ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 510

3.2. Preksha-Dhyan
During the last several decades, Jain saints, notably, Acharya Tulsi and Acharya Mahaprajna have developed and established a system of meditation known as Preksha-dhyan, which is now being taught in several centers around the world, as an easy and practical way to affect a transmutation of leshya and thereby to modify behavior. Effectiveness and several benefits of practice of Preksha-Dhyan at the physiological, mental and spiritual levels in normal subjects and patients have been demonstrated.
The word preksa is derived from the root iksa, which means 'to see! Preksa Dhyan is based on the perception of subtle internal and innate phenomena of consciousness. The main purpose of the practice of preksa dhyana is to purify the mental states. Leshya-dhyan, representing meditation on psychic centers and psychic colors, forms an important component of Preksha-dhyan.
To bring about the desired transformations in behavior, leshya-dhyan or the perception of psychic color during meditation, could prove to be a practical means of emotional regulation. The practice of leshya-dhyan can successively diminish intensities of the malevolent leshyas from Krsna to Nila and from Nila to Kapota. And then progressively increase the intensities of the benevolent leshyas.
4. Possible Scientific Correlates and Areas of Leshya Research
The relationships of consciousness with the physical body and behavior have been explored by disciplines such as philosophy and psychology, behavioral and neurosciences, and more recently quantum physics, artificial intelligence and computer sciences. Theories based on different epistemological assumptions employing known neuro-physiological mechanisms and concepts of quantum theory attempt to understand the empirical correlations between mental states (consciousness) and material states of the living systems/ the brain. Though, presently such theories are essentially speculative and unsatisfactory because of deficient formal basis, detailed description and lack of empirical evidence, yet could be valuable since they present interesting ideas for future developments.
Approaches employing quantum theory (which is, at present, the most fundamental theory of matter) to understand consciousness have attracted attention, since quantum events introduce an element of uncertainty or randomness, which is fundamental rather than merely due to ignorance or missing information. The uncertainty of quantum events could provide room for free will" or the possibility of conscious mental acts influencing brain/behavior. The concepts of complementarity and entanglement are additional features of quantum theory relevant to discussions about consciousness.
Leshya, meaning light or radiation, is considered to link the spiritual with the material domains; hence studies on the scientific correlates of leshya should be initiated. Quantum physics demonstrates the duality of light manifesting as particles or wave packets. Interpreting interactions of leshya with consciousness and the physical body using concepts and techniques of quantum physics could be very challenging and useful. Some promising research directions are mentioned in the following.
4.1. Leshya and Emission of Biophotons
Spontaneous emission of very low intensity of coherent light in the wavelength range of 200-900 nm by living organisms (termed ultraweak photon emission (UPE) or biophoton emmission, measured by single photon counting equipment (though invisible to naked eye due to weak intensity) has been shown to be a universal characteristic of the living systems (Popp, FA et al., 1992). Biophoton emission from the human body is less than 100 photons of visual light/cm of human body surface (Van Wijk R, Van Wijk EP, 2004). The emission spectrum differs from that of black-body radiation, it is not a line spectrum but rather flat over the frequency range.
The origin and functions of biophotons are presently unknown, however, the biophoton radiation is emitted from an almost coherent field and demonstrates some very unusual properties, which constitute interesting topics for studies in quantum electrodynamics. Data showing the non-thermal nature and quantum coherence of the biophoton radiation have been presented. A remarkable feature of many biophoton signals is the non-decaying shape of the signal i.e. the average intensity remains constant for a long time, implying that a biophoton signal in a pure quantum state is long lived. According to quantum optics, measurements of the complex amplitude of
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0