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COMPENDIUM OF JAINISM
is mysterious. Knowledge of this doctrine will lead to a correct understanding of the pure nature of the soul and the deletarious effects of inauspicious Karmas. Kundakunda has stated that is is from the practical point of view that the thought-paints occur in the soul till it reaches the stage of spirituality and that the souls which are liberated from the cycle of existence are free from colour, etc. 12
The importance of this doctrine in the practice of different kinds of meditation has been noted by Jinabhadra. He mentions, like other Jaina authors on Yoga, that there are four kinds of meditation : depressed (ärta), violent (raudra) religious (dharmya) and white (sukla). What are the moral and spiritual qualities of an individual practising each of these four types of meditations has been referred to by him during the course of his discussions. A person desirous of engaging himself in meditation has to concentrate his mind on one subject and free it from all distractions. Concentration is a mental process and there must be eradication of distracting activities. There are persons whose minds are full of worldly miseries; while there are others whose intentions and inclinations are wicked, revengeful or harmful. The thought-paints of these persons would be black, blue or dove-grey only differing in degree as to their intensity. Delusion, attachment, aversion and perversity would mark their activities. For one engaged in violent meditation, the three kinds of inauspicious thought-paints would be more or less in the superlative degree In persons engaged in the last two kinds of meditions, thoughts would be auspicious and their minds would be progressing gradually towards spiritualism until there is realization or insight into the real nature of the soul. In the śukla-dhyāna, there will be stability of mind, freedom from delusion, discrimination and nonattachment to the body or other worldly objects. Naturally the thought-paints in an ascetic who has reached this stage would be white. 13
The Ajivikas who followed the doctrines of Makhali Gosăla also recognise the theory of Karma and thought-paints. Gosāla,
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