Facets of Jaina Religiousness in Comparative Light

Author(s): L M Joshi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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FACETS OF JAINA RELIGIOUSNESS
got rid of by a process of meditational development, involving deep reflection on and constant cultivation of seven factors of Supreme Enlightenment. The seven factors of Supreme Enlightenment (samyak sambodhyanga) are the following mental and spiritual practices : smrti, dharmavicaya, vīrya, priti, praśrabdhi, samadhi and upekșa--mindfulness, investigation of the Dharma, spiritual energy, joy, serenity, trance, and equanimity.38
The cultivation of four immeasurable (aprameya) social emotions called the holy abidings' (brahmavihāras) is often called bhāvanā. That is to say, bhāvanā is used in the sense of cultivation, production or development of four holy abidings (brahmavihāra-bhāvanā), viz. maitri, karunā, muditā and upekṣā, friendliness, compassion, altruistic joy, and equanimity or impartiality.39 As an example of cultivation of universal friendliness (maitri-bhāvanā) we may quote following two verses from one of the oldest Buddhist canonical texts : "Just as a mother keeps guard on her own son, her only son, as long as she lives, so also let every one cultivate (bhāvaye) an immeasurable (friendly) thought towards all beings. Let every one cultivate an immeasurable (friendly) thought towards all the creatures in the world - upwards, downwards, and across, unhindered, free of hatred and hostility."'40 In the same way cultivation of other three immeasurable virtues, compassion, altruistic joy, and equanimity is recommended to ascetics and lay members. In several canonical Sutras in Pali, these four bhāvanās are said to lead to fellowship with Brahma (Brahma-sahabyatā).41
Another related term worthy of consideration here is smrti (Pali sati) which may be translated as 'mindfulness', 'awareness', 'recollection', and in certain contexts, as 'memory'. It is one of the most important technical Buddhist terms with religious and psychological significance. It is listed as one of the eight factors of the Eightfold Way (samyak smrti), one of the five spiritual Powers (smsti-bala), and one of the seven factors of Enlightenment (smrti-sambodhyanga). The extraordinary soteriological relevance of smrti or mindfulness is found stressed in the following statement of the Buddha : "There is this one way, brethren, for the purification of beings, for going beyond sorrow and lamentation, for the ending of pain and misery, for entering the right path, and for realizing Nirvāṇa, namely, the four applications of mindfulness" (ekāyano ayam, bhikkhave, maggo sattānam visuddhiya, sokaparidevānam samatik kamāya, dukkhadomanassānam atthangamāya, ñāyassa adhigamāya, nibbānassa sacchi
38. Ibid., pp. 16-17. 39. See Visuddhimagga, chapter IX; Vimuttimagga (The Path of Freedom), pp. 181-192. 40. Suttanipāta, vv. 149-150. 41. See e.g. Dighanikāya, vol. I (Nalanda editition), pp. 209-212; cp. Divyāva lāna (Darbhanga edi
tion), p. 139-rşibhiḥ pravrajitvä сatvari brahmavihārän bhāvayitvā kāmeşu kāmacchandam prahāya ta Ibahulavihārino brahmaloka sabhag arayamupapannah.