Self Awareness Through Meditation

Author(s): Ranjitsingh Kumat
Publisher: Ranjitsingh Kumat

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DHYANA IN ACHAARANGA SUTTA
HINTS OF VIPASSANA
Aachaaranga Sutta’ is the first and the oldest of Scriptures of Jain religion known as “Aagamas”. “Aagamas' contain sermons of Lord Mahavira, compiled about 800 years after his death. Lord Mahavir, the “Jina' (one who has overcome the passions of cravings and aversion') preached what he realized through attainment of ‘Kewal Gnana’ or Omniscience or Enlightenment. According to Swetambar sect (The sect whose monks wear only white robes as against Digamber sect whose monks do not put on any kind of robe) there are 32 books of Aagam’. The language and syntax of Aachaaranga Sutta is of old ‘Prakrita' and it is believed that it contains original sermons of Lord Mahavira. This Sutta contains direct and deeply meaningful directions on meditation to get over craving and aversion. The system of meditation that is suggested in the Aachaaraanga Sutta is amazingly similar to the system of meditation popularly known as “Vipassana” system of meditation given by Lord Buddha. Dr. Sagarmal Jain, renowned scholar of Jain and Buddha scriptures, observes that Lord Buddha learnt the system of meditation from one saint Ramputta and this name is found in Jain scriptures too. Similarity in the sutras of Aachaaranga Sutta and the Vipassana system of meditation indicates the possibility of both the Jain and Buddha traditions of meditation hailing from the same source, namely Ramputta.52 Aachaaranga Sutta contains valuable and incisive directions for meditation to attain eternal freedom. However, the later interpretations totally missed the point. Meditation is primarily aimed at installing oneself in equanimity which is also known by the name of 'Samayika' (Inflow of equanimity). This enables a person to achieve the state of being a detached observer', away from the normal reaction of craving and aversion. There is ample reference to attaining this state of detached observer' in the Aachaaraanga Sutta, though there is no direct mention of
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