Self Awareness Through Meditation

Author(s): Ranjitsingh Kumat
Publisher: Ranjitsingh Kumat

Page 52

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MAIN PRACTICES OF JAIN RELIGION
preceding day or night. There are six steps involved in this practice. First three steps are by way of preparation. In the first step the aspirant comes in the state of equanimity after giving up all the routine activities of daily life. In the second step he pays obeisance and remembers the earlier Tirthankaras or Initiators who have already attained emancipation to seek their blessings. In the third step he prays to the gurus or living saints. In the fourth step, the aspirant examines each vow of Anuvrata or Mahavrata he had taken earlier to see if he had gone against it knowingly or unknowingly and, if so, he atones for it and pledges not to commit it again. The word spoken for the atonement is ‘Michhamidukkadam' which literally means to’nullify' and the aspirant seeks nullification of his evil deeds as he feels sorry for the same. This type of daily introspection and atonement of one's actions leads to elimination of faults and addition of attributes to one's life. After the atonement and self-criticism, the aspirant seeks apology from and extends friendship to all the beings in this world. This is not a mere ritual. It comes as a result of humbleness resulting from retreat from sins and seeking atonement for the same. We naturally develop a feeling of friendship and love towards all being as we introspect and reiterate our vows of non-violence, truth etc.
Fifth step is an important step indeed called “Kayotsarga' which means to give up concern for or attachment with the body. Attachment with our body is the greatest hurdle in seeking emancipation. To be able to get detached with the body and to be able to feel above and beyond the concerns of body is ‘Kayotsarga'.
According to ‘Aavashyaka Sutra Kayotsarga is done to purify the feelings, to atone for evil deeds, to get rid of stings and to destroy the impact of sins. This is the means to reach the subconscious mind and get rid of deep complexes as also to reduce attachment to the body. By observing the sensations on the body in a detached manner without craving or aversion we become free from tension, transcend user consciousness to observer consciousness and attain Veetaragata' or 'absence of all cravings'. Sixth and final step of the Pratikraman is to take new vows to proceed on the path of renunciation. Small sacrifices help in building character and strength to renounce worldly attractions which keep us all the time engaged in the business of seeking more and more.
Fasting
A normal family person spends most of his time in earning livelihood, accumulating riches and gratifying sensual desires. There is no time to attend to the important issues of life. Eating continuously without any break gratifies the senses but affects the body adversely. It is therefore advised that one should