Book Title: Chitrabhanu Man with Vision
Author(s): Clare Rosenfield
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre New York

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Page 141
________________ the transformation beyond death which was at the heart of his deepest question. The second lesson in upayoga was "Jayam chitthe --- when you stand, stand with awareness.” Munishree learned to stand in balance, with the spine erect so that he coufd feel his energy moving in an uninterrupted flow from the lowest vertebra to the crown of the head. All the nerves of our body are connected along our spine at seven centers or vortices of energy. When we stand straight, we are opening these centers and removing the blocks. There are a number of instances in the Jain tradition of the great prophets meditating in the standing posture. Munishree practiced this meditation. His teacher told him, “In standing, you are presenting an image of yourself to yourself. Let it be a noble image, no less than divinity itself. Lift yourself to the level of the Arihanta.” So Munishree focused on becoming in tune with the Conquerors of inner weakness. “Aum Namo Arihantānam,”. he repeated, “I bow to the Conquerors in order to conquer myself.” He felt himself standing as tall as a tree, remembering that in the womb of the tiny seed lay the promise of the mature and mighty tree. In this posture, he meditated on awakening the seed of potentiality, to remove it from slumber, from avidya or ignorance. He saw his human form as a means to take him higher and higher until a point was reached in the meditation where he felt kayotsarga or the melting of the form. In tune with his noble Self, with the Conqueror within, he felt weightless and light, buoyant and blissful. Experiencing this experience, he came closer to believing in his inherent perfection. * Munishree meditated further. Jayam āse. When I sit, I will sit with awareness. Before sitting down on any seat or on the earth, he examined it first so as not to harm any living being by mistake. In the sitting posture, he focused on bringing his breathing, his heartbeats, and his pulses into harmony. Then he attuned himself to the purpose of any action he was en 124 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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