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A Hand Book of Jainology
Pranidhan means being absorbed in every activity or sutra with a noble feeling of dedication to it. This kind of meditation relating to dedication is carried out. Therefore, sadhus and shravaks will have to carry out their vows and duties. Meditation is a part of it. After carrying it out, there is opportunity for meditation in solitude.
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In order to learn this meditation first of all you must practise and acquire concentration.
1) By means of meditating on every parthiharya of the Lord gradually you must dedicate your mind to the Arihant who possesses the 8 prathiharyas; you must enshrine him in the lotus of your heart and then carry out the Mrutunjaya Japa saying: "Om! Hrim! Arham Namah". You must bear in mind this point. You must know how long you have carried out meditation without being disturbed by other things.
2) The Navakar Mantra must be in your heart like a white gem placed in the lotus of your heart. It should keep shining. You must concentrate on those words and carry out firm Japa. This is the experiment of internal faith.
3) You must keep your eyes shut or absorbed in the 3. kinds of Japa called Bhasha, Upamshu and Manas. First you must recite the Bhashya japa. Then after having some practice you must recite the Upamashu japa mentally. You must say, "I salute the 24 Tirthankars: Rishabhdev, Ajitnath, Sambhanath etc". After completing one; immediately the second one should be begun and immediately the third. During this activity, you must keep your mind concentrated on the words so that your mind may not think of other things. In this manner, you must think of other things. You must proceed thinking of the extent of your japa, whether you have with concentration recited 15, 100, 500, 1000 times the name of the Lord. For the sake of the Manasjap even the internal recitation should be avoided. But how can words be fixed without utterance? The japa should be carried out observing this point. Haste is useless in this. You must acquire concentration so that you may get the power to carry out meditation.
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