Book Title: Jain Studies and Science
Author(s): Mahaveer Raj Gelada
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Page 189
________________ PREKSHA MEDITATION, THERAPY AND CURES/177 of melatonin in regulating sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythms). Normally, production of melatonin is inhibited by day-light and permitted by darkness. In essence, our biological clock along with various environmental triggers available to the brain create cyclic pattern of lust and desire. Physiologically, sexual desire is just similar to appetite and breath programmed in our DNA. This understanding has resulted in manufacture of serotonin based drugs containing serotonin reuptake inhibitors which controls and mitigates negative emotions including depression. We shall soon find out in following discussions that control of hormones and neurotransmitters through spiritual means is not just a fiction but is a physiological fact. 2.3.2. Psychological Explanation of Sexual Desires Sigmund Freud, first time ever took the craving for reproduction to the psychological level. He associated the sexual drive to the creativity and advocated open satiety of lust. He argued that sexual pleasure is an ever lasting basic need and all humans tend to satisfy it by whatever means. Another psychologist, Adler arrived at diagonally opposite conclusion and proclaimed that the desire to reproduce is not as much for pleasure as it is for consolidation of social strength. A third view came from Hume, who contradicted both Adler and Freud. According to him, the basic driving force of a human is neither desire to reproduce nor accumulation of energy, but it is desire to develop one's own personality. While Freudian view point tends to make a human being hostage of desires, the Adler's view has a danger of creating a highly competitive society having strength as the only benchmark of human personality. Hume's view is very close to spiritual way of thinking. 2.3.3. Spiritual Explanation of Sexual Desires According to Jainism, it is rising of Mohniya Karma and the micro activities of Emotion-Centre. Mahapragya has unified the scientific concept with traditional one. He states that our Command-Centre (Agya-chakra also called as third-eye) is same as hypothalamus and by concentrating on this centre, secretions of pineal and pituitary glands can be inhibited to act upon the gonads thereby annulling the sex desire. Recently, Bio-electrostatic research Centre, University of Southampton, UK has established through scientific research and documented accounts of personal experiences that there are striking similarities between religious mystical experiences and the effects of serotonergic drugs like LSD. This opens avenues of research into the meditation practices and the wealth of knowledge on consciousness and the way we perceive the world. Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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