Traces of Mysticism in Jainism (Study)
by Sadhvi Madhystha Prabha | 2021 | 103,765 words
This page relates 鈥榗oncept of Dhyana (Meditation)鈥擨ntroduction鈥� of the study on the concept of Mysticism in Jainism exploring key concepts such as Jaina metaphysics and Jain ethics. The present research is divided into six chapters, beginning with an introduction to mysticism, examining its characteristics from both Western and Eastern perspectives. Subsequent chapters delve into the mystical aspects of Brahmanic and Shramanic literature, analyzing texts from the Shvetambara and Digambara traditions to unearth traces of Jain mysticism.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
The concept of 顿丑测腻苍补 (Meditation)鈥擨ntroduction
[Full title: 顿丑测腻苍补 (Meditation) (1) Definition of Meditation]
According to Jainism, the path of salvation or self-realisation is the acceptance and practice of right knowledge, faith, conduct and austerities.[1] In the scheme of types of austerities, 诲丑测腻苍补 i.e. meditation occupies the highest place of importance. It is through meditation, the soul develops the capacity of self-concentration, karmic destruction, purification and ultimately self-realisation.
As it is been said in 笔补谤补尘腻迟尘补辫谤补办腻艣补,
鈥�veyahi峁� satthahi in虓diyahi峁� jo jiya mu峁嘺hu 峁嘺 j膩i 峁噄尘尘补濒补 jh膩n泰aha峁� jo visau so paramappu an膩谋虓".
鈥淭he glory of spiritual life is inexplicable and beyond the reach of the Vedas, the 艣腻蝉迟谤补蝉 and the senses. It can only be experienced through pure meditation or contemplation.鈥�[2]
The fundamental aim of meditation is contemplation with equanimity of mind and realization of the true nature of the soul. The mystic who aims at self realization heads on the path of self meditation. Hence meditation being an art or ethical practice of liberation, it is enumerated as ethical mysticism.
The power of meditation is such that it can be better experienced than described. It is an activity which cleans or removes or dries the dirt of karmas[3] as the water clears the dirt of clothes, fire removes the junk of iorn, and sun dries the muddy water.鈥�
In 驰辞驳补艣腻蝉迟谤补 膧肠腻谤测补 Hemcandra quotes,
鈥�The fire of meditation of a saint become quite powerful and effulgence, the 驳丑腻迟颈 karmas are burnt to ashes in a moment鈥�.[4]
膧肠腻谤测补 笔奴箩测补辫腻诲补 states 鈥淩estrain all activities of body and speech and engage or concentrate your mind in contemplation of the soul. To attain 狈颈谤惫腻峁嘺 meditation of the soul will be great aid.鈥�[5] Thus one should become absorbed in meditation as it is only basis of spiritual advancement and attainment of bliss.
The word 顿丑测腻苍补 (meditation) means concentration of the mind on a particular object or concentrating the mind on a single subject or to stabilize all the activities of the mind, speech and body[6].
Defining Meditation, 膧肠腻谤测补 Um膩sw膩ti states鈥�
鈥淐oncentration of mind on a particular object for certain length of time which in no case can be greater than one 尘奴丑谤补迟补 (48 minutes)鈥�.[7]
In 惭补苍辞苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补峁� 膧肠腻谤测补 Tulsi states,
鈥�ek膩gre mana岣annive艣ana峁� yoganirodho v膩 诲丑测腻苍补峁�鈥�
鈥淐oncentration of mind or cessation of activites of mind, body and speech is 诲丑测腻苍补[8].鈥�
According to Jainism, 诲丑测腻苍补 is concentration of thought and perception. Every soul is always engaged in a particular thought either good or evil. The inauspicious thought arises from intense passions like attachment, aversion, hatred, animosity etc. It is this inauspicious that causes the bondage of karmas, transmigration, sufferings, spiritual hindrance etc. such meditation obstructs the path of liberation. Hence they are worthy to be given up. On the other hand, the auspicious thought activity arises from the search for the truth and from absolute detachment towards worldly affairs. It is the cause of spiritual good and destroys the karmas, purifies mind, body and speech and leads to liberation, worthy of acceptance.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
鲍迟迟补谤补箩箩丑补测补峁嚹佱箛颈, 28.2.
[2]:
Param膩tm膩prak膩艣a and Yog膩sara, 笔补谤补尘腻迟尘补辫谤补办腻艣补, 1.23.
[3]:
[4]:
驰辞驳补艣腻蝉迟谤补, 11.21.
[5]:
[7]:
罢补迟迟惫腻谤迟丑补 厂奴迟谤补 9.27 鈥�uttamsamhananasyaik膩grachint膩nirodha 诲丑测腻苍补m膩ntar muh奴rtt膩t.鈥�