175. 196 CHAPTER H1I AVA

196 CHAPTER H1I AVA

ABHINAVAGUPTA'S THEORY OF SANTA. SANTA STATE.

It is a state of mind or Buddhi. It consists in the continuous flow of the current of pure Sattva, perfectly free from the tinge of impurities of Rajas and Tamas. It is reached through the following stages :- 3001 1. Realisation of unfitness of the worldly objects as objects of human pursuit. 2. Indifference to the worldly objects. 3. Concentration of mind on gross elements and gross senses. 4. Concentration on the subtle elements. 5. Concentration on the predominant Sattva, tinged by Rajas and Tamas. 6. Concentration on the predominating self with pure Sattva in the back-ground. 7. Dawning of the consciousness of distinction be- tween the Sattva or Buddhi and Purusa. 8. Realisation of rejectability of Buddhi. 9. Merging of pure Buddhi Sattva into its origin i. e. its being reduced to a mere residual trace. 10. Subordination of the residual traces of the objective cognitions by the residual trace of the pure Buddhi Sattva. 11. Attainment of the State of total unaffectedness (Asamprajñāta Samādhi). Thus when a yogin is in Asamprajnata Samadhi, he is Santa inasmuch as his Buddhi Sattva, which has now merged into its origin ahd is, therefore, no better than a mere residual trace, has continuous uninterrupted flow of pure Sattva. His Buddhi is perfectly free from the impurities of Rajas and Tamas as well as from all external affections