Paryushana has begun. This is a great time for reflection. A good time to think about the Bhavanas.
So what’s a Bhavna? Well…Jainism puts a significant emphasis on the thought process of a human being. A person’s behaviour and his actions are the reflection of his internal thoughts, day in and day out. Our thoughts and actions result in the accumulation of Karma. Thus we should be mindful in our thoughts. Jainism expresses a need to make room for pure thoughts, and to drive out the impure ones. A way to do this would be through reflecting or meditating on the twelve thoughts or Bhavnas.
Asrava Bhavana
This Bhavana reflects the idea that our wrong belief, incorrect thoughts and poor conduct; add to our baggage of karmas.
We can only stop karma if we understand how we add to our acquired karma and find out how we attract it. We need to stop adding to what we’ve acquired so far so that we have less to shed in the future.
The lack of karma will help us on the path to achieve moksha.
Our senses play a major part in our continuous accumulation of karmas. Let’s look at each of the senses now.
Sight
You see a particular insect and want to harm it perhaps because you fear it for one reason or another.
Smell
You smell something that’s rotting and you get angry because you’re disgusted by it.
Touch
You scrape your skin against a broken piece of glass and blame and curse the person who left it there.
Hearing
You hear techno music and you want ear plugs. You are vexed and wonder why anyone would want to listen to it.
Taste
You taste something that has too much salt and you’d rather go hungry than eat it. You think ‘who would make such a thing!’
Can you see how we’re a slave to our senses? Can you see the link between this slavery and how it leads to accumulation of karma?
Now the great thing about this is that our drive to expect less and want less will reduce the amount we react to things. As a result of reacting less we will bind and attract less karma.
Having the right belief, the correct thoughts and good conduct will all help in the aim to bind less karmas.
Our ‘bags’ of karma will begin to empty as we continue to shed what’s there already.
The reduced load will help the soul on the path to freedom, to Moksha. It will also empower your soul to progress spiritually.
