Dharmadhyana, Dharmadhyāna, Dharma-dhyana: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Dharmadhyana means something in Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Dharmadhyana in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Dharmadhyāna (धर्मध्यान) refers to the “meditation on the destruction of karma”, according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“this saṃsāra devoid of merit is considered to have merit, just as glass is considered to be cat’s-eye, by the simple-minded, alas! Saṃsāra grows from creatures’ manifold karma which is produced every instant, like a tree from pregnancy whims. By the non-existence of karma the non-existence of saṃsāra logically arises. Therefore, every intelligent person must always strive for the destruction of karma. The destruction of karma is from good meditation, and that meditation is four-fold: on ājñā, apāya, vipāka, and saṃsthāna. [...]”.

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

1) Dharmadhyāna (धर्मध्यान) refers to “virtuous meditation”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Virtuous meditation (dharmadhyāna) is of four kinds, examination of the instruction [of the Jina], [examination of] suffering, [examination of] the results of karma and [examination of] the form [of the universe] individually in that order”.

2) Dharmadhyāna (धर्मध्यान) (Prakrit: Dhammajhāṇa) refers to “virtuous meditation” and represents one of the “four kinds of meditation” (Dhyāna), according to the Sthānāṅga Sūtra chapter 4.1.—The classification of meditation in the Sthānāṅga Sūtra comprises four kinds [e.g. “virtuous” (dhamma/dharma)]. [...]—Cf Aupapātika Sūtra and Bhagavatī (Bhagavaī), also known as the Vyākhyāprajñapti (Viyāhapannatti).

The four reflections that are prescribed for virtuous meditation are (dharmadhyāna):

  1. reflection on solitariness (egāṇuppehā/ekānuprekṣā),
  2. reflection on impermanence (aṇiccāṇuppehā/anityānuprekṣā),
  3. reflection on helplessness (asaraṇāṇuppehā/aśaraṇānuprekṣā), and
  4. reflection on the cycle of rebirth (saṃsārāṇuppehā/saṃsārānuprekṣā).
General definition book cover
context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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Languages of India and abroad

Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Dharmadhyana in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Dharmadhyāna (ಧರ್ಮಧ್ಯಾನ):—[noun] a meditating on the natural characteristics, property, peculiarities of something.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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