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JAINISM AT STAKE.
81 Then he should contemplate himself to be in qualities like an all-knowing being free from the seven elements, sitting on the throne, adored by the gods possessing celestial excellences and shining like the full moon. This is the Rupavati Dharana.
Padastha Dhyana is the contemplation by using certain words or letters. The efficacy of prayer, examples of which are given in verse 49, Bibliotheca Jainica Vol. 1 is laid down in connection with this kind of contemplation.
Rupastha Dhyana is contemplating the Lord Jina, sitting on a throne of jewel in the assembly of nien who are desirous of salvation, surrounded by the twelve Ganadharas and the eight door keepers, possessing infinite greatness, a store of infinite virtues, of a celestial body shining more brilliantly than a crore of suns, fanned by excellent chowries, attended on by the gods, free from the eighteen blemishes, endowed with all the excellences and expounding the Dharma.
Rupatita Dhyana consists in contemplating the highest form of one's own soul, as immaterial, a store of virtues, and resembling the Siddhas between whom and himself there is no specific difference.
Jainism at Stake.
BY Anant Per'shad Jain, Bareilly. TO me the greatest drawback of our community as a whole
1 appears to be the lack of a religious and social central active organisation under whose regime all of us might annually meet to discuss problems threatening the existence of our religion and menacing our social welfare. The immense advantages that would accrue to us from organising ourselves into a central active body cannot be exaggerated.
It is high time for us to wake up and see around us how other religions of India are vigorously trying to gain their ancient prestige and power through their active organisations.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
