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TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
The Types of anupreksā or Deep-reflection :
The constant reflection as to anitya or the transient, ašarana or the helpless, saṁsāra or the world of transmigrations, ekatva or soleness, anyatva or separateness, aśucitva or impurity, asrava or the fundamental verity designated inflow, samvara or the fundamental verity designated protection, nirjarā or the fundamental verity designated cleansing-off, loka or the universe, bodhidurlabha or the fact that right thoughtand-conduct is difficult of achievement, dharma-svākhyātatva or the fact that religious message has been well delivered—that is called anupreksā or deep-reflection. 7.
Anupreksā means deep-reflection. In case a piece of reflection happens to be veracious and deep it prevents the onset of the tendencies like attachment and aversion. Hence it is that such reflection has been described as a means of samvara.
Of the subject-matters which when reflected over prove specially useful for a purification of life twelve have been preferred and the reflection conducted in relation to them has been given the designation twelve anupreksās. An alternative designation for anupreksā is bhāvanā. These anuprekṣās are as follows:
(1) In order that the loss of a thing received earlier causes no sorrow attachment has to be reduced in relation to all things whatsoever. And with a view to such reduction of attachment to think as regards the things like one's body, residential quarters etc.—as also as regards one's relationship with them—that none of them whatsoever is lasting or permanent—that is called anityaanupreksā or reflection as to the transient.
(2) In order that pure religion is alone accepted as a help in life the feeling of ownership in relation to everything else has to be discarded. And with a view to such discarding of the feeling of ownership to think as regards oneself that just as a deer caught in the clutches of a lion is without a help so also is on caught in the clutches of mental pains, bodily pains, external disturbances, helpless for ever-that is called ašarana-anupreksā or
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