________________ Meditation in Early Jainism 3. Impediments to Meditation The chief impediment to meditation is vicikitsa, that is, doubt about the efficacy and the final end of meditation. It is not possible for the meditator to achieve peace of mind until and unless he frees himself from all vestiges of doubt. One cannot attain ecstasy so long as one is agitated and disturbed in his mind on account of the doubt, vitigicchasamavannenan appanenam no labhati samadhim. Among the other impediments, the most prominent ones are : kaukrtya, kasaya, grddhi, pramada, murccha, and the like. In brief, what is opposed to the psychical factors favourable to meditation is an impediment. 4. Dhyana and Prajna Dhyana (meditation) and prajna (wisdom, insight) go hand in hand. One without the other is impossible. It is difficult to attach priority to any between the two. One can however make the beginning with dhyana. Prajna is then bound to arise. The power of penance, the prajna and the purity of the soul gradually increase along with the progress in meditation accompanied with the absolute control of desires. It is said of an ascetic who has completely subdued his cravings and passions and meditates on the transcendent dhamma (discipline) that he increases his penance, wisdom and faith like the ever growing lustre of the flame of fire. 5. Asubhatvanupreksa A vivid picture of the impurity of the body is drawn in the Aca. ranga Sutra. This may be regarded as the earliest form of asubhanupreksa (also called asucitvanupreksa) in Jainism. Such anupreksa is a common feature of all three spiritual disciplines, viz. Jainism, Buddhism and the Yoga system of Patanjali. In Buddhism it is known as asubhabhavana, that is, meditation on the impure nature of the body. In the Yoga philosophy of Patanjali, it is a form of avid ya that mistakes the impure for the pure. The asubhatvanupreksa is impressively embodied in the following 1 Ayaro, I. 5.5.93. 2 Ibid., II. 16.5: vidu nate dhammapayam anuttaram viniyatanhassa munissa jhayao / samahiyassa'ggisiha va teyasa tavo ya panna ya jaso ya vaddhai / 3 Bhagavati Aradhana, gathas 1710, 1807. 4 Visuddhimagga, VI. 5 Yogadarsana, II. 5.
