Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 94

KARMA AND LIBERATION
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lodging, clothing etc. and similar other causes are responsible for the bondage of the power-obscuring karma.
The binding of karma can be checked by means of controlled activities of the body, mind and speech (gupti), carefulness in walking, speaking, receiving, lifting up and laying down a thing and performing excretional activities (samiti), duties of a monk (dharma), reflections (anupreksā), dispassionate endurance of troubles (parişahajaya) and proper conduct (caritra). The accumulated karmas can be eliminated by means of fasting (anaśana), reduction of food (avamaudarya), restriction to certain food (urtti-parisankhyāna), renunciation of delicacies (rasa-parityāga), resting in a lonely place (vivikta sayyāsana), mortification of the body (kāya-klesa) expiation (präpašcitta), modesty (vinaya), service (oaiyādfttya), study (svādhyāya), renunciation of ego-centricity (vyutsarga) and meditation (dhyāna). Of these twelve means, the first six are external, whereas the last six are internal. The external means are chiefly related to physical purification, while the iặternal ones are mainly concerned with the purification of mind.
The Jaina emphasises the practice of physical austerity or penance, such as fasting, reduced diet etc., for the sake of spiritual purification. He does not admit the value of mortification for its own sake. It is good so long as it serves the cause of self-realisation. The six forms of physical austerity practised in a right manner result in non-attachment, lightness of the body, conquest of the senses, protection of self-discipline and annihilation of karmas. Meditation :
Meditation is defined as the concentration of thought on a particular object by a person of excellent physical construction. The act of meditation is conditioned by the excellent bodily structure. Why is it so ? Because the minimum mental strength required for the act of concentration depends