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THIRD CHULA
| BHAAVANA : FIFTEENTH CHAPTER
INTRODUCTION
The title of the fifteenth chapter is Bhaavana. Bhaavana (stimulation) is a strong boat to move on the river-like ascetic life. When bhaavana is combined with pursuits of knowledge, perception, conduct and austerity (etc.) a seeker proceeds and progresses on the path of spiritual practices with enthusiasm, faith and intensity. Otherwise, in face of obstructions and afflictions, there are chances of his getting dejected and yielding to the maligning pull of fear and enticement. Two main divisions of bhaavana are physical bhaavana and mental bhaavana. Physical bhaavana means ostentatious bhaavana. In other words to express one's attitude of reverence by performing rituals with the help of jasmine flowers, sesame oil, and synthetic materials is called dravya bhaavana. Bhaava bhaavana or mental bhaavana is of two kinds-good or moral and bad or immoral. Attitudes of killing beings, falsity (etc.) and thoughts perverted by passions like anger act as bad or immoral bhaavana. To be absorbed in spiritual pursuits like right perception, right knowledge, right conduct, austerities and detachment is good or moral bhaavana. To behold, to listen to sermons of, to sing songs and panegyrics of virtues of Tirthankars, Ganipitak (twelve Angas), Yugapradhan acharyas (towering personalities of their era), Chaturdash Purvadhars (ascetics having knowledge of the fourteen subtle
canons) with miraculous special powers and ascetics having Keval. 4789: 1218 at ouent
( 79 ) Bhaavana : Fifteenth Chapter
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