Jaina Ethics and Meditation: Self Purification Process through Karmic Cycle

Summary

Jaina ethics and meditation are deeply intertwined, with the spiritual path itself functioning as a form of meditation. Drawing on the Tattvartha Sutra, Uttaradhyayana, and Acaranga Sutra, the paper argues that in a restricted sense ethics is one aspect of meditation, while broadly the entire spiritual path outlined in Jaina scriptures—including the fourteen stages—can be understood as meditation. Preksha dhyana, a modern meditation practice, translates these stages into a simpler form accessible to laypeople, yet the ultimate goal remains self-purification through the karmic cycle.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The main concern in this paper is to explore the relationship between Jaina ethics and meditation techniques proposed in the Jaina scriptures and its foundations. Meditative practices have been practiced in Jaina tradition for centuries. We also find a difference between the interpretation of scriptures (especially Digambara and Svetambara) regarding meditation, and it also sometimes gets translated into the practice of meditation. In the case of Jaina tradition, it is challenging to separate ethics from the spiritual path of liberation and meditation as a practice. In this paper, based on Tattvartha Sutra , Uttaradhyayana , and Acaranga Sutra, I have tried to show that ethics in its restricted sense can be seen as only one aspect of meditation, but in its broader sense, the whole spiritual path suggested in the Jaina scriptures can be seen as meditation. The fourteen stages suggested in the Jaina scriptures can be considered the stages of ethical path or meditation. We can see preksha dhyana - a recent form of meditation that translates these stages into more acceptable to the laymen - a popular and simple form of the spiritual path in modern times. Nevertheless, in the end, the ultimate aim remains the same - self-purification through the Karmic cycle.

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