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CHAPTER
VI
Meditation in Jain Philosophy
Meditation requires sincere, consistent and constant awareness. Real meditation cannot be “instant meditation." Yes, after long practice, in an instant you go into meditation. That can happen, but the person must have some previous background, some former experience.
When I entered the monkhood, for five years I practiced silence. I wanted to know the secret of words, the mystery of life, and what is beyond death. When you observe silence, in the beginning you feel uncomfortable, because you have the habit of voicing your opinions, speaking and making noise. But when you observe silence for a long time, you are not ready to break it when the time comes. The peace is so deep in you that you enjoy being silent. Your eyes are open, your ears are open yet in upayoga you are with yourself and the noiseless sound.
Silence plays a great role in the path of meditation. At the same time we need inner awareness. The direction is inward, not outward. It is not going anywhere outside. It is finding yourself in being
