SELECTIONS FROM TATTVARTHA SUTRA

Kinds of Meditation:

  • Righteous;
  • Spiritual;
  • Sorrowful; and
  • Inclement Meiditations.


Righteous and spiritual meditations are said lead to salvation. Righteous meditation includes concentration on teachings of the omniscient, on the removal of delusion, on fruition of karma, and on the nature and constitution of the universe.
Sorrowful meditation involves concentration on removing disagreeable objects. It also involves concentration one's desires for agreeable objects. Sorrowful meditation, lastly, includes meditating on desires for worldly pleasures.
Inclement meditation includes taking delight in violence, untruth and stealing, and making designs for preserving means of sensual pleasures.

The Four Types of Spiritual Meditation

concentration on the attributes of soul that distinguish it from other entities,
  • concentration on just one aspect of soul,
  • concentration on the subtle activity of soul, and,
  • total absorption of the soul in itself which is devoid of all activities.
The first two types of spiritual meditation are practiced by sages who are well-versed in the understanding of scriptures.
The third and fourth types of spiritual meditation are attained by the omniscients with and without yoga activity, respectively.

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