Jinsutra Lecture 48 Dhyan Hai Aatmraman - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain Sutra Lecture 48, "Dhyan Hai Aatmraman" (Meditation is Self-Absorption), by Osho Rajnish, based on the provided text:

The lecture emphasizes that true meditation, or "Dhyan," is a state of deep self-absorption and inner joy, not mere thought or contemplation. Osho clarifies that the core of meditation is not in trying to stop the mind, but in understanding how the mind is created and then choosing not to create it.

Key Themes and Concepts:

The Nature of Mind and Choice: The mind is built upon choices. If you choose to desire (rag) or to hate (dwesh), you are actively constructing your mind. To achieve a state of mental cessation ("nirvikalp bhavdasha"), one must refrain from these choices. This is likened to "choiceless awareness," where the cessation of choice leads to the cessation of the mind.
The Illusion of Control and Attachment: We often try to control or eliminate the mind, but this very effort strengthens it. Attachment to "not wanting" is still a form of attachment. True freedom comes from understanding the roots of desire and aversion, rather than fighting their manifestations.
Beyond Attachment and Aversion: The lecture criticizes the approach of condemning the body or the world. Whether one glorifies the body or denigrates it as a "garbage bin," both are rooted in attachment. The liberated individual, as described by Mahavir, is someone who is familiar with the nature of the world, detached, fearless, and desireless. They don't get caught in extremes of praise or criticism, but see things as they are.
The Importance of Experience and Awareness: Merely hearing the words of enlightened beings like Mahavir or Buddha is not enough. True understanding and transformation come from experiencing life fully and consciously. One must "taste" experiences rather than merely observing them from a distance. Sleeping through experiences yields no wisdom, while waking up to them leads to profound learning.
The Nature of True Renunciation: Renunciation is not about external abandonment but about inner detachment born from a deep understanding of the world's impermanence and lack of inherent essence. Those who have truly understood the world are naturally freed from desires.
Living in the Present Moment: The core of existence and meditation lies in the present moment. The past is gone, and the future has not yet arrived. Dwelling on either prevents one from experiencing the truth. True freedom comes from being fully present, aware, and engaged in the current moment, without the baggage of past regrets or future expectations.
The Nature of Hope and Despair: Hope is identified as a subtler, more dangerous form of desire than visible worldly passions. It is the promise of fulfillment in the future. Hope, like desire, is a form of attachment that keeps one bound to the cycle of "what-ifs" and disappointments. True liberation is "asharahitata" – being without hope, which leads to a profound stillness and the cessation of future-oriented anxieties.
Nissangata (Non-Attachment) and Nirbhayata (Fearlessness): Understanding that we are fundamentally alone is the basis of non-attachment. Our relationships, though seemingly solid, are fleeting associations. Realizing this allows one to live without the fear born of insecurity and the illusion of needing others.
The Body and Mind as Tools, Not Identity: We are not our bodies or our minds. The body is a temporary vehicle, and the mind is a creation of choices and associations. True meditation is about transcending these identities to realize the pure, conscious self.
The Meaning of "Chintan" vs. "Anupashyan": Osho distinguishes between "chintan" (thinking) and "anupashyan" (seeing or witnessing). Meditation is not about thinking, but about a state of pure witnessing, especially of the present moment. This witnessing, when done without judgment or mental activity, leads to stillness and self-realization.
The Stillness of Awareness: The ultimate goal of meditation is to reach a state of stillness, where the mind ceases its constant activity and the individual becomes absorbed in their true self. This stillness is achieved through choiceless awareness, detachment from past and future, and embracing the present moment.

In essence, the lecture guides the listener to understand that the mind is a construct of our choices and attachments. True meditation is not about battling the mind but about transcending its creations by living in the present, fully aware, detached, and free from hope and desire. This leads to a state of inner peace and self-absorption, the essence of true spiritual practice.