In Jain Dharma, inner sadhana (antar sādhanā) means:

> Working on your inner self – your thoughts, feelings, and intentions – to make the soul pure.

It is different from outer sadhana like doing puja, aarti, going to temple, rituals, etc. Those are helpful, but real progress happens only when the inside changes.

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What is included in inner sadhana?

In simple words, inner sadhana is:

1. Cleaning inner faults (kashayas)

- Reducing anger, ego, greed, deceit - Letting go of jealousy, hatred, criticism - Trying to see your own faults instead of blaming others

1. Improving inner qualities (gunas)

- Kindness and compassion (dayā) - Forgiveness (kshamā) - Simplicity and contentment - Humility and honesty

1. Right faith, right knowledge, right conduct

These three together are called moksha-marg: - Samyak darshan – right vision/faith: seeing Tirthankars, Dharma and soul correctly, with deep respect. - Samyak jnān – right knowledge: understanding soul, karma, non‑violence, vows, etc. - Samyak charitra – right conduct: living with self‑control and non‑violence in daily life.

1. Daily inner practices (bhāva sadhana)

For example: - Samayik – sitting in equanimity, seeing all souls as equal - Pratikraman – honestly accepting mistakes and repenting - Dhyān / Anupreksha – thinking deeply on truths like: - “I am a soul, separate from body and mind” - “Karma is my own creation” - “Everything is temporary” - Guṇānusmriti – remembering and admiring the qualities of Arihants, Siddhas, Acharyas, etc.

1. Right attitude in daily life

- Controlling reactions when someone insults you - Speaking softly and truthfully - Eating with awareness and gratitude - Avoiding gossip, criticism and useless talk

All this is inner sadhana, even if you are simply at home.

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Digambar and Shwetambar view

• Both Digambar and Shwetambar traditions may differ in outer rules and rituals,

but both fully agree that: - Real Jain Dharma is inside - Without inner sadhana, outer rituals alone do not lead to liberation - Conquest of inner passions (kashaya-jay) is the heart of the path

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In one line

Inner sadhana = constant effort to purify your inner bhāva (state of mind and soul) by reducing passions and increasing virtues, according to the teachings of the Tirthankars.