It is absolutely essential to keep the mind
concentrated in an auspicious meditation in order to attain the purity and
perfection of the soul. There is the need for a prop of something if the
mind should acquire concentration and should intensify it. In all the
theories and directions in the Jain Dharma relating to meditation, there
is a very interesting and beautiful description of the Navpad.
Surely, one can attain the highway of mental firmness
and concentration if one meditates on the Navpad in the various prescribed
ways realizing their qualities which are among the best and the most
sublime in the world.
Navpad The nine positions.
Arihant : (One who has destroyed the inner enemies &
still with bodv). Arihant has 12 attributes. The color of the meditation
is White. Arihant is devoid of attachments and hatred; one who has
conquered the inner enemies; one who is worthy of being worshipped by
all,
Siddha : (The souls that are perfect through the
destruction of Karmas.) Siddha has 8 attributes. The color of the
meditation is red. The souls that have attained freedom or Mukti by
destroying all Karmas; the souls that have become perfect.
Acharya : (Preceptors) Acharya has 36 attributes. The
color of the meditation is Yellow. The most exalted, noble and leading
section of the four-fold Jain Sangh. They shoulder the responsibility of
maintaining the Dharmik commands.
Upadhyay: (Teachers). Upadhyay has 25 attributes. The
color of the meditation is Green. They teach the Sadhus and sadhvis and
guide them to study the scriptures. They the carry the responsibility of
the internal organisatlon of the four-fold society according to the
prescriptions of the dharma.
Sadhu: (Those who progressing on the path of
salvation.) They have 27 attributes. They keep pursuing and progressing
on the path shown by the Vitrag according to their abilities.
Darshan :(faith). Darshan has 67 atributes. The color
for meditation is White. Faith in the nine doctrines and devotion for
them. Having absolute falth in and devotion for the commandments of the
Paramatma.
Jnan: (Knowledge). Knowledge has 51 attributes. The
color for meditation is White. This dispels the darkness of ignorance
and kindless the light of self-realisation.
Charitra: (Character). The character has 70 atributes.
The color for meditation is White. Uniting propensities and the actions
for the realisation of the soul, always with the greatest care and
circumspection.
Tapa: (Austerity). Austerity has fifty attributes.
The color for meditation is White. Making spiritual endeavours after
restraining and disciplining the habits of eating, thinking and
movement.
Of these, Darshan - right faith, Jnan - right
knowledge, Charitra - right observance and action are also called the
three gems of Jain conduct. The unification of these three and adoring and
practising them constitute the path of salvation That is the aim of life.
'Samyagdarshan - Jnan - CharitraniMoksha - marg"
To adore and pursue the path of salvation.
To attain an all -round spiritual development of
life.
Right knowledge, right realisation and right observance
are absolutely essential. It is only when these three are integrated that
we can place steps on the path of attainment, In the absence of any one of
them, the others cannot give the same result.
If man should attain anything in life; and if he should
achieve anythinq in life, he must possess the intellectual incisiveness
and farsightedness to examine and to realise the nature of any object. If
one vows to live by truth; and if one does not have the firmness and
strength to be true to that vow; and if one has less of such firmness and
strength; and if by adopting that principle of truth, one has not achieved
any external or internal development in his life, he tastes the fruit of
disappointment and the absence of fulfilment on the path of Samsar or life
but those principles are absolutely essential to pursue the path of Moksha
or Parampad - Salvation.
