Jainism Eternal and Universal Path for Enlightenment

Author(s): Narendra Bhandari
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

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Jainism : The Eternal and Universal path for Enlightenment
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act in unison, hunger or want of nourishment being the uniting motivation; on mental level, it unites the brain and body, on consciousness level, it helps one to live worry free and meditate, because food is a distraction in meditation. The other forms of tapa are taking salt and oil free food for a day (yambil) or more (Oli) and there are many forms varying from a month to a year of taking meals of a particular type with a particular schedule (Varshitapa, Vardhm 'n tapa etc). Fasting unto death (Sanlekhan? or Santha'r is the extreme tapa which completely removes fear of death.
Death has a special significance in Jainism because it is the doorway to another life. It should not be considered as an end in itself but a beginning of next life. One should meditate and watch oneself dying rather than make efforts to continue it beyond its utility. Sanlekhan is a sure way to witness one's own death. The last state of mind has much to do with the next birth. Fear of death and any form of grasping, yearning, longing and any trace of attachment to physical and mental relationships (worldly possessions and near and dear relatives) must be totally dissolved.
For best results, fasting of various types must be accompanied by various practices of meditations. In fact meditation itself automatically leads to various types of tapas. Unodari tapa, i.e. providing little less than the physical requirement of each indriya then controls each of them and in turn leads to abolish the control of the mind on them. Vrittisankshep, focuses on each centre i.e. Kendra (indriya) and contracts it to its core, avoiding interference with the function of the other. Rasparity?g is to break the links between mana and chetan: because mana can not control the indriyas without the support of chetan. Mana and indriyas both die out at death but chetana reincarnates them again in the next birth. They have physiological effects on various body parameters as well as psychological effects. When one realises that kly? is the source of all kleshas, and accepts the body as it is and the mind does not get affected when the body is subjected to pain, one attains the state of kly/klesha. After connecting to the cosmic energy, channelising it towards the goal of Mok-a is sanyam. To turn the energy inwards and not to be distracted from the chosen path, happen what may, such that no good or bad karmas can produce any vibrations in the mind is the state of stithipragya, attained by sanyam. The ultimate state attained by practicing all these Bahy 'ntar tapas is sanleent? when no part of the body or mind moves or acts without the consent or direction of the consciousness and then all act in consonance.
Internal Tapas (Abhayantar tapa) involve priyaschit (repentence or atonement