Jain Spirit 2004 03 No 18

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 16

14 NEWS
Preksha Consciousness Transcends Human Borders
report positive changes in personality and finding inner resources, such as creativity, of which they were previously unaware. Preksha Dhyana is not religion-specific although it derives from the ancient religious texts of Jainism. It is compatible with scientific rationalism and may be studied and practised by anyone, irrespective of race, religious or spiritual belief, gender, language or culture. Preksha meditation dates back to the first Tirthankara, Rishabhnath, who is sometimes identified with Shiva. It was refined by Parsvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankara, to the extent that it influenced the meditation practices of the Buddhists. Bhagwan Mahavir also practised an intense, concentrated meditation for sixteen days and nights in the standing Kayotsarga posture.
After the time of Mahavir, the Jain meditative tradition fell into abeyance. However, in the late twentieth century it has undergone a startling revival. This is partly because of a wider public interest in meditation and partly because a younger generation of Jains are eagerly reclaiming their spiritual inheritance. The term Preksha Dhyana was devised by Acharya Mahaprajna to give a modern definition to Jaininspired meditation. The tenth and oldest living Supreme Head of the Terapanthi Sect of Shvetambara Jains, Acharya Mahaprajna is a renowned sadhak (practitioner of meditation) who has been instrumental in reviving the practice and philosophy of Preksha Dhyana.
Practitioners of Preksha Dhyana aim for purity of mind and freedom from passion. For Jains, this purity and freedom is the way to true knowledge, which is identical to virtue. The man or woman whose perception and knowledge are pure will neither attract new karmic matter nor suffer the effects of old accumulated karmas.
(articulation of sacred wishes) and Interactive Dialogue (Questions/Answers). Acharya Mahaprajna himself gave discourse and Sadhus, Samanjis and Samnijis conducted many of the above sessions.
The word Preksha derives from the root iksa, which means to see'. When prefixed by pra, it means to 'perceive clearly and profoundly'. Seeing does not mean external vision in this context, but careful concentration on subtle consciousness. Preksha Meditation is therefore a 'concentration of perception that transcends thought and achieves the state of impartiality and equanimity for which Jains strive. In Preksha, there are no divisions such as like or dislike, attachment and aversion. All states of emotion are closely and carefully perceived, but not experienced. Since they are perceived at such close quarters, it makes it easier to assume a neutral position.
Preksha meditation (Dhyana) is a practice of purifying the emotions and the conscious mind (chitta) of karmic matter, with the ultimate aim of realising our true selves. Practitioners
An International Preksha Meditation camp held from 8-16 October 2003 in Surat (Gujarat, India) was attended by more than 120 participants representing many countries like USA, UK, Germany, Malaysia, Russia and Nepal. This nine-day intensive seminar covered various aspects of Preksha Meditation and related topics. These included Theory and Philosophical background of contemplation, Yoga Asans and Prayanam (Breathing Exercises), Relaxation with Self-Awareness, Spiritual Talks, Body Science (Anatomy and Meditation), Mangal Bhavna