Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## The Nature of Shukla Dhyana
**Yoga Shastra, Eleventh Prakash, Verses 8-12**
**900.** At the time of attaining Nirvana, the Kevali (omniscient) stops the gross yogas of mind, speech, and body. Only the subtle actions like breathing remain. This subtle action never becomes gross; therefore, it is called "Sukhsma-Kriya-A-Pratipati" or Shukla Dhyana. **8.**
**Meaning:** When the time of liberation is very near, the Kevali Bhagwan stops the gross yogas of mind, speech, and body; only the subtle actions like breathing remain. In this, the subtle action never becomes gross; therefore, it is called "Sukhsma-Kriya-A-Pratipati" or Shukla Dhyana. **8.**
In this Dhyana, the soul becomes devoid of Leshya and Yoga, and the soul separates from the body's tendencies. Now, the fourth type called "Vyuparat Kriya Nivarti" is explained. **901.**
**901.** The Kevali Bhagwan, who is as steady as Mount Meru, when in the state of Shaileshikarana, experiences the fourth Shukla Dhyana called "Utsanna Kriya A-Pratipati." This is also called "Vyuparat Kriya A-Nivriti." **9.**
**Meaning:** When the Kevali Bhagwan, who is as steady as Mount Meru, is in the state of Shaileshikarana, the fourth Shukla Dhyana called "Utsanna Kriya A-Pratipati" occurs. This is also called "Vyuparat Kriya A-Nivriti." **9.**
Now, the amount of Yoga in these four types is explained. **902.**
**902.** The first Shukla Dhyana is for the monks who have one Yoga or all three Yogas. The second Dhyana is for the monks who have one Yoga. The third Dhyana is for the Kevalis who have subtle body Yoga, and the fourth Dhyana is only for the A-Yogi Kevalis. **10.**
**Meaning:** The first Shukla Dhyana, called "Prithaktva-Vitarka-Savichara," is for the monks who have studied the Bhaangik Shruta and have one or all three Yogas of mind, speech, and body. The second Dhyana, called "Ekatva-Vitarka-A-Vichara," is for the monks who have one Yoga of mind, speech, or body. This Yoga lacks transition (entry and exit). The third Dhyana, called "Sukhsma Kriya A-Nivriti," involves subtle body Yoga, but not the other Yogas of speech and mind. The fourth Dhyana, called "Vyutsanna Kriya A-Pratipati," occurs in the state of Shaileshikarana for the A-Yogi Kevali who is devoid of Yoga. **10.**
**Explanation:** There are three types of Yoga based on the divisions of mind, speech, and body. In this, the living being with Audarik, Vaikriya, Aharak, Taijas, and Karman bodies has a specific type of Kaya Yoga called "Veerya Parinati-Vishesh." The living being's actions through speech, called "Vachan Yoga," are aided by the Pudgal-Dravya-Samuh (group of matter) acquired through the actions of the Audarik, Vaikriya, and Aharak bodies. Similarly, the living being's actions through mind, called "Mano Yoga," are aided by the Dravya (matter) of the Manovargna acquired through the actions of the Audarik, Vaikriya, and Aharak bodies.
Here, the question arises: "In the last two types of Shukla Dhyana, there is no mind. Since the Kevali Bhagwan is devoid of Mano Yoga, and Dhyana is the stability of the mind, how can it be called Dhyana?" **10.**
This is explained as follows: **903.**
**903.** Just as the stability of the mind of a pseudo-stable seeker is called Dhyana by the knowledgeable, similarly, the stability of the body of the Kevali is also called Dhyana. Just as there is Mano Yoga, similarly, Kaya (body) is also a Yoga. The meaning of Kaya Yoga is also implied by the word "Dhyana." **11.**
**Meaning:** Just as the knowledgeable call the stability of the mind of a pseudo-stable seeker as Dhyana, similarly, they also call the stability of the body of the Kevali as Dhyana. Just as there is Mano Yoga, similarly, Kaya (body) is also a Yoga. The meaning of Kaya Yoga is also implied by the word "Dhyana." **11.**
Here, another question arises: "In the fourth Shukla Dhyana, Kaya Yoga is stopped, so there is no Kaya Yoga in it. Then, how can it be called Dhyana?" This is answered as follows: **904.**
**904.** Due to previous practice, the use of the living being, or the destruction of Karma, or due to the multiplicity of the meaning of the word, or due to the words of the Jina, even the A-Yogi can experience Dhyana. **12.**
**Meaning:** Due to previous practice, the use of the living being, or the destruction of Karma, or due to the multiplicity of the meaning of the word, or due to the words of the Jina, even the A-Yogi can experience Dhyana. **12.**
**Explanation:** Just as the potter's wheel continues to spin due to previous practice even in the absence of the stick and other tools, similarly, even after the cessation of all Yogas of mind, speech, and body, the A-Yogi experiences Dhyana due to previous practice. Although they do not have these Yogas in terms of matter, they still have a good state of mind in the form of the use of the living being. Therefore, it is called the Dhyana of the Yogis. Or, the result of the Dhyana action is the destruction of Karma, and the cause of this is Dhyana. Just as a boy who does not have a son still behaves like a son, similarly, even though the A-Yogi does not have the Yogas of mind, speech, and body, they still experience Dhyana due to previous practice.