Studies In Umasvati And His Tattvartha Sutra

Author(s): G C Tripathi, Ashokkumar Singh
Publisher: Bhogilal Laherchand Institute of Indology

Page 119

Sources of Meditation in Tattvārthasūtra from Jaina Canons and Hindu Yoga-Šāstra
JAGAT RAM BHATTACHARYYA
Indian Philosophy is mainly based on spirituality and, therefore, leads to the path of emancipation. Jain scriptures also have its own identity and view in prescribing the philosophy of the path of emancipation. Ācārya Umāsvāti has delineated the principal objects of Jaina philosophy concisely and in the form of sūtra in the Tattvārthasūtra. So it is popularly known as the entrance of the study of Jain philosophy.
According to Umāsvāti meditation is one of the components of austerity-anaśanāvamaudaryavșttiparisamkhyānarasa parityāgaviviktaśayyāsanakāyakleśā bāhyam tapaḥ (9.19) (The six external austerities are—fasting, semi-fasting or reduced diet, voluntarily limiting the variety and the manner of seeking food, giving up delicacies or a stimulating diet, lonely habitation and mortification of the body); prāyaścittavinayavaiyāvsttyasvādhyāyavyutsargadhyānānyuttaram (9.20) [The six internal austerities are-penance, reverence (humility), service, scriptural study, renunciation and meditation).
Internal austerities have again been classified in different ways, such as, penance has nine divisions, those are, confessing transgression (ālocana), repenting past deeds (pratikramana), combined confession and repentance (tadubhaya), careful