Practical Dharma

SR No.: 011122
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Indian Press
Publication Year: 1929
Total Pages: 123
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 8 MB

Page 41

SAMVARA
31
death it leaves them all-its body, relations and the like -behind; when one's body even is not one's own, what good is to be had out of regarding any one else as one's
own,
(vi) Aśuchi bhūnunū.--The body is full of foul matter; it is con
stantly passing out filth; if its skin be removed, it will cease to be attractive; it cannot be purified by unguents and scents; it is only a store-house of impurities; fæces, saliva, etc., does it contain: fool, indeed, is he who allows such a body to become his master; it is to be treated as
a slave.' (vii) Asrava bhāvanā.-' Asrava is the cause of the influx of karmas;
all kinds of evil arise from it; the wise should know and
understand the nature of ūsrara, and control his conduct.' (viii) Samvara bhāvanā (meditation on the nature of samvara). (ix) Nirjarā bhāvanā (meditation on the nature of the nirjarā
tattva). (x) Loka* (universe) bhāvanā (one should meditate on the form,
material and nature of the three worlds).
* Meditation on the form of the universe, its principal divisions and the conditions of life which prevail therein is called lokabhāvanā. The infinity of ākāśa (space) is divided into two parts, the lokākāśa (universe) and the alokākāśa (the region beyond the universe). Nothing but pure space is to be found in the alokākāśa, while the lokākāśa contains the remaining five substances, namely, java, matter, time, dharma and adharma, without which there can be no universe. The form of the universe (lokākāśa) is that of a spindle resting on half of another, and resembles the figure of a man standing with his arms akimbo. The middle part of this man-shaped universe is the madhyaloka (the middle region), the upper the urdhvaloka (celestial region) and the lower the adholoka, (the nether region). The celestial region consists of sixteen heavens on eight storeys, nine upper heavens (graipeyakas), nine anudiśas and five anuttaras (still higher regions of devas), with the place of residence of the Siddhātmans at the extreme top. The madhyaloka comprises a very large number of continents and seas, with the Jambu doīpa, of which our little earth forms & part, in the centre. Below the madhyaloka are the dwellings of certain kinds of beings-bhavanarăsin devas and others of their type. Below these are the seven hells, one on the top of another, while the lowest part of the universe is called migoda.
As regards the conditions of life which prevail in the different parts of the universe,