Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 192

Code of conduct for monks...
183 Prasamarati devotes 14 verses 41 to enumerate the principle of bhāvanā. Twelve Bhavanās
(1) The transient character of thing (unit patva bhārana), (2) belplessness (asaranatva), (3) loneliness (ekatva), (4) separateness of the self and non-self, (5) impurity of the body (asucitva), (6) transmigrations (sum. sāra), (7) inflow of karmas (karmasrava), (8) stoppage of the inflow of karmas (sarvara), (9) shedding of stock of karmas (nir jarana), (10) constitution of the universe (lokavistara), (11) nature of Law (ahorma) and (12) difficulty in attaining Rightfaith (bodhisudurlabhata). These bhavanās are explained in the following manper : The monk has to reflict with on the impermanent nature of the world (anitvatva). In this world union with beloved people, prosperity, pleasures and accessories, werlih, lealth. physical gift, youth and even life itself are all transitory.49 The jiva is pestered by birth, old age, death, pain and pleasure. For this tormentiog samsărika jiva, there is no saviour except words of 8 Jinas (asaranotva). Roflection on ekatvabhāvanā is that the individual jiva is all alone wbile being born and all alone when it dies. One has to roap fruits of one's own actions, good or bad. one alone has to take birth in the lower or bigher world, no one else accompanies one to the next world. Thus monk should reflect on one's own welfare...
The monk has to reflect on repeated births and deaths (samsára). The soul during the range of beginningless time suffers many births and deaths. The same single soul plays different roles in different births, becoming mother, daughter, sister and wife and the same jiva also takes the form of a son, father, brother and even one's own enemy.43 Thus realising such nature of the samsara one should meditate on the true nature of soul whereby there would be an end to transmigration. Asravabhāvanā 4 consists in reflecting on the root-cause of karmic influx, Wrong belief, want of control, negligence, four fundamental passions, and psycho-physical activities of miod, speech and body lead to karmic influx and bondage of soul, Reflecting on these root causes of karmic inflow the monk bas to try to stop this inflow of karmic matter. Reflection on stoppage of influx of karma is known as sanvara bhāvona. The monk has to reflect on the process of stoppage of inflow of karmic matters through controlling the activities of mind, speech and body wbich are the main causes of karmic inflow through good and bad deeds, and cultivation of the habit of carefulness and observance of vows. 47 41. P.R.P, 149-162.
45 lbid-156. 42. P.R.P, 151.
46. Ibid-157, 43, Ibid., p. 152.
47. Ibid. 156 44. Ibid, 153.