Question

Perfection or success in meditation (Dhyana) is achieved through:

• A. Abandoning charity
• B. Abandoning wealth
• C. Abandoning attachment, aversion, and delusion
• D. Abandoning the body

Hint:

In Jain spirituality, "Internal Purity" always trumps "External Sacrifice." If you see Raga-Dvesha-Moha as an option for achieving higher states, it is likely the correct answer.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Meditation (Dhyana) in Jainism is the focused concentration of the mind on a single object. For meditation to be spiritually successful, the mind must reach a state of equanimity (Samayika).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Internal Renunciation: While giving up physical things like wealth or food is a preparation, the true barrier to meditation is internal.
2. The Root Evils: Attachment (Raga), Aversion (Dvesha), and Delusion (Moha) are the three forces that keep the mind agitated and restless.
3. Mechanism: As long as one is attracted to some objects and hates others, the mind will continue to jump from one thought to another. True meditation requires the "stoppage of thought waves" (Chitta-vritti-nirodha), which is only possible when these three passions are removed.
4. Result: Abandoning these internal passions leads to a steady, pure mind, resulting in the highest form of meditation—Shukla Dhyana.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Success in meditation is attained by abandoning Attachment, Aversion, and Delusion.