________________
The benefits of meditation:
Meditation connects us to the divine light.
Meditation creates a special enchantment with one's inner self which makes one want to go deeper and deeper within. It joins the fragmented parts of the self. Meditation is, in essence, an inward journey. A journey however in which one does not travel here and there but instead remains stable and anchored. It is an inner celebration. In this celebration divinity integrates itself. Meditation gives us abundance and establishes us in a higher realm. It gives us depth. It also gives a new dimension to our being. With the help of meditation we can stop seeking here and there for happiness and find it within.
Using meditation as a tool we can reach our goals.
The four types of meditation:
According to Jain philosophy, our thoughts get focused, or in a meditative state in four different ways. They have called these ways four different types of dhyaná:
Aart dhyana, Raudra dhyana, Dharma dhyana and Shukal dhyana.
Aart dhyana and Raudra dhyana are inauspicious and should be avoided. They increase the pull towards the materialistic world.
Dharma dhyana and Shukal dhyana are auspicious. They result in spiritual progress. These four categories cover all the conditions of mind. 1) Aart Dhyana - Aart means pain. When our painful experiences
get hold of our mind we are in the state of Aart dhyana. For example in Hindu mythology when Dushyant went away, Shankuntala went into Aart dhyan. There are four broad subclassifications of this type of dhyana as follows: i) Anista-samyoga Aart Dhyana. This happens when we are put in
117
amrender muni ji maharaj
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
