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८६ :
श्रमण/अक्टूबर-दिसम्बर/१९९६
The pre-requisite for a peaceful mind is a relaxed body. While meditating the body should be firm as a rock and all the organs like the back, the chest, the arms and so on should be completely relaxed. To control the mind and to absorb it in the self, the aspirant first brings his body to a steady position and this is possible when he is totally detached. In the presence of attachments for the body etc., it is not possible for the mind to become stable and absorbed in the self.
Hence to remove all considerations for the body it is important to make it steady and clear all harmless conditions. Only with this aim in view the body should be totally relaxed in the first place as done by Lord Mahāvīra. Ācārya Hemacandra in his Yogaśāstra says that a person should accept that posture only for meditation in which he can remain steady and relaxed for a long time.
Another reason to fix one's concentration on the tip of the nose is to watch the breath that one exhales and inhales and develop the ability of being a witness. In this way one can control one's mind and conquer the passions. The same sentiment is echoed in the Sramaņasuttas, "The aspirant should stop all the activities of the mind, body and speech and fix his eyes on the tip of the nose and breathe slowly. Further, it is said
"अदु पोरिसिं तिरियंभित्तिं चक्खुमासज्ज अंतसो झाति ।। 36 gerent afgert a " CAT'' age all"
31ERIT, 8/814 i.e. Lord Mahāvīra used to be absorbed in the self and used to fix his eyes on the wall because of which the children got scared and used to throw stones at him.
When one fixes his concentration on a particular object or on a particular point, his thought activity is controlled and gradually the self gets absorbed in it. Looking at a person in bed, you can tell whether he is fast asleep or in a dreaming state. If the eye balls
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