Sambodhi

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 21

Haribhadra's Synthesis of Yoga
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few words, and no definition is provided in the yoga works. Even then it is worthwhile to grasp the import of the word Bhāvanā. Haribhadra has well endeavoured to describe it in the Karikā 28 of the Yogadrstisamuccaya. It means writing worshipping, offering a gift, listening to, reading, duly grasping, publicizing, studying, pondering over, imbibing the spirit of the Mantra. These are all the forms of Bhāvanā in daily worship. The last adjective "imbibing the spirit" is perhaps the most important. It alone gives out the core meaning and it leads us to the four well-known Bhāvanās of Maitri, Muditā, Karuņā and Upek sā. Jainism describes twelve Bhāvanās. Jainism shows great insight into detailed descriptions of the subtle nature not only in this regard but into all concepts whether they are religious or yogic. Suffice. it to understand these four Bhāvanās enumerated above, because they sufficiently cover the whole ground. Maitri Bhāvanā prepares the mind of the sādhaka to keep a friendly attitude to the happy ones. It debarrs to have any illwill or jealousy towards them because that is the general tendency in all men.
The second Bhāvanā is Karuņā. It is compassion for the uphappy. There is misery all around in the world and most of the people are unhappy in one way or the other and every unhappy man expects sympathy. So it is ordained for the sādhaka to have compassion for the unhappy. The third Bhāvanā is Muditā and it is to be happy on seeing the righteousness in others. Righteousness is the best merit for which one should feel happy. The riches, power or the worldy happiness are not the objects for which the sadhaks should feel happy but it is only the righteousness in man that he should feel joy. The last but not the least, he should keep an emotional indifference towards the evil. This does not mean that he should not see the evil as it is but he should have complete non-cooperation with all that is evil. These four Bhāvanas not only purify the citta of the sādhaka but they provide the best motive power for his spiritual work. The Bhāvanās as they are described are more related to the emotional aspect of man's mind and emotions provide the motive power for mental activities. It is said that Bhāvanās alone are the source of man's capacity and ability.
On having a restrospective glance on Japa and Deity-worship along with the Bhāvanās it can easily be seen now that the deity-worship provides the sādhaka an ideal image for his spiritual upliftment. Japa strengthens the image by thinking on the meaning behind the image and the Mantra suggestive of the image and Bhāvanās provide the best and pure motive power for the attainment for the goal.
All these steps and concepts and the principles of yoga seem to be complete in themselves but even then the task of sādbanā does not seem