YJA Convention 2002 07 NJ Fifth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 84

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Twelve Bhavans
Purnima Doshi
As you're reading this, take a moment to reflect the reflections are also called Anuprekshas, longings,
on the thoughts and ideas that have been thoughts, aspirations, or Bhavanas: running through your head all day. You probably won't be able to recall most of them, but of the ones 1. Anitya Bhavana - Impermanence of the world that you do remember, how many of your thoughts 2. Asarana Bhavana - No protection are going to uplift your soul?
3. Samsara Bhavana - No permanent relationships in
the universe Humans think so much and most of that thinking 4. Ekatva Bhavana - Solitude of the soul causes happiness, sorrow, anger, greed, jealousy, 5. Anyatva Bhavna - Separateness and egoism, etc. And, depending upon how we 6. Asuci Bhavana - Impurity of the body react, we attract various types of karmas to our 7. Asrava Bhavana - Influx of karma souls. To minimize the bondage of karmas, the Jinas 8. Samvara Bhavana - Stoppage of influx of karma have taught us to observe twelve bhavanas. 9. Nirjara Bhavana - Shedding of Karma Bhavana means the contemplation, through which 10. Loka Bhavana - Transitory universe you motivate your soul to carry out lofty reflections. 11. Durlabha Bhavana - Right Faith, Right Knowledge,
Right Conduct The twelve Bhavanas described here are the subject 12. Dharma Bhavana - True preceptor, Scriptures, matters of one's meditation and how to occupy one's
Religion mind with useful, religious, beneficial, peaceful, harmless, spiritually advancing, Karma preventing Conclusion: A constant reminder of these twelve thoughts. They cover a wide field of teachings of Bhavanas mitigates our pangs of pains and expands our Jainism. They are designed to serve as aids to understanding of the life's problems, and even in spiritual progress, produce detachment, and lead uncomfortable situations of life does not appear the aspirants from the realm of desire to the path of burdensome. I renunciation. They are reflections upon the fundamental facts of life, intended to develop purity of thought and sincerity in the practice of religion.
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