Mastering Sadhana: On Retreat With Anthony De Mello

by Carlos G. Vallés

"In one's quest for God, one must realize that there is nothing to search for or attain. How can you search for what is right before your eyes? How can you attain what you already possess? What is called for here is not effort, but recognition." -Anthony de Mello

A spiritual director of the first order, Anthony de Mello has touched countless persons worldwide through his bestselling books, the first of which was A WAY TO GOD. His deceptively simple teachings on prayer, meditation, and self-realization -- through his writings, workshops, retreats, and spiritual therapy courses -- have profoundly changed the lives of those who have experienced him.

In MASTERING SADHANA, a close friend and associate shares in detail not only personal reminiscences and conversations, but in fact de Mello's own words, as recorded by Valles during a fifteen-day retreat in India, which was the last conducted by Anthony de Mello. Here in essay form are teachings on love, suffering, the self and the non-self, change, awareness, role-playing, and more -- in sum, a guide to the SADHANA way of life.

Genres: Spirituality

173 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Lucas Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it. Enlightening.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading for the additional quotes from de Mello. How I wish I could've learned from him on sadhana in India.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first half of the book and was pleasantly surprised at how closely the Catholic principles lined up with Buddhist ones. I skimmed the rest of the book as for me it rambled and focused too much on the author's adoration of DeMello as opposed to the message.