Self Awareness Through Meditation

Author(s): Ranjitsingh Kumat
Publisher: Ranjitsingh Kumat

Page 74

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DHYANA IN AACHAARAANGA SUTTA—II
No action can be judged in its entirety without relating it with place, time, intent etc. An action can be cause of sin and the same in another context or with different intent can be helpful in destroying the old karma. Use of knife by a thief is the cause of sin while the same knife used by doctor to cure the patient is an act of kindness. The judge for all this is the self alone. Nobody else can make the right judgment. It has been said that one should break every event/action into parts and observe it by meditating deep in one's own self and with one's own ‘Pragya’ or wisdom.
Renounce Violence
So long as one is obsessed with the outside world, one cannot make any spiritual progress. The outside world, the riches, the power and glory are too obsessing and people enslave and dominate others to acquire riches, indulge in sex and fulfill creature instincts. Acquisition and domination is causing violence and suffering all around. Violence brings suffering not only to those who are the victims but also to those who commit it. Hence, to get rid of suffering, renouncing violence is the precondition. In this context examine the following stanza:
“Disregard the outside world One who does that is the wisest man in the world Meditate and see, One who abandons violence alone can destroy Karmas."69
Know the Suffering
The wise comprehend the pain; they do not suffer. They know it fully and in all its aspects. One who knows the pain comes to know the cause as also the way to get rid of it.
The following is quite instructive in this regard:
“Those who are Enlightened are adept in knowing the pain or suffering, They know the cause as well as the results of suffering, So they are adept in knowing the Karma fully.”70
The import of this Sutta is strikingly similar to what Lord Buddha said about four noble truths relating to suffering. One who knows the suffering,