ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 266

B.4.3.3
Yoga in Jain Tradition Dr. Priyadarshana Jain
Introduction India is a spiritual land. It has been a birthplace for innumerable spiritual, philosophical and religions traditions since time immemorial. Unlike in the west, the eastern philosophical schools developed simultaneously, be it Brāhmanic or śramanic. But in both traditions and in almost every Indian School of Philosophical thought, the terms Yoga and dhyāna find an important place. According to Vedic Rșis the originator of Yoga concepts is supposed to be Hiranyagarbha, the personified form of God or the Ultimate Energy. According to the Jainas it is the first tīrthamkara Rşabhadeva. In India, Philosophy and Yoga have not developed independently of each other, as they are not separate entities. Generally every system of philosophy has a corresponding Yoga technique for the practical application of the doctrines Yoga was a way of life in Ancient India; spiritual and religious exercises, which lead towards liberation, are termed as Yoga. References of Yoga in Atharvaveda, Upanişadas, Mahābhārata, Bhagavadgitā, Smrtis, Purāṇas, Yogavāsistha, etc., go to prove the popularity of Yoga in the Brāhmaṇic tradition.
However it was Maharşi Patanjali who systematically presented the eight-fold Yoga in his Yogasūtra. The Yoga styled naked monuments in the kāyotsarga posture in Mohenjadaro too are a pointer to this fact, besides we find references of Avadhūta and Tāpasas. The Bauddha path of purification is spelt through śīla (conduct) samādhi (peace) and prajñā (enlightenment) and its practical Yoga philosophy is the popular Vipassanā Meditation. The Jaina path of purification is a synthesis of Right faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct "i.e. ātmadarśana, ātmajñāna and ātmaramana", in other words faith in the ayoga transcendental state of the soul, knowledge of transcending the mundane conditioning of mind, body and speech. The way of transcending materialism and manifestation of the spiritual personality within is termed as Mokşa-margā. Whether it is the Yoga Mārga of Sāṁkhya, Visuddhi of Buddhism or Moksa-argā of Jainism, all are intimately related and have influenced each other. It is worthwhile to see the unity of their expositions. The four basic doctrines acceptable to all these systems of Yoga are:
Haribhadra's Yoga works and Psychosynthesis 2 Ibid Pg. 12
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