Preksha Dhyana Basic Principles

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Normally one pays no attention-makes no efforts to breathe. Nevertheless breathing does not stop. Proper breathing is very important. He who is indifferent to how he breathes is ignoring his own self. Breathing, internal breathing, senseorgans, body and mind are all qualified to become objects of concentrated perception, without which peace of mind cannot be achieved.
Today we live in a world of mental tensions. Even routine chores like buying one's necessities from a ration shop or commuting by public transport in a crowded city, produces enormous dangerous tensions. The question is what is the remedy? How to aviod the injurious effects of the daily stress? Modern life-styles are unlikely to change for the better. We must therefore find the remedy within our own selves. Fortunately we do possess an innate protective mechanism tropotrophic or relaxation response-which when triggerred can produce conditions diametrically opposite to those of stress. Regular practice of 'easy-to-learn meditational technique' is a potent remedy for relieving mental stress and achieving peace of mind. It can also prevent the onslaught of dangerous psychosomatic diseases.
Preksă Dhyāna is such an uncomplicated, easy-to-learn technique of meditation. It is comprised of the following: · 1. Kāyotsarga (Total Relaxation) 2. Antaryātrā (Internal Trip) 3. Švāsa-Preksă (Perception of Breath) 4. Sartra-Prekşā (Perception of Body) 5. Caitanya-Kendra-Preksă (Perception of Psychic
Centres) 6. Lešya-dhyāna (Perception of Psychic Spectrum) 7. Perception of the Present Moment 8. Perception of thoughts 9. Self-Discipline 10. Bhavana (Counter-vibrations) 11. Anuprekşă (Contemplation) 12. Concentration
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