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The interaction of Sanskrit through Jainism
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penanes the ascetic undergoes physical endurance whereas in internal penances he controls his mind.1 There are six external penances and six internal penances which an ascetic performs before he attains his salvation. The external penances are :
1. Anasana (fasting) - not taking any food for a limited period or till death. 2. Avamodarya - eating less than what one wants and this helps the ascetic to overcome the senses and the sleep.
3. Vrtti-parisankhyana taking a mental vow to accept food from a householder on certain condition. If the condition is too difficult, the monk will be without food for a long period and thereby he uproots the desire for food. renouncing one or more of the six delicacies, milk, curd, ghee,
4. Rasa-parityäga
oil, sugar and salt. This tapas is also to overcome the senses, the sleep, and to study without any disturbance.
5. Vivikta-layyasana- residing and sleeping in a lonely place.
6. Kaya-klesa - mortification of the body.
The six internal penances are :
1. Prayalcitta-observing expiation of any sin committed consciously or unconsciously. 2. Vinaya showing reverence and having belief in right faith, right knowledge, right conduct and paying respect to superiors.
3. Vaiyavṛtya - offering services to saints.
4. Svadhyaya learning the holy texts, 5. Vyutsarga
6. Dhyana meditation.
renouncing the attachment to the body.
Of all these twelve kinds of penances, dhyana holds the most important place in asceticism. It is through dhyana that the concentration of the mind is achieved. Ts. defines dhyana as follows:
Uttamasamhananasyaikagracintanirodho dhyanam a antarmuhürttat.
(Dhyana, the concentration of mind, is only possible up to forty eight minutes (antarmuhurta) and it can be only practised by a man with a good constitution.)
This dhyana is classified into four kinds, the arta dhyana (painful concentration), rudra dhyana (concentration on terrible things in order to achieve unrighteous gains), dharma dhyana (righteous concentration) and śukla dhyana (pure concentration).
1 Pajyapada, Sarvärthasiddhi, Commentary on Ts. 9: 19-20.
2 Ts. 9: 19
3 Ts. 9:27
4 Ibid, p. 202
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