Jain Sadhna Aur Dhyan

This document is an excerpt from the book "Jain Sadhna aur Dhyan" (Jain Practice and Meditation) by Professor Dr. Chhaganlal Shastri. The article provides a detailed analysis of meditation within Jainism, highlighting its significance and historical context.

Here's a comprehensive summary:

Introduction and Author's Concern: The article begins by introducing Professor Dr. Chhaganlal Shastri as a profound scholar dedicated to researching Jain yoga for decades. He expresses concern that meditation and yoga practices have unfortunately become mere means of earning money, deviating from their true spiritual purpose.

Lord Mahavira's Meditation: The text emphasizes the immense importance of meditation in Jainism, noting that Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, is also known as "Dhyanyogi" (Meditative Ascetic). The Acharanga Sutra describes Lord Mahavira's meditative practices, including his ability to focus his gaze on a straight wall for hours without blinking, which reportedly frightened children due to the intensity. Another instance describes him meditating amidst worldly distractions without engaging with anyone, and even moving away rather than letting his meditation be disturbed. The scripture states that during his 12.5 years of spiritual practice, he remained joyous, diligent, stable, alert, concentrated, and peaceful while engaged in meditation.

Evolution of Jain Meditation Practices: The author points out that the current state of Jain tradition differs from the time of Lord Mahavira. Today, there is an overemphasis on long fasts and asceticism, while mental concentration, control and purification of mental states, and meditation have become secondary. This has led to the loss of many meditation techniques and their detailed explanations. The article mentions that extensive information on these practices is scattered across various Jain scriptures and their commentaries, including the Sthananga Sutra, Samavaya Sutra, and Avasyaka Niryukti.

Umaswami's Definition of Meditation in Tattvartha Sutra: The article delves into the definition of meditation provided by Acharya Umaswami in the Tattvartha Sutra: "Meditation is the concentration of the mind's activities." However, Umaswami adds a crucial point: for meditation to be effective, one must possess an "uttam sanhanan" (excellent physical constitution or structure). This highlights the importance of physical health and strength for mental focus. The author explains that a healthy body supports a stable mind, and an unhealthy or weak body can lead to mental instability due to perceived deficiencies.

Types of Meditation in Jainism: The Jain tradition classifies meditation into four types:

1. Arta Dhyana (Sorrowful Meditation): This arises from unpleasant experiences, loss of liked objects, or physical/mental pain. It is characterized by intense, focused thoughts driven by negative emotions.
2. Raudra Dhyana (Fierce Meditation): This is associated with violence, untruthfulness, theft, and the protection of possessions. It involves cruel and harsh mental states.
3. Dharma Dhyana (Righteous Meditation): This is considered beneficial and is further divided into four categories:
   • Agya Vichaya: Contemplating the omniscient teachings of the Jinas, which are considered unfailing truth.
   • Apaya Vichaya: Reflecting on potential harms, misfortunes, or suffering that can arise from actions and Kshayas (passions like anger, pride, deceit, greed).
   • Vipaka Vichaya: Contemplating the diverse and varied fruits or consequences of karma.
   • Sansthana Vichaya: Meditating on the structure and nature of the universe, its inherent impermanence, and the cyclical nature of creation and destruction.
4. Shukla Dhyana (Pure Meditation): This is the highest form of meditation, characterized by mental purity and ultimate concentration. It is further divided into four stages:
   • Prithaktva Vitarka Savichara (Separate Reasoning with Deliberation): Dwellings on different aspects and consequences of a particular substance or principle, while maintaining the core focus. This is compared to Patanjali's Savitarka Samadhi.
   • Ekattva Vitarka Avichara (Oneness Reasoning without Deliberation): Focusing on a single aspect of a principle without wavering or shifting to other related concepts. This is compared to Patanjali's Savichara Samadhi.
   • Sukshma Kriya Pratipati (Subtle Action of Becoming): A very subtle stage of mental activity.
   • Vyuparata Kriya Nivrutti (Cessation of Activity): The ultimate stage of complete cessation of mental activity, leading to liberation. This is compared to Patanjali's Nirvitarka and Nirvichara Samadhi.

The Importance of Practice and the Author's Plea: The article concludes by highlighting the need for deeper study and research into Jain yoga practices, lamenting that the commercialization of yoga has overshadowed its profound philosophical and spiritual dimensions. The author pleads for yoga not to be treated as a business, but as a precious gem to be utilized according to its true nature. He emphasizes the indispensable role of yoga in navigating the stresses, immorality, and imbalances of modern life and urges spiritual guides to prioritize its teaching and practical application.

In essence, the excerpt is a scholarly exploration of Jain meditation, emphasizing its historical roots in Lord Mahavira's life, its theoretical framework as defined by Jain philosophers, and a call to preserve its true spiritual essence amidst modern challenges.