Jaina Culture

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

Page 96

KARMA AND LIBERATION
87
various functions of karma. The fourth type is in the shape of the meditation on the structure of the universe.
One who intends to practise virtuous meditation should possess the following four virtues : 'friendship with all creatures, cordial appreciation of the merits of others, compassion for sufferers and indifference for the unruly. He should also fulfil some other conditions such as regular study for the steadiness of mind, purification of belief and attitude for the removal of delusion, right conduct for the cessation of the inflow of new karmic matter and annihilation of the accumulated one and so on. He is also required to select a lonely and peaceful place for the practice of concentration. As regards the selection of posture, he can select any is true according to his The same own convenience. regarding the selection of time. The necessity of breathcontrol is also realised by the Jaina thinkers.
Pure meditation is the highest stage of concentration. Forbearance, humility, straightforwardness etc. are its prerequisites. It is also of four types. The first two types are mental in character, whereas the last two are extra-mental. The first type consists in the contemplation of various characteristics of the worldly phenomenon such as origination, decay and permanence of a particular object from different viewpoints. At this stage of meditation, the mental activity of a meditator is not confined to a particular characteristic or aspect of the object. The thought moves from one aspect to another. This is in regard to mental activity. Regarding the activities of his body and speech, there is, however, a slight movement. This movement consists in a definite change from one verbal symbol to another, from The second type one kind of physical activity to another. of pure meditation is opposed to the first cular sense. There is no movement in it. any change of activity. Besides, the thought concentrates upon a single aspect of an object. Unlike the first type, it
one in this parti
It is free from