Introduction To Jainism

SR No.: 034405
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: SKPG Jain Philosophical and Literary Research Centre
Publication Year: 2015
Total Pages: 52
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 1 MB

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SIXMISASA. INTRODUCTION TO JAINISMUSAASAASA
(5) DHYANA (MEDITATION - Concentration Attentiveness
The dignitories and authorities, in charge of Agama, have shown 48 types of Dhyana (Meditation) which can be broadly classified in four types Viz (1) Arta Dhyan (2) Roudra Dhyan (3) Dharma Dhyan and (4) Shukla Dhyan Of these first two are worth avoiding, as they are harmful for spiritual health, where as the other two Viz Dharma & Shukla Dhyan are worth practicing for spiritual development and achievement of ultimate goals.
In this way, Dhyan (Meditation) is best form of internal tapa ritual and Abhyantar Tapa of higher scale. A great learned Acharya Haribhadra sooriswarji says that Dharmadhyan is like a fire to burn heap of past karmas, collected accumulated for the last hundred years, like a wild fire in forest.
(6) KAYOTSARGA (Detachment of Body consciousness to attain Spirituality) - VYUTSARG :
The renunciation of Egoistic & attached attitude with firm determination is the characteristic of Vyutsarg Tapa. The attitude and distracting activities of mind and speech are to be controlled & restrained and taken out from body and food consciousness and diverted towards spirituality and with conscious & meditated efforts, body consciousness has to be ignored, giving way to self conscious meditated Vyutsarga Tapa For purification, These conscious efforts starting for a period of 48 minutes, gradually extended up to a day fortnight, month and even more. Stability of body, balancing of yoga i.e. Mind speech & body are to be engrossed in spiritual meditated thoughts about self, - soul related consciousness, i.e. Vyutsarga Tapa, the last of the Abhyantar Tapa. These Twelve types of penance of Jain Tradition are unique and scientific and this process of penance undertaking is the best means of shedding of karmas in huge quantity.
GUNASTHANAKA A living being, with real and proper efforts, can attain highest degree of self development from the primitive state of extreme ignorance. A person has to undergo (Pass through) various stages of progressive conditions to reach perfect state, right from the initial imperfect condition of worst type. In Jain philosophy these various stages of self development (of soul) i.e. spiritual progress is named as "GUNASTHANAKA"
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8888ASIASA, INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM SKAISTUS
The real form of a soul (Atma) is pure, lively pleasant knowledge and consciousness. But so long, inner spiritual state is densely covered with several blockade of karmic particles, like dark clouds with high level of density, in the form of attachment, aversion etc., that the basic form of soul is not felt or experienced or even identified. However, these obstacles (blockades) when get loosened gradually, and go on diminishing, at that final stage of extinction of karmic particles, its real form of absolute, pure and perfect soul is revealed.
When blockade is severe or bear severe density, the inner self viz Atma or soul remains in primitive stage and continues as such. On the other hand, when blockades are totally destroyed, the soul reaches its ultimate state of development, that is to say, inner self gets stable and becomes standstill in pure & perfect state of Absolute consciousness. As and when intensity of blockages gets reduced and that process continues, the soul transforms leaving its prior state, and gradually acquiring its pure form slowly and slowly, and makes progress towards ultimate state. In between these two extreme positions, the soul experiences many high, low, ascending descending conditions.
The Agamic dignitories have given nomenclature of soul progress as "GUNASTHANAKA" (GUNATHANA) They are as under:1. Mithyatva Gunasthana
2. Saswadan 3. Samyak Mithyatva Drusti (Mishra) 4. Aveerati Samyakatva 5. Desh Virati
6. Pramata Virati 7. Apramata Virati
8. Apporva Karan 9. Nivruti Baadar
10. Sukshma Samparaya 11. Upshant Moha
12. Ksheen Moha 13. Sayogi Kewali
14. Ayogi Kewali These Gunsthanaks are parameters (Criteria) of Spiritual Development of Soul with its high & low swings (like classical music tunes). i.e. Aroha - Avaroha. Living beings (soul) coming out of stage (state) of Mithyatva Drusti, attaining Samyak Drusti and advances towards "Shaileshi karana (A Moment of Bodily consciousness reaching towards Universal consciousness) through the land of Spiritual Development. These 14 steps of path of liberation or salvation has to be understood for self development (spiritual progress) as it is spiritually beneficial.
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