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The term dhyāna (meditation) is usually defined as the concentration of thinking on a particular subject for a length of time. Now the mind is the instrument of 'thinking as well as 'perception'. And, therefore, when linked with Prekşă Dhyāna becomes concentration of perception and not of thought. While it is conceded that both thinking (conception) as well as seeing (perception) assist in ascertaining and knowing the truth, the latter is more potent than the former. In the tenets propounded by Bhagavān Mahavfra ‘perceive and know is given more prominence than 'think, contemplate and know.' This is because perception is strictly concerned with the phenomena of the present; it is neither a memory of the past nor an imagination of the future; whatever is happening at the moment of perception must necessarily be a reality. The process of perception, therefore, excludes a mere ‘appearance'.
One commences the practice of this technique with the perception of the body. Body contains the soul. Therefore, one must pierce the wall of the container to reach the content (the soul). Again, 'breathing' is a part of the body and essence of life. To breathe is to live; and so breath is naturally qualified to be the first object of our perception, while the body itself would become the next one. The vibrations, sensations and other physiological events are worthy of our attention. Our conscious mind becomes sharpened to per. ceive these internal realities in due course, and then it will be able to focus itself on the minutest and the most subtle occurences within the body. The direct perception of emotions, urges and other psychological events will then be possible. And ultimately the envelope of karmic matter, contaminating the consciousness could be clearly recognised.
As stated above, our conscious mind is capable of two categories of functions viz. thinking and perceiving.--conception and perception. But it is incapable of being engaged in both the categories simultaneously. One either thinks or perceives. Exclusive perception of a single object can thus
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| SR No. | 006556 |
| Book Title | Preksha Dhyana Basic Principles |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Mahapragna Acharya |
| Publisher | Jain Vishva Bharati |
| Publication Year | 1993 |
| Total Pages | 42 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English & Yoga |
| File Size | 2 MB |