Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 409

The Highest Form of Tapas: Dhyana
d) Śukla-dhyāna: Very pure concentration
Dharma-dhyāna, which is already a lofty form of dhyāna, is simply preparatory to śukla-dhyāna, the purest form of all.35 Let us take a look at the first two stages of śukla-dhyāna. Both traditions agree that Sukla-dhyāna is attainable by those ascetics who have reached one of the stages preceding kevala-jñāna and who possess perfect knowledge of the Purvas, the most ancient texts of Scripture.36 These first two stages have this in common, but differ as follows:
At the first stage: the ascetic who is capable of practising this level still retains the three yogas; his mode of concentration is pṛthaktvavitarka-savicara, which means that, with reference to a given text of Scripture, his concentration upon a substance or on a mode of the said substance will take into its purview several points of view and there may also occur a shift from one text to another.37
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At the second stage: the ascetic retains only one of the three yogas. His mode of concentration is ekatvavitarka-nirvicāra; now there is complete unity of being. His whole attention is fixed on one single mode of the substance and upon one single text. His being is unified, recollected in dhyana.38 As the ascetic has now only one activity, this means that he can easily practice dhyāna without the participation of manas, the mind, for mental activity is no longer necessary where one
35 A purity which shines like the brightness of the moon; cf. SkrS I, 6, 6.
36
Cf. DhyanSat 64; TS IX, 37. These texts, of course, except for a few fragments, have not been preserved (P 143); however, TS Sukhlal writes, p. 355: Thus when a performer of dhyana - in case he happens to be versed in the Purva-texts, then on the basis of such a text, otherwise on the basis of whatever scriptural text he is conversant with - takes up for consideration..."
37 Cf. DhyanSat 77-78; 83; TS IX, 39-40; 44.
38 Cf. DhyanSat 79-80; 83; TS IX, 39-40; 42.