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For those who are fickle-minded, intellectually unsteady, nothing is so potent to terminate such a state of mind as the pursuance of Svādhyāya or the scriptural study, just as darkness can only be nullified by the light of the sun. 44 It brings about mental integration and concentration, inasmuch as the aspirant overcomes the hindrances by ascertaining the nature of things through the study of the scriptures. 45 Without the acquisition of scriptural knowledge, there always abides à danger of being led astray from the virtuous path, just as the tree full of flowers and leaves cannot escape its deadening. fate for want of the root.46
(5) Vyutasarga signifies the relinquishment of external and internal Parigraha. 47 The former comprises living and non-living Parigraha, and the latter, the different kinds of passions.48 General nature and types of Dhyāna
Having discussed the nature of five kinds of internal Tapas, we now proceed to dwell upon the nature of Dhyānas. It will not be amiss to point out that all the disciplinary practices form an essential background for the performance of Dhāyana. all the disciplinary observances find their culmination in Dhyāna. Thus Dhyāna is the indispensable, integral constituent of right conduct (ethico-spiritual conduct) and consequently, it is directly related to the actualization of the divine potentialities. It is the clear, and single road by which the aspirant can move straight to the supreme good.
To define Dhyāna, it represents the concentration of mind on a particular object.49 The stability of thoughts on one object is recognized as Dhyāna and the passing of mind from one object to another is deemed as either Bhāvanā, or Anuprekṣā, or Cintā.50
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Spiritual Awakening (Samyagdarśana) and Other Essays'
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