Chapter 4.1a - The First: Mitrādṛṣṭi (mitrā-dṛṣṭi)—Introduction

Significance of the word Mitrā:

The first yogadṛṣṭi is aptly named mitrā by Haribhadrasūri. In the first yogadṛṣṭi whatever understanding (bodha) obtained by its beholder plays the role of a true friend. A true friend is the one who always thinks good of his companion. It is the understanding of first dṛṣṭi that inspires him to move ahead on the path of spirituality by developing an inclination for liberation (muktiadveṣa) and realizing the futility of worldly enjoyments. (tāttvika vairagya). It is this understanding which makes its beholder to perceive the worldly enjoyments as source of pain and misery. Thus Haribhadrasūri’s act of naming the first yogadṛṣṭi as mitrā is very significant.

Moreover, Chaganlal Shastri, in his work “Jainyoga Granth Catuṣṭay of Ācārya Haribhadrasūrisūri^[1] ”, says that since a beholder of mitrā dṛṣṭi carries a feeling of friendliness for his fellow beings, this stage is given the name mitrā.

Characteristic marks of mitrā dṛṣṭi

A beholder of mitrā dṛṣṭi is addressed as maitra yogī by Haribhadrasūri^[2] . He has already depicted the nature of understanding possessed by a maitra yogī previously^[3] . Therefore, in the starting of the first dṛṣṭi he briefly describes it. He says that the understanding, possessed by a beholder of the first dṛṣṭi, is rather weak^[4] . Moreover, Haribhadrasūri says that the mitrā dṛṣṭi holder observes yama. He is devoid of weariness (akheda) and endowed with the feeling of non-antipathy (adveśa)^[5]. Observance of yama, absence of weariness and presence of non-antipathy characterize the first mitrā dṛṣṭi.

Nature of understanding of mitrā dṛṣṭi beholders:

The understanding possessed by a maitra yogin is very weak and indistinct. It is compared with the fire of a straw particle. The mitrā dṛṣṭi is the first step in the spiritual journey of a soul. Till now he possessed oghadṛṣṭi where his soul remained covered with intense darkness of wrong understanding (mithyātva). The understanding of the first dṛṣṭi is like a fickle ray of light for intense darkness of wrong understanding. Though the understanding of mitrā dṛṣṭi holder is weak, it is far better than the intense wrong understanding.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See its p. 6

[2]:

iha sthito-mitrāyāṃ dṛṣṭau maitro yogīti yo'rthaḥ |..... || 22 ||
   –Auto-commentary on Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya (2010)

[3]:

See, pg: 9, line: 26-28, verse: 15, Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya, (2010)

[4]:

mitrāyāṃ darśanaṃ mandaṃ,........................ |
......................................................... || 21 ||
   – Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya, (2010)

[5]:

, yama icchādikastathā |
akhedo devakāryādā-vadveṣaścā'paratra tu || 21 ||
   –ibid ^[_6_] See 2.29 of the Yogasūtra.