Jain Journal 2002 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 13

178
JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXVI, No. 4 April, 2002
concentration of mind.32 Meditation is an important means of destruction of karmas. Meditation, again, is perfected by knowledge, which is obtained by studies. Hence one must always engage in acquiring knowledge through studies. This is why scriptural study is considered the foremost among the twelve austerities. 33
(5) Bodily Steadiness (kayotsarga). A monk who makes no movement while lying, sitting, or standing and checks all activities of his body is said to observe the tapas of Bodily Steadiness.34 The benefits of the practice of Bodily Steadiness are: removal of mental and physical lethargy, attainment of equanimity for pleasure and pain, obtaining enough opportunity for deep reflection, and enhancement of the power of concentration for meditation. Since Bodily Steadiness is beneficial in acquiring mental concentration, alertness, and forbearance, it is classed as one of the 'internal tapas' even though it is concerned with the physical body,
According to another version, renunciation (vyutsarga) is the fifth tapas. This is of two types : external renunication (dravya-vyutsarga) and internal renunciation (bhava-vyutsarga). External renunciation includes renouncing attachment to the body, giving up dependence upon the monastic order (gana-vyutsarga) and living away from the community in solitude for the sake of spiritual practices, reducing or renouncing the articles of daily use like clothes, begging bowl, etc. Internal renunciation consists in giving up anger, egoism, attachment, and greed, the feeling of aversion or attraction, and unnecessary activities of body, mind and speech.35
(6) Meditation (dhyana). Meditation occupies the most important place in the scheme of Jain ethics. In fact, all ethical disciplines are aimed at perfecting meditation. 'If a person is free from attachment, hatred, delusion, and activities of mind, speech and body, he becomes filled with the fire of meditation, that burns all auspicious and inauspicious karmas. 36
In Jainism, all concentrated thinking is called meditation. However, only two types of 'auspicious thinkings' called dharma and sukla
32. Ibid., 478. 33. Ibid., 479. 34. Ibid., 480. 35. Sadhvi Sri Jaydarshitashriji, Philosophy of Sadhana in Jainism, Buldhana,
1985, p. 170. 36. Samana Suttam, 487.