Atma Dharma

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

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suitable for the purpose. The best time for meditation, no doubt, is the period of two hours in the early morning before sunrise.
The posture for meditation should be such as is calculated to afford steadiness and ease and to prevent lethargy and somnolence. The postures that are specially suitable for the purpose are the two which are characteristic of the images of Holy Tîrthamkaras in a Jaina Temple. Of these the sitting posture is known as padmasana and the standing one as thargâsana. It is not necessary to practise retention of breath or any special exercises for breathing (prânâyáma), all that is needed being that breath should flow not violently or spasmodically, but gently, smoothly and evenly, which it always does when the mind becomes absorbed in meditation dispassionately. The bodily distortions, known as Hatha yoga, are also to be rejected as not being necessary for meditation. It is to be remembered that meditation and not posture is what is to be practised. Hence, it is permissible to change the prescribed asana (posture) also when found to be irksome or inconvenient. Of course, the body is not to be employed in any other way while performing meditation.
With respect to the part to be played by speech or language, only such text, sacred formulas, recitations or words are to be recited or uttered as are