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17 - JAIN YOGA
occupies the entire mind. The knowledge of the object become complete. This represents the goal of existence and what all living beings are moving towards. It transcends time, space, and causation; the three elements present during ordinary and sensory experiences, which are beyond the mind's ability to comprehend. The first five steps of Ashtanga Yoga are only for preparations of the mind for yoga, which is concentration. The last three steps constitute the application of concentration.
D. Virtuous and Non-Virtuous Meditations Meditation (Dhyana) is the process of concentration of the mind on a single topic, preventing it from wandering. If this concentration arises from intense passions like attachment, aversion, hatred, and animosity, then this is not virtuous meditation and it is worthy of rejection. On the other hand, if it arises from the search for the truth and from absolute detachment towards worldly affairs, it is virtuous meditation. It is the cause of spiritual good and liberation, and therefore, worthy of acceptance. Ächärya Umäsväti has given a psychologically scientific classification of the four kinds of meditation.
Non-virtuous Meditation
• Painful or Sorrowful (Ärta Dhyana) meditation
• Wrathful or Enraged (Raudra Dhyana) meditation Virtuous Meditation
• Righteous or Auspicious (Dharma Dhyana) meditation
• Spiritual or Pure (Shukla Dhyana) meditation Sorrowful and enraged meditations are inauspicious and make the soul wander in the trans migratory state with resultant suffering of innumerable births and deaths. Righteous meditation is of an auspicious type. Spiritual meditation occurs at a very high level of spiritual growth of the soul and it ultimately ends in salvation - nirvana of the soul.
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JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
