________________ JAINA MEDITATION I. INTRODUCTION Meditation has always occupied an important position in Jainism. But there are phases through wbich it passed in order to reach the classical stage. The Agamic literature of the Jainas has preserved sufficient material for the reconstruction of the earlier phase of meditation that was probably followed by Lord Mabavira himself during his ascetic life. Although it is not possible to determine the various phases of the doctrine of meditation in early Jainism, a general review of it can be attempted on the basis of the earliest portions of the Ardhamagadhi canon. I shall here try to collect together the strands in the course of Jaina meditation, that lie strewn over the corpus of the Agamic lore, before giving an account of the classical theory which will be followed by a description of the stage of speculations of the later Jaina thinkers on the subject. II. MEDITATION IN EARLY JAINISM The elements of meditation in early Jainism can be discussed from various angles, keeping in view the treatment of the subject in the systematic treatises like the Yogadarsana of Patanjali and the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa, which give genuine accounts of the disciplines in their pristine character. Accordingly, we shall discuss meditation under several heads, such as physical postures, mental qualifications, and so on, in order that a comprehensive idea of the subject can be brought out. 1. Physical Postures In early Jainism, it is clearly indicated that the meditator fixed his eyes on the horizontal plane of the length of a man, without blinkipg. The meditator usually remained in the kayotsargamudra (standing position) with his legs close and parallel to one another, arms hanging down, fully stretched. His body was slightly bent forward and kept fully alert with all the senses completely guarded against exteraal influences. This is confirmed in the description of the meditative posture of Lord Maha.
