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## The Nature of Shukla Dhyana
The eleventh chapter of Yoga Shastra, verses 5 to 7, describe the different types of Shukla Dhyana. 897. There are four types of Shukla Dhyana: 1. Pruthaktva Vitarka Savichara, 2. Ekatva Vitarka Avichara, 3. Sukshma Kriya Pratipati, and 4. Vyuparat Kriya Nivritti. ||5||
**Meaning:** One should know the four types of Shukla Dhyana: 1. Thinking about different subjects, 2. Thinking about oneness, 3. Focusing on subtle actions, and 4. Stopping gross actions. ||5||
**Explanation:** Here, "Nanaatva" means thinking about various subjects. What subjects? Vitarka, meaning thinking about the twelve angas and fourteen purvas. "Vichara" means moving from one state to another, specifically in four ways: movement of atoms, yanas, etc., sounds, and the three yogas (mind, speech, and body). ||5||
Now, we will explain the first type in detail. 898. Thinking about the different aspects of a substance, such as its creation, destruction, and state, according to various nayas, based on previous scriptures. This thinking is connected to one of the three yogas: artha (meaning), vyanjana (sound), or yoga (mind, speech, and body). ||6||
**Explanation:** This is the first type of Shukla Dhyana. For example, while thinking about a substance, one may think about its sound, then return to thinking about the substance, then move from mental yoga to physical yoga or verbal yoga, and vice versa. This type of thinking is the first type of Shukla Dhyana. It is said that "thinking about the different aspects of a substance, such as its creation, state, and destruction, according to various nayas, based on previous scriptures, is Vitarka. And Vichara means moving from one yoga to another, whether it be substance, sound, or one of the three yogas. This is how a Vitraag Muni experiences the first type of Shukla Dhyana, known as Pruthaktva Vitarka Savichara." The question arises: how can the mind remain stable when moving between substance, sound, and the three yogas? And how can this be called Dhyana without mental stability? The answer is: "There is no objection to accepting this as Dhyana because the mind is stable on the subject of the substance." ||6||
Now, we will explain the second type of Shukla Dhyana. 899. Thinking about a single aspect, according to previous scriptures. This means that the object of meditation is a single aspect, such as an atom, a jiva, a guna like knowledge, or creation, or a single sound, meaning, or one of the three yogas. However, it is not separate. Since there is only one object of meditation, there is no transition. Therefore, this is the second type of Shukla Dhyana, known as Ekatva Vitarka Avichara. ||7||
**Explanation:** It is said that this Dhyana is like a lamp placed in a vacuum, steady and unwavering. Since there is only one object of meditation, there is no transition to other sounds, meanings, aspects, or yogas of the same category. However, the meditation is on a single aspect, such as creation, state, or destruction. There is no transition to other objects of meditation. The meditation is on a single sound, meaning, aspect, or yoga, based on previous scriptures. However, this Dhyana is free from doubt and unwavering. This Dhyana lasts until the end of the twelfth guna sthana. It is characterized by Yathakyata Charitra. ||7||
Now, we will explain the third type of Shukla Dhyana.
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