________________
perform austerities to get rid of the existing Karma. This is karmic fruition oriented righteous meditation (Vipäk Vichaya Dharma Dhyana). Universe oriented (Samsthäna-vichaya) righteous meditation: It is contemplation about the nature and structure of the universe. There are three worlds in the universe. They are the upper world, middle world and lower world. These three worlds are filled with living (Jiva) and non-living (Ajiva) elements. The transmigratory soul has gone through all these three worlds since beginningless time. As a result of the fruits of one's own past deeds, the soul has been going through the infinite cycle of birth and death. This has happened due to ignorance, false beliefs, and not understanding the truth and reality. To think this way is called universe oriented righteous meditation (Samsthäna Vichaya Dharma Dhyana). Shukla Dhyana (Spiritual and Purest Meditation) The concentration achieved by an immaculate mind is the spiritual meditation. Spiritual meditation occurs to very highly progressed spiritual souls. It occurs at the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th stages of spiritual progress (11, 12, 13, and 14 Gunasthänas). The highly spiritual soul has either suppressed or removed all deluding karma. This meditation is of four types as mentioned below. It consists of four states: Multi aspect (Pruthaktva-vitarka), single aspect (Ekatva-vitarka), subtle activity (Sukshma-kriya Apratipäti) and absorption in self (Vyuparat-kriya Anivritti). Vitarka means scriptural text or Sutra. A person who is in 11th and 12th Gunasthäna and is versed in the Purva texts performs the first two Shukla Dhyana. There are exceptions possible like Mäsatusa and Marudevi, even though not versed in the Purva, can engage in Shukla Dhyana. Only Kevali (13th or 14th Gunasthäna) can engage in the last two subtypes of Shukla Dhyana. Multi aspect spiritual meditation (Pruthaktva-vitarka) It is performed by an aspirant with scriptural knowledge. Here the aspirant is attempting to attain the spiritual stages of subsidence or destruction of the conduct deluding Karma. The aspirant concentrates upon the three modes - origination, cessations, and continuity - of a particular substance (one of Shad Dravya). This type of meditation involves shifting of attention between the meaning, word and activity of the aspects of the substance. Hence, it is called multi aspect meditation with shifting. This meditation suppresses or eliminates conduct - deluding Karma (Charitra Mohaniya). Single aspect spiritual meditation (Ekatva-vitarka) It is contemplation on a single aspect of reality on the basis of scriptural knowledge by an aspirant who is in the delusion free (Kshina-moha) spiritual stage. The aspirant concentrates on one particular form, word, or activity of the aspect of a substance without shifting. Such meditation is the single aspect stage of spiritual meditation. This meditation eliminates the four destructive (Ghäti) karma, namely perception obscuring, knowledge obscuring, deluding and obstructing Karma. Thus, it leads to omniscience. Subtle activity spiritual meditation (Sukshma-kriya Apratipäti) It is performed by an omniscient who has eliminated the gross activities of body, speech and mind, and has only subtle activities. Here the association of soul with body causes only subtle movements of the soul. Hence, it is called the subtle activity stage of spiritual meditation. Absorption in self spiritual meditation (Vyuparat-kriya-anivritti) It is performed by an omniscient that eliminates even the slightest activity of the soul in spite of its association with the body. All activities (of the space points of the soul) cease in this meditation. Thus the influx of even the pleasant feeling pertaining (Shätä Vedaniya) Karma is stopped. Finally, all karma are shed and the soul attains salvation. At the end of this meditation, the soul obtains nirvana. The Soul becomes free of all karma, reaches the permanent adobe of Siddha (Siddha Loka) and resides in pure happiness forever.
According to Jain Scriptures, Shukla Dhyana is not possible here on this planet at present time. Some misinterpret Shukla Dhyana as a meditation of bright white color. However, here Shukla does not mean
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE - 2
115
