योगसार का योग

Summary

The text discusses the concept of "Yoga" as presented in the Jain text "Yogasara" by the poet Yogindu (also known as Jogchand). It begins by describing the nature of the world as a sea of constantly changing events that stir human emotions, which in turn give rise to literature. The text emphasizes that true literature, according to Indian thought, must be beneficial, guiding readers towards well-being. It argues that the root of suffering is the mistaken belief that fulfilling material desires brings happiness, whereas desires are endless and their satisfaction is always mixed with pain. True happiness, it asserts, lies in turning inward, away from external objects, a path taught by the Tirthankaras and later Acharyas. This inward focus is the essence of Adhyatma (spirituality). The text identifies Yogindu as a key figure in promoting this spiritual path in the Apabhramsha language, with his works "Paramappapayasu" and "Jogasara" being well-accepted. The "Yogasara" is analyzed, explaining that its name likely derives from the poet's own name and its subject matter, yoga. The composition is intended for those fearful of worldly existence, written for the author's own spiritual solace. The text clarifies that Yogindu's "yoga" is not the same as the yoga of physical, verbal, or mental activity that causes karmic bondage, nor is it exactly the Patanjali yoga of suppressing mental modifications. Instead, it is the process of connecting the self with the self, leading to liberation. Key verses from the Yogasara are presented to illustrate this, emphasizing that knowing the self as the self leads to nirvana, while mistaking the non-self for the self leads to worldly wandering. The verses stress that without self-knowledge, even penance, vows, and good deeds cannot lead to liberation. The ultimate teaching is that the self itself is the means and the goal; the self is the true abode of the Jina, and by knowing the self through the self,