ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 375

Place for Dharma Dhy na
Whether crowded or lonely, any place is fit for meditation, if the mind is firm. But the surroundings also influence the mind. Therefore, that place should be avoided which is inhabited by low people, ruled by a wicked king and surrounded by hypocrites, highly perverted persons, gamblers and drunkards. In short, all such places, where disturbances may be caused by people of reprehensible profession, bad character, women, or animals, should be avoided.
On the other hand, a place that is sanctified by the association of great persons, and is lonely like seashore, forest, mountain, island, etc. should be chosen. The place for meditation should not have disturbance by noise, rain or wind.
Postures for Dharma Dhy na
Every place and every posture is suitable for meditation for him, who is detached, steadfast, firm and pure. Yet postures have importance of their own. They are
Paryank sana,
Ardhaparyank sana,.
Vajr sana,
Vir sana,
Sukh sana,
Kamal sana, Kayotsarga
The first and last of these seven, are especially suitable for the modern age, when people lack energy. The aspirant should face east or north, though there is no fixed rule. One who has controlled his posture becomes immune from the clemencies of nature. Sitting crosslegged; one should place his left hand on the lap, concentrating his sight on the tip of the nose, and making his face as motionless as the lake with fish asleep.
Other auxiliaries of Dhy na
In Patanjali yoga, much importance has been attached to Pr n y ma. In Jainism also, Subhacandra considers control over breath of much importance for control over mind. At the same time he also says that controlling the breath may lead to rta dhy na. The main purpose of these pr ny ma is to control the mind, and they give to know the whole world also. Better than pr ny ma is praty h ra, which means concentrating on forehead by withdrawing the senses. Besides, one can concentrate on the eyes, the ears, the tip of nose, the mouth, the naval, the head, the heart, and the place between the two eyebrows.
Object of Dharma Dhy na
Leaving attachment and infatuation, one should cut, as it were the enemy of karmas by the sword of Dhy na. The chief object of Dhy na is soul. Soul should strive for the attainment of self, that is, the soul. All these yonis / destinies are the result of karmas, the real self is siddha. Self is possessed of the four infinitive qualities of energy, knowledge, perception and bliss. Amongst the objects of Dhy na are sentiments and the insentient, their triple nature of continuance, birth and destruction, arhantas and siddhas. What is necessary is to distinguish the self from the body. The self should think that he is simply a light which has no foe or friend. Thereby he should leave all desire for beauty, age, strength, wealth etc.
Types of Dharma Dhy na
Tattv rtha sutra mentions four types of Dharma Dhy na:
Ajñ na vicaya it means having firm faith in the nature of things as taught in the scriptures composed by the omniscient. It becomes necessary when there is no teacher, one's own intellect is not so subtle, when there is rise of karmas and the objects are subtle and when one does not find proper causes and illustrations. Or, the person, who has himself grasped the nature of things, uses
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0