Shukladhyana, Śukladhyāna, Shukla-dhyana: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Shukladhyana means something in Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
The Sanskrit term Śukladhyāna can be transliterated into English as Sukladhyana or Shukladhyana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 9: Influx of karmasŚukladhyāna (शुक्लध्यान).—One of the four types of ‘meditation’ (dhyāna);—Śukla means ‘pure’ or ‘clean’. So, to concentrate the thoughts without any passions on an object is called ‘pure-meditation’ (śukla-dhyāna).
The four types of pure meditation (śukla-dhyāna)
- separatory contemplation (pṛthaktvavitarkavīcāra),
- unitary contemplation (ekatvavitarkavīcāra),
- subtle infallible physical activity (sūkṣmakriyā-pratipāti),
- irreversible stillness of the soul (vyuparatakriyā-nivarti).
The first two types can be realized by the saints (pūrvavid) well versed in the scriptures (pūrvas) given by the omniscient (Mahāvīra).
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections1) Śukladhyāna (शुक्लध्यान) refers to “pure meditation”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Then the wise [man] who has gone beyond virtuous meditation and attained infinite purity commences to meditate on absolutely spotless pure [meditation]. He who is endowed with a robust physique etc., calm [and] whose behaviour is virtuous is also capable of meditating on pure meditation (śukladhyāna—dhyānaṃ sa śuklaṃ) which is of four kinds of”.
2) Śukladhyāna (शुक्लध्यान) (Prakrit: Sukkajhāṇa) refers to “pure 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. “pure” (sukka/śukla)]. [...]—Cf Aupapātika Sūtra and Bhagavatī (Bhagavaī), also known as the Vyākhyāprajñapti (Viyāhapannatti).
The four reflections that are prescribed for pure meditation (śukladhyāna) are:
- reflection on the endless continuity of the world (aṇaṃtavattiyāṇuppehā/anantavṛttitānuprekṣā),
- reflection on the change of things (vippariṇāmāṇuppehā/vipariṇāmānuprekṣā),
- reflection on the inauspicious nature of the cycle of rebirth (asubhāṇuppehā/aśubhānuprekṣā), and
- reflection on misfortune (avāyāṇuppehā/apāyānuprekṣā).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚukladhyāna (शुक्लध्यान):—[=śukla-dhyāna] [from śukla > śukra] n. meditation on pure spirit, [Hemacandra’s Pariśiṣṭaparvan]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚukladhyāna (ಶುಕ್ಲಧ್ಯಾನ):—[noun] (jain.) meditation on the absolute self.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shukla, Dhyana.
Full-text (+7): Dhyana, Shuklayoga, Sukshmakriyapratipati, Ekatvavitarkavicara, Shaileshi, Vyuparatakriyanivarti, Jhana, Artadhyana, Sayogikevali, Kshinamoha, Apayanupreksha, Viparinamanupreksha, Samadhi, Anantavritti, Anantavrittitanupreksha, Prithaktvavitarkavicara, Ashubhanupreksha, Anantavrittita, Sukkajhana, Apramatta.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Shukladhyana, Śukladhyāna, Shukla-dhyana, Śukla-dhyāna, Sukladhyana, Sukla-dhyana; (plurals include: Shukladhyanas, Śukladhyānas, dhyanas, dhyānas, Sukladhyanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study) (by Deepak bagadia)
Sukladhyana (pure meditation) < [Chapter 3 - Jain Philosophy and Practice]
Artadhyana (Meditation on Pain, sorrow) < [Chapter 3 - Jain Philosophy and Practice]
Part 7 - Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga compared to Jainism < [Chapter 4 - A Comparative Study]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 9.39 - The four types of pure meditation (śukladhyāna) < [Chapter 9 - Stoppage and Shedding of Karmas]
Verse 9.38 - The last two types of pure meditation (śukladhyāna) < [Chapter 9 - Stoppage and Shedding of Karmas]
Verse 9.37 - The first two types of pure meditation (śukladhyāna) < [Chapter 9 - Stoppage and Shedding of Karmas]
Yogadrstisamuccaya of Haribhadra Suri (Study) (by Riddhi J. Shah)
Chapter 1.7 - Adhyātma, Bhāvanā, Dhyāna, Svādhyāya and Saṃyama Yoga < [Chapter 1 - The Jain Yoga Tradition—A Historical Review]
Chapter 1.8 - The Goal in Jain Yoga < [Chapter 1 - The Jain Yoga Tradition—A Historical Review]
The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study) (by Dr Kala Acharya)
Two types of Tapas (Austerities) < [Chapter 4 - Comparative Study of Liberation in Jainism and Buddhism]
The twelve Bhāvanās (reflection or thinking) < [Chapter 4 - Comparative Study of Liberation in Jainism and Buddhism]
Jain Science and Spirituality (by Medhavi Jain)
3.3. Types of Meditation < [Chapter 6 - Spirituality in Jainism]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Appendix 1.3: The Fourteen Guṇasthānas < [Appendices]
Notes on Dhyāna (meditation) < [Notes]
Part 15: Ajita’s mokṣa < [Chapter VI - Emancipation of Ajita Svāmin and Sagara]