Dhyanavichar

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Dhyanavichar" by Kundkundacharya, based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose and Context:

The book "Dhyanavichar" (Meditation Contemplation) is a Jain text compiled by P. Shree Kundakundavijayji Ganivarya. It focuses on the principles and practices of meditation within the Jain tradition, drawing from the teachings of ancient Acharyas. The publisher is Shri Dharmadhurandharsuri Samadhi Mandir, Ahmedabad. The text aims to guide individuals towards inner peace, spiritual progress, and ultimately, liberation through meditation.

Key Themes and Concepts:

1. The Nature of Suffering and the Human Condition:

   • The text begins by acknowledging that all beings, from divine beings to worldly rulers, experience suffering, anxiety, fear, sorrow, and unrest, despite material possessions.
   • Ignorance and the pursuit of wrong remedies often exacerbate suffering rather than alleviate it.
   • Humans, uniquely, possess the capacity to understand the root of suffering and its solutions. However, many, influenced by delusion and passions, squander this opportunity.
   • Even those who renounce the world may fall prey to attachment to spiritual practices or objects, leading to further karmic entanglement.

2. The Importance and Essence of Meditation (Dhyana):

   • Meditation is presented as a powerful tool for overcoming suffering and achieving spiritual growth. It is compared to fire that burns karma, an axe that cuts the vine of karma, and a strong wind that disperses karmic clouds.
   • Meditation helps individuals remain balanced amidst favorable or unfavorable circumstances, leading to equanimity.
   • The core definition of meditation is concentrating the mind on a single subject, leading to a stable mental state. A stable mind is meditation, while a wavering mind is mere thought (chitta).

3. The Four Types of Meditation (Dhyana):

   • The text refers to the classification of meditation into four types:
     • Artadhyana (Internal Suffering Meditation): Focused on one's own suffering, pain, disease, or desires. It is further divided into four categories based on the source of suffering: connection with the unpleasant, separation from the pleasant, illness and pain, and the craving for worldly pleasures.
     • Raiddhyana (Fierce Meditation): Characterized by intense anger, hatred, violence, falsehood, theft, and indulgence. This is considered highly inauspicious and leads to lower realms.
     • Dharmadhyana (Righteous Meditation): Focused on the principles of Jain dharma, such as the nature of reality, karma, and the teachings of the Jinas. It is further classified into:
       • Aajnavicaya: Contemplation of the Jinas' commands (scriptures).
       • Apāyavichaya: Understanding the dreadful nature of the cycle of birth and death and the causes of suffering.
       • Vipākavichaya: Contemplation of the fruits (results) of karma.
       • Sansthānavichaya: Understanding the structure and nature of the universe and its constituents.
     • Shukladhyana (Pure Meditation): The highest form of meditation, leading to liberation. It is characterized by extreme purity of mind and advanced spiritual states.

4. The Twenty-Four Types of Meditation:

   • The text outlines a detailed classification of meditation into 24 types, based on a combination of 12 fundamental concepts (Dhyana, Shunyam, Kala, etc.) and the prefix "Param" (Supreme). This suggests a progressive deepening and refinement of meditative focus.

5. Pre-requisites and Practices for Meditation:

   • Adhyatma and Bhavana: Cultivating inner reflection (Adhyatma) and contemplation (Bhavana) are essential pre-meditative practices.
   • Purity of Mind: The mind must be purified from negative thoughts and emotions before effective meditation can occur.
   • Conducive Environment: A peaceful, quiet, and solitary place is recommended for meditation.
   • Posture (Asana): While specific postures are mentioned, the emphasis is on finding a comfortable and stable position that allows for uninterrupted meditation, whether sitting, standing, or lying down.
   • Control of Senses and Mind: Discipline over the senses and mind is crucial for achieving concentration.
   • The Role of Kundalini: The text touches upon Kundalini awakening as a significant aspect of advanced meditation, comparing it to various spiritual energies recognized across different traditions. It highlights the intricate process of its upward movement and its connection to various chakras.
   • Subtle Internal Sounds (Nada) and Lights (Jyoti): The text describes the meditative experience of perceiving subtle internal sounds and divine lights as a sign of progress.
   • The Importance of the Purity of Soul: The ultimate goal is the realization of the pure soul, free from karmic impurities.

6. The Significance of Names and Symbols:

   • The text emphasizes the power of reciting and meditating on the names of Tirthankaras and other revered figures.
   • It details various "valayas" (circles) for meditation, each representing different aspects of Jain cosmology, deities, scriptures, and historical figures. These include the names of Tirthankaras, their mothers and fathers, Vidya Devis (goddesses of knowledge), Nakshatras (stars), Grahas (planets), Dikumaris (celestial maidens), Indras (chiefs of celestial beings), Yakshinis and Yakshas (attendant deities), and the numbers associated with the four-fold Jain community (monks, nuns, male devotees, and female devotees).
   • The practice of "Akshar Nyas" (placement of letters) and "Bhavana" (contemplation) within these circles is described as a method to achieve higher states of consciousness.

7. The Path to Liberation (Moksha):

   • The ultimate aim of meditation, as presented in this text, is the destruction of all karmas and the attainment of Moksha (liberation).
   • The text emphasizes the progressive nature of spiritual practice, moving from gross to subtle and from external observance to internal realization.

Structure and Style:

The book appears to be a detailed exposition of various meditative techniques and their underlying principles. It systematically breaks down meditation into its components, types, and stages. The language is scholarly and references various Jain scriptures and philosophical concepts. The extensive lists of names and numerical classifications within the "valayas" suggest a system for detailed contemplation and internalization.

In essence, "Dhyanavichar" is a profound guide for Jain practitioners seeking to understand and cultivate deep meditative states, leading them on the path of self-realization and spiritual liberation.