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10. JAINA DOGMATICS AND MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE
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Self, antarātmā or the inner Self, and paramātmā or the higher Self. Kundakunda says in his Mokkhapähuda that the external Self consists of the sense organs; the inner Self is the consciousness that the soul is distinct from the body; and the higher Self is the emancipated soul free from the impurities of Karma. The paramātmā or the higher Self is the sole object of meditation, and it is essential to note that it is not the universal Soul of Vedānta, but the pure and all-knowing soul in each individual, circumscribed and obscured for the time being by the hindrances of karma. Jaina meditation is not merely contemplation but realisation of the Self, which is the same thing as liberation or the
existence of the individual soul. As Kundakunda says, the Yogin by contemplating the paramātmā diverts himself of sin-producing greed and acquires no new karma : firm in right conduct and right faith, he contemplates the Self and reaches the supreme goal (ibid. verses 48, 49).
Somadeva begins by saying that the prescribed process of meditation should be sedulously practised by one who desires to contemplate the Supreme Light and attain that eternal abode', that is, the abode of the emancipated souls at the top of the universe, as conceived by Jainism. The Supreme Light (paramjyotih) is the higher Self or paramātmā, and the expression is often used in this sense in Jaina literature, e. g., in Jñānārņava 31. 8,8 41;4 32. 35% etc.
Somadeva mentions two broad divisions of meditation, sabijadhyāna and abījadhyāna. In sabijadhyāna the mind is like a lamp, unshaken by the gusts of external and internal delusion, and cheers up at the sight of the Truth. In abījadhyāna the mental current reaches a stage when it becomes devoid of conscious thought, and the Self sparkles within itself." In other words, the mind is at work in sabījadhyāna, but ceases to function in abijadhyāna, leaving the Self to discover itself. The latter is the higher kind of contemplation, of which Somadeva describes the main characteristics. He says that when the five senses sink into themselves and the mind is submerged, the Light dawns on the inner Self. Meditation consists in mental concentration; the Self meditates and reaps the consequences; the
1 अक्खाणि बाहिरप्पा अंतरअप्पा हु अप्पसंकप्पो । कम्मकलंकविमुक्को परमप्पा भण्णए देवो॥ 2 परमप्पय झायंतो जोई मुच्चेइ मलदलोहेण । णादियदि णवं कम्मं णिद्दिढ जिणवरिंदेहिं ॥ होऊण दिढचरित्तो दिढसम्मत्तेण
भावियमईओ। झायंतो अप्पाणं परमपयं पावए जोई ।। 3 CHICHT TEUTA: 4 qollar aysutsfartafia: 6 aya: qfACICHT q ila: 1: 6 af CFTTHVATAITETA arha: 1 YTToate ca aa PT Ezra Foto 1 P. 391. 7 निर्विचारावतारासु चेतस्रोतःप्रवृत्तिषु । आत्मन्येव स्फुरन्नात्मा भवेधानमबीजकम् ॥ 35
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