Acarya Haribhadras Comparative Studies in Yoga

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Z_Vijay_Vallabh_suri_Smarak_Granth_012060.pdf

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ACĂRYA VIJAYAVALLABHASŪRI COMEMMORATION VOLUME
the determination. These souls are destined to become tīrthankaras.35 The second category comprises those souls who are intent upon the well-being of only a limited circle of relatives by means of the enlightenment. These souls become ganadharas (literally the possessors of the gana ‘group' of virtues of transcendant intuition, knowledge, and the like), that is, the chief disciples of the tirthankaras.36 The third category comprises those souls who strive for the well-being of themselves with little care for others. These souls are destined to become ordinary kevalins (mundakevalin).37
Let us revert to the topic of preliminary preparation for yoga. After such preparation the soul becomes fit for the first stage of yoga called adhyātma. The soul now observes the five vows and meditates upon the truth. It now cultivates universal friendship, appreciates merits of others, develops sympathy for the suffering, and remains indifferent to the wicked. By these practices the soul overcomes the karmans, reveals its spiritual energy, improves its power of self-concentration, and becomes wise,38 It then becomes fit for the second stage called bhavana. This stage is the consummation of the first. The soul now maintains steady progress. Its power of concentration increases. It now desists from bad habits and develops good ones.39 The third stage is dhyāna.40 Then we come to the fourth stage of equanimity (samatā). Here the soul makes correct estimate of the nature and value of things, and consequently loses attachment for them. The soul is now disillusioned and does not attach any importance to the supernormal powers that it might have acquired by means of the yoga.41 Then it reaches the fifth stage called annihilation of the residual karmans (vșttisaṁkşaya). It now gradually destroys the accumulated karmans once for ever. On the annihilation of the obscuring icarmans, the soul attains omniscience. Then in due time it attains final emancipation.42 This is in brief the plan of the Yogabindu.43
Next we come to Haribhadra's famous work YogadȚstisamuccaya. The 35. Ibid., 284-8. 36. Ibid., 289. 37. Ibid., 290. 38. Ibid., 358-9. 39. Ibid., 360-1. 40. For the conception of dhyana, vide author's Studies in Jaina Philosophy,
pp. 281-93. 41. Ibid., 364-5. 42. Ibid., 366-7. 43. Upadhyáva Yaśovijaya has followed this plan in his Dvatrimśikas No. 12 to 18
as contained in the Dvätrimsad-dvātrimsikā published by Shri Jaina-Dharma Prasāraka Sabhi, Bhāvanagar.