________________
108
JAINISM
cation; all knowledge is based on the senses. The process in concentration for increasing our knowledge is analysis and then synthesis; analysis of the thing or subject into its parts and aspects, and then puiting their together mentally and thinking of the thing as one whole. There is in the process, observation, comparison, classification, generalisation, inference, synthesis, and learning the relations of the thing or subject to other things in the world.
Knowledge is only right, in so far as it iniproves the social nature. And knowledge must not be gained at the expense of living beings, as in vivisection, for example: we have no such right. Further, knowledge is not only the perception of the object; there must be perception of the object, then desire to act in relation to it; and, finally, there must be the determination to act in relation to the object. Knowledge is not new knowledge, unless it pro. duces some change in the life. Knowledge must be deep down in the person, perception is only on the surface.
Any comfortable position of the body may be taken while concentrating, so that there may be no consciousness of the position in which we are, or so that we may not be uneasy or strained.
An object of concentration is to realize that our real self is not our personality.
There should be preparation for concentration, the choice of some particular subject; and we should induce enthusiasm, ardour, and sincerity in the heart at the time of concentration.
In concentration, for the purpose of improving our conduct, the process is different: the subject as a whole Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org
