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Ans. An appraisal is necessary for determining the success or failure of any programme. Particularly so, in the field of religion. If an individual practises religious meditation and it is not properly evaluated, he would not know whether his effort has been successful. The right understanding of sadhana is achieved only through its evaluation. A sadhak practising meditation under the supervision of his instructor generally makes progress but sometimes there is retrogression, too. The order of progress is sometimes disturbed and there is decay. There are many ups and downs in the path of sadhana, too. In order to meet these vicissitudes with equanimity, it is necessary to properly evaluate all goingson. Otherwise, some sudden developments could demoralize the sadhak. However, a sadhak who is in close proximity to his guru, is able to resolve his problem whereas one left to his own devices, gets confused. This confusion is not without a cause. When through the practice of dhyana dormant powers are aroused, the centre of lust too becomes activated. This creates many kinds of problems. When the old sanskars rise up and the consequences of past deeds grow ripe for manifestation, one receives a kind of shock. That shock is so sudden that unless there is someone to support him, the sadhak stumbles or falls down. That is why the ancient acharyas ordained that sadhana should be practised in the proximity of a guru. Uttaradhayan Sutra, while offering special guidance to the sadhak lays down:
The sadhak-monk desirous of attaining samadhi should be extremely careful in the choice of his food, helper, and place. Temperance in food should be his ideal. Even the little that he takes should be wholesome. His helper or guide must be accomplished in philosophy, because if the helper's intellect is not sharp enough to seize the essence of the matter, he will not be able to
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