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Jaina View of Life
atmosphere for Dharmadhyāna. Dharmadhyana is possible from the fourth to the seventh stage of Gunasthāna. As one goes higher up in the spiritual development, one would have developed sufficient physical and mental strength to aim at the final emancipation. The Jaina analysis of right concentration (Dharmadhyāna) is intimately woven in the moral texture in this life. One has to practise the four-fold virtues : maitri (friendship), pramoda (appreciation or the merits of others), karuṇā (compassion) and mādhyasthya (undisturbed equanimity, as the pre-requisites of this type of concentration. And in the graded levels of concentration the consummation is reached when the pure and perfect self is the object of concentration. The same type of concentration is to be reached in Sukladhyāna, except for the fact that in the Sukladhyana we get perfect concentration.
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In the Sukladhyāna the range of the objects of concentration is narrowed to the concentration of the atom, just as poison spread over the body is first collected at a point by a Mantra and then removed by a more powerful Mantra. For this type of concentration one must have good physique and must be at least in the seventh stage of Guņasthāna. Four types of Sukladhyāna have been mentioned. In the first two types mind concentrates on the minutest entity like the atom. Then it gets pure and perfect enlightenment, the last two stages lead to final emancipation. The self becomes motionless as a rock and is free from any activity of mind, body and speech, as in the stage of highest Samadhi. In the practice of Dhyana first stage is concentration on the image of Tirthankara. This is the concrete symbol for concentration. After achieving steadfastness in this concentration, one should practise concentration on the abstract qualities of a Tirthankara. The practice of Yoga
32. Dhyanas ataka 30-34.
33. Jñänarnava. XXVII, 4-15.
34. Dhyanas ataka. 71-72
35. Dhyanas ataka 71-72.
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