the past and also acknowledging the contribution that Eastern religions can make.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

One of the world's foremost spiritual guides responds to the modern hunger for self-awareness and holistic living with a series of spiritual exercises blending psychology, spiritual therapy, and practices drawn from both Eastern and Western traditions of meditation. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

One of the world's foremost spiritual guides responds to the modern hunger for self-awareness and holistic living with a series of spiritual exercises blending psychology, spiritual therapy, and practices drawn from both Eastern and Western traditions of meditation. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Liguori Publications (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764801708
• ISBN-13: 978-0764801709
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #971,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen with your heart, January 25, 2000

By 

Jackie M. Sthilaire "Memere Jackie" (Manchester, NH United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sadhana, a Way to God: Christian Exercises in Eastern Form (Paperback)

To let go of your anxiety, your negative thoughts, even your positive thoughts and to delve into the heart of God. Anthony deMello leads us on this journey with exercises that transcend the sometimes dull, lifeless days. He helps us explore the possibilities of the inner life, the love of God that one finds here, in the contemplative moments. Let go of stress, of fear, of what other's may or may not think of you, freeing you to become who you were meant to become, a person in the image of God. Learning to live one moment at a time in the presence of God. Jesus said to us his disciples: "Pray without ceasing". This is the living God.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Companion for Meditators, March 9, 2004

By 

Swing King (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sadhana, a Way to God: Christian Exercises in Eastern Form (Paperback)

This book, contrary to some of the criticism it has received through the years, is a classic resource for meditation and prayer for those of us on a spiritual journey; and if you ask me, it doesn't much matter what religion you happen to practice. The word "Sadhana" has a myriad of meanings, so it reminds me of Ludwig Wittgenstein's old slogan, "Don't give me the meaning, give me the use!" And the use, my dear friends, is esoteric for each and every one of us. Sadhana could be described as a personal understanding of God, or discipline-even spiritual practice.

In this book Anthony offers 47 exercises derived from Zen Buddhist sources, Christian scripture, modern psychology, and even yoga; de Mello's palate was always an eclectic one. He was a true master when it came time for him to speak to an audience, retaining this mysterious ability to completely captivate all those in the room. In some sense, what de Mello prescribes in this work is basically zazen meditation (Zen Buddhist form of meditation); even going so far as facing our corpse in order to live freely as though we were already dead. Wonderful advice. This book is much more than "cognized prayer"-no-this one talks about devoting your entire being into the act, not simply your words. An earlier reviewer remarked that Anthony would not recommend this book; I don't know of such information, and I certainly don't find him to be the type to make `claims of enlightenment.' I would have smacked him if he said, "I wrote this before my enlightenment." Such a naughty word - "BEFORE." Nora gives the fundamentalists side of the book, of which this work will never satisfy such folk. I'm sorry, but Anthony de Mello was a mystic, not a poisonous snake dancer. Nora demonstrates the Vatican's take in a nutshell, yet if you look at the early Gnostic texts, it's all right there; perfectly in line with what de Mello speaks about in here. We must knock inward, to realize there NEVER WAS AN INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. Anyway, I got off subject a bit. Great book!

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Christian exercises in Eastern Form, September 2, 2000

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sadhana, a Way to God: Christian Exercises in Eastern Form (Paperback)

Fr. Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest of Portuguese-South Asian descent who used his dual heritage as a retreat leader. This particular volume begins with exercises common to all mystical traditions i.e. awareness and contemplation exercises. The section of fantasy exercises owe much to the Ignatian Exercises (as in St. Ignatius the founder of the Jesuit order) although expanded. The final set of exercises include a number of traditional prayer methods - the Benedictine method, the Jesus prayer associated with the Orthodox, the Thousand Names of God, Gospel Sentences similar to lectio divina etc.

This book works better as a source book for retreat leaders or spiritual directors in that it is disruptive to prayer/awareness/contemplation to break to refer to the instructions. However, individuals certainly can benefit from the volume.