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'જૈન ધર્મ અનેં અન્ય પરંપરાઓમાં યોગ - વિશેષાંક JAIN YOGA & MEDITATION
Dr. Kokila Shah
Prof. Dr. Kokila Shah is Gold Medalist from University of Mumbai, Jain Scholor, presented papers on Jainism at National and International Seminars. She was Ph.D. guide from Mumbai University. At present she is hono. prof. at Somaiya Jain Centre.
Lord Mahavira was a true Yogi. 'Yoga' is a Everyone is in search of permanent happiness. In household word by now. In Jain tradition, Yoga is a the present times, Science & Technology has provided supreme science of living. Yoga is a possession of us with comfort & luxury of material pleasures. But Indian tradition. Patanjali defines Yoga as control of there is lack of inner happiness & harmony. Yoga is a the activities of mind.
means to achieve it. In the earlier literature the term Yoga occurs in According to Jainism, Soul & Matter (Body) are the sense of effecting a connection. Accordingly, the different. Yoga as a Science of self-realisation enables term Yoga means that which connects the soul with us to experience pure soul - devold of matter. Relisuper soul - pure soul. Haribhadra for the first time gion is the innate nature of a thing & Yoga helps us to defined "Yoga' as that which leads one to emancipa- realise true nature of one's own soul. tion. (Yogavimsika 1) This meaning of the term Yoga Jainism is the religion of Jina - the victor. One has is accepted in the post - Haribhadra Jain Literature. to achieve the victory over passions & this can be made Of course, the term Yoga was used in the general sense possible through Right vision, Right knowledge & Right of subduing the senses & the mind & the processes of conduct - the three jeweles of Yoga. It helps to cencentration & ecstasy even in the earlier stages of explore the Science of Soul. How does mind be Jain thought. But the terms dhyan - meditation & controlled? How ego can be eliminated? Yoga reveals samadhi were more used than the term Yoga. mysteries of universe - the Eternal Truth of Life & Acharya Hemchandra has written on Yoga.
Universe through enlightenment. Yoga is a Science of Acharya Hemchandra's 'Yogashastra' begins with
well-being & art of living with others in rhythamatic the following verse -
way. Essence of Yoga is top live a truly fulfilling life. "I bow down to Lord Mahavira who is a Lord of
Yoga is a means to achieve lasting peace, the mental
suffering, physical suffering & suffering on account of Yogi, (ascetics),- the protector of all living beings, who have eliminated inner enemies like Anger, pride, de
outside agency can be avoided by means of Yoga. ceit & greed - attachment - which are difficult to eradi
Jain Yoga embraces a wide range of disciplines. In cate.
Jainism Yoga is integrated with daily living. The main
components of Jain Yoga principles are - Acharya Hemchandra's Yogashastra' is unique work of Indian Philosophy. Acharya Umaswati begins
(1) Three Jeweles - Right faith, Right knowledge, Tatlvarthsutra with aphorism - 'Right faith, Right
Right conduct. knowledge & Right conduct constitutes the way to fi- (2) Ethical disciplines - Rules of conduct. nal liberation. These three are known as 'Three (3) Restraning of the senses. Jeweles' in Jaina Philosophy. Generally, the term Yoga (4) Equanimity is equivalent to 'Three Jeweles' in Jainism. The book Haribhadra has equated Patanialis eight limbs of Jnanarnava of Subhandra is also a valuable work on Yoga with eight visions (drastic) Yoga. Upadhyaya Yashovijayji has written on Yoga. Among the four goals of human objectives, lib
In a sense, Yoga can also be equated with eration is the foremost, As already stated, the path of meditation.
liberation consists of Right faith or Right vision
(ફેબ્રુઆરી - ૨૦૧૮
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