Facets of Jaina Religiousness in Comparative Light

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

Page 21

FACETS OF JAINA RELIGIOUSNESS 9. Meditation on Breathing (änäpāna-sati)
10. Meditation on Peace (upasamānussati) In the canonical texts only the first six anussatis are listed,44 the remaining four are found in later texts. It is in the Visuddhimagga and its commentary called the Paramatthamañjūsäţiká that we find a detailed discussion of these subjects of meditation.45
Meditation on the Buddha means reflection on and recollection of the special qualities of the Enlightened One. The formula of recollection is as follows:
"Such, indeed, is that Blessed One, the Holy, the Omniscient, Endowed with knowledge and virtuous conduct, Sublime, Knower of the worlds, the Incomparable Leader for the training of persons; Teacher of gods and men, Enlightened and Blessed."
Meditation on the Dharma includes recollection of the special qualities of the Dharma as set forth in the scriptures, e.g. it is well-expounded, visible here and now, not conditioned by time, inviting study and investigation, and it culminates in Nirvāņa.
Recollection of the special qualities of the Holy Order (sangha)-e.g. that the community of the Blessed One's disciples has entered the good, right, and true path, that it is fit for gifts and offerings and is worthy of salutations, constitutes sanghānussati.
Meditation on the fourth and the fifth themes viz. ethical virtue or morality (sila) and renunciation or generosity (tyāga), are designed to promote moral restraint (samvara) and detachment (vairāgya). The meditation on (śīla) concentrates on the thought that the virtue (sila) is liberating since it liberates from the slavery of desire and craving. Meditation on generosity (tyāga) is recommended for securing freedom from greed, hate and delusion.
Meditation on the gods includes recollection of various classes of deities who have attained divine abodes by means of virtue, learning, generosity, understanding, and so on. He who desires happiness and good destiny is advised to remember gods and their deeds.
Mindfulness of death (maraņānusmrti) is sought to be cultivated with a view to making one aware of the inevitability of death. 'Death will take place, the life-faculty
44. Anguttaranikāya, vol. III (Nalanda edition), p.7; Dīghanikāya, vol. III (Nalanda edition), p. 193;
Lalitavistara (Dharbhanga edition), p. 23. 45. Visuddhimaggo of Buddhaghosa with the Paramatthamañjūsāļika of Dhammapāla edited by
Rewatadhamma, vol. I, chapters VII-VIII, pp. 409-626; Visu Idhimagga of Buddhaghosācariya, ed. by H.C. Warren and revised by Dharmananda Kosambi, pp. 162-243; English Translation in the Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Nānamoli, pp. 204-320.