________________ DHYANASATAKA AND THE DHYANA SECTION OF TATTVARTHA-BHASYA-TIKA -A COMPARATIVE STUDY The Tattvartha-Bhasya-Tika of Siddhasenaganin records a great number of features of the Jaina theory of meditation, that deserve careful study. A number of valuable excerpts are also quoted there from earlier treatises that are no more extant. These passages throw immense light on the inter-relationship of meditation and the gunasthanas (stages of spiritual development). In fact, one can properly understand the meaning and purpose of meditation only in the light of this inter-relationship. The Dhyanasataka is another treatise that lucidly epitomizes the Jaina doctrine of dhyana in its various aspects, and is held in very great respect both in the Svetambara and the Digambara tradition. The authorship of the work is not known though usually it is ascribed to Jinabhadragani-ksamasramana, the author of the Visesavasyaka-Bhasya. A comparative study of the above-mentioned two works shows their close affinity. I have quoted fortyfive instances from them, that may be helpful in determining their mutual chronology. Personally I feel that the Dhyanasataka verses are based on the material provided by the Tattvartha-Bhasya-Tika. There is also the possibility of both being indebted to an earlier treatise, though, of course, the latter was composed earlier than the former. The parallel passages are given below seriatim. 1. TBHT, IX.27, p. 47 11 15-17 : चलं चित्तमेव चिन्ता, तन्निरोषस्तस्यैकत्रावस्थापनमन्यत्राप्रचारो निरोधः / अतो निश्चलं स्थिरमध्यवसानमेकालम्बनं छास्थविषयं ध्यानम् / केवलिनां पुनर्वाक्काययोगनिरोध एव ध्यानम् / Dhs, 2-3 : जं थिरमझवसाणं तं झाणं जं चलं तयं चित्तं / तं होज्ज भावणा वा अणुपेहा वा अहव चिंता / / अंतोमुहुत्तमेतं चित्तावत्थाणमेगवत्थुमि / छउमत्थाणं झाणं जोगनिरोहो जिणाणं तु //
