Jain Dhyan Na Char Prakaro - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Dhyan na Char Prakaro" in English, based on the provided pages:

The text discusses Jain meditation (Dhyana), defining it as the act of concentrating the mind's thought process on a single subject. According to Jain beliefs, meditation is a unique power of the soul, characterized by stable, determined, and focused mental outcomes. It is classified into two main types: auspicious (Shubha) and inauspicious (Ashubha). Auspicious meditation helps in the decay of previously accumulated karma and purifies the soul, while inauspicious meditation generates new karma and contaminates the soul.

The text then elaborates on the four types of meditation, with a focus on the auspicious ones:

Artadhyana (Aroused Meditation): This is a form of inauspicious meditation characterized by worry, distress, crying, and suffering due to the desire for the desired and the aversion to the undesired. Its four subtypes are: union with the undesirable, separation from the desired, worry about illness, and diagnostic meditation. This type of meditation leads to lower realms of existence.
Raudradhyana (Fierce Meditation): Also an inauspicious meditation, this involves continuous thoughts and actions related to committing sins like violence, falsehood, theft, adultery, and excessive possession. It is a hindrance to spiritual development. Its four subtypes are: violence-related, falsehood-related, theft-related, and sensuality-related. This meditation leads to rebirth in hell.
Dharmadhyana (Religious Meditation): This is an auspicious meditation characterized by the concentration of auspicious mental faculties and activities, leading to a pure and sanctified life. Its four subtypes are: meditation on commandments, meditation on divine knowledge, meditation on the fruits of actions, and meditation on the cosmic structure. This meditation leads to favorable rebirths, including in celestial realms.
Shuklaadhyana (Pure Meditation): This is the highest form of auspicious meditation, leading to the realization of the soul's pure nature and self-realization. All forms of delusion and flaws are destroyed during this meditation. Its four subtypes are: Pindastha (meditation on the body), Padastha (meditation on syllables/letters), Rupastha (meditation on form), and Rupateeta (meditation beyond form). Practicing Shuklaadhyana alleviates mental suffering caused by anger, jealousy, sadness, and grief, leading to a cheerful and joyous state. It results in rebirths in the highest celestial realms or attainment of omniscience (Kevalajnana).

The text also provides a detailed correlation between meditation and the body's energy centers (chakras), listing various deities, seeds (bijas), and symbolic representations associated with each chakra. This section is presented in a table format.

A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the "Chaturvidha Dhyana Stotra" (Hymn of Four Types of Meditation), a work in the Prakrit language by Mahopadhyaya Shri Yashovijayji Ganivara. This stotra outlines a clear and beautiful process for meditation, further detailing the four types:

Pindastha Dhyana (Meditation on the Body): This involves visualizing specific elements and forms within the body. The text describes five stages of contemplation (dharanas):
- Parthivi Dharana: Visualizing a vast ocean, Jambudvipa, a lotus with a thousand petals, and a brilliant golden receptacle (karnika) with a shining throne, upon which one sits and uproots karma.
- Agneya Dharana: Visualizing a sixteen-petaled lotus in the navel with the syllable "Ahm" in the receptacle and sixteen vowels in the petals. In the heart, an eight-petaled lotus with eight karmas, facing downwards. The text also describes visualizing a flame from the navel lotus burning the heart lotus and the entire body and karma, purifying them. This practice leads to the destruction of karma and liberation.
- Vayavi Dharana: Contemplating a powerful wind that moves mountains and disturbs oceans, which then scatters the ashes left by the fire meditation, followed by calming this wind.
- Varuni Dharana: Visualizing a rain of nectar from clouds, recalling the Varuna seed, and washing away the dust in the sky with this nectar.
- Tattvabh Dharana: Contemplating one's soul as pure, brilliant like the full moon, and equal to the omniscient, residing within the body and adorned with divine qualities.
Padastha Dhyana (Meditation on Syllables/Letters): This involves meditating on sacred syllables and letters. It describes visualizing:
- A sixteen-petaled lotus at the navel with sixteen vowels.
- A twenty-four-petaled lotus in the heart with twenty-four consonants and the twenty-fifth consonant in the receptacle.
- An eight-petaled lotus in the mouth with eight specific consonants.
- Meditating on the Matrika (alphabet) and the Panch Parmeshthi (five supreme beings) leads to profound scriptural knowledge and insight into the past, present, and future.
Rupastha Dhyana (Meditation on Form): This involves meditating on the form of the Arihant Bhagwan. It can be done by focusing on the image of the Arihant in a Samavasarana (divine preaching hall) or by gazing at a beautiful idol of a Jinendra Bhagwan with open, steady eyes. This practice leads to the purification of karma and inner bliss.
Rupateeta Dhyana (Meditation Beyond Form): This involves meditating on the formless, blissful, and pure Siddha Parmatma (liberated soul). Through this meditation, the practitioner's soul becomes one with the supreme soul, achieving union with the divine.

The text further elaborates on Pindastha meditation through specific practices involving different chakras and visualizations of seeds and mantras. It also discusses the significance of meditating on the Omkara (Pranava) and the Panch Parmeshthi mantra, highlighting their power to purify, bestow divine progress, and even grant liberation to all beings.

Finally, the text connects specific mantras and divine syllables to different chakras and their associated benefits, emphasizing the power of these meditations for spiritual attainment and ultimate liberation (Moksha). It concludes by stating that one who constantly meditates on the highest truths within these four types of meditation achieves supreme bliss and realizes the oneness of the soul and the supreme soul.