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THE TYPES OF MEDITATION
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Muhurta' is the period of time. 'Antarmuhūrta' means within one muhūrta. The time limit is within one muhurta. It is not possible to maintain concentration beyond that. If curbing or restraining the thought is meditation, it is negative. It follows that meditation is non-existent like the horns of a donkey. There is no contradiction. It is said to be nonexistent from the point of view of the removal of other thoughts, but positive also with regard to the particular thought. Non-existence is the other form of existence and it has the characteristic of an object, as it is admitted to be a cause. Or 'nirodha' is not an abstract noun. What else is it? It is a verbal noun. That which is confined is confinement. Thought and confinement, that is confinement of thought. This is the purport. Knowledge which shines without quivering like the steady flame of a candle is meditation.
The types of meditation are mentioned next. आर्तरौद्रधर्म्यशुक्लानि
11 RCII Artaraudradharmyaśuklāni
(28) 28. The painful (sorrowful), the cruel, the virtuous (righteous) and the pure.
Ārti' is pain. That which arises from it is 'ārtam', painful. 'Rudra' means cruel temperament. That which arises from it is 'raudram', cruel. 'Dharma' has been defined as moral duties. That, which does not swerve from 'dharma' or which is associated with it, is 'dharmyam', virtuous or righteous. Pure from the association of pure qualities. These four kinds of meditation are divided into two classes, good and evil or auspicious and inauspicious. The former (i. e, the painful and the cruel) are called inauspicious, as these two lead to the influx of ina uspicious karmas. The latter are called auspicious, as they are capable of destroying karmas. What are these ?
परे मोक्षहेतू Pare mokşahetū
(29) 29. The last two are the causes of liberation. 'Param'is the last one (i.e. pure concentration). The virtuous
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