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MENTAL POWERS AND SAMAYIKA
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colourations in his unconscious mind. A stage then arrived at which he perceived his consciousness completely revealed. The alien matter which had clouded his vision and all the shackles which had kept his self bound suddenly disappeared. He finally entered into a state of pure knowledge and perception. His old personality became transformed into an entirely new one. In other words, he was spiritually reborn into a new life. In place of Bharata Cakravarti he became Dharma Cakravarti. This was the highest achievement of his life.
The traditional version of this event mentions that Bharata first entered into the mental state in which there is a feeling of the transitory nature of the world. When this feeling became mature, Bharața became a kēvala jñāni (possessor of pure knowledge). But the jambudvipa prajñapți says that during the course of his perceiving his own reflection Bharata sank into a deep experience after having passed through innumerable conglomerations of karmas and entered into a state of pure knowledge. This brought about a new phase in his life.
The history of body perception is an old history. It began in the primitive age in which Dharma ruled supreme. In the course of time the tradition became lost. It is being reconstructed now. There is nothing new in the world. That which has grown old assumes a new form. When what has been lost to memory leappears, it is called new. The first experiment in prēkşā meditation was conducted by Bharata. This experiment remained hidden for a number of centuries. We have reconstructed it. It is a simple process of meditation. A complicated and difficult process of sâdhaná does not become popular. Man by his very nature avoids that which is difficult. Prèkşā is a simple form of meditations.
The consequence of prekşā meditation is the development of the feeling of equality and of consciousness free from duality. This is a new phase of consciousness. The feeling of the duality of gain and loss, pleasure and pain which disturbs, deforms and defiles the mind comes to an end in this phase. Pain and grief are the products of the dialectical operation of the opposite forces of life. A dear son who
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