Preksha Dhyana Contemplation and Auto Suggestion

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

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and steadiness, and remains revolving around the central thems, it is contemplation (anuprekṣā).
It is essential to obtain right answers to many questions. To contemplate on a single query (at one time) is a process for finding a suitable and true answer and is called Vichaya Dhyana (contemplative meditation). To dispel ignorance by acquiring knowledge, to know the unknown and to realise the truth, one must think and concentrate one's thoughtprocess on a single object or idea. when the flow of ocnsciousness is controlled and becomes unidirectional (just as flow of water is canalised), proper answers are discovered and ignorance is replaced by knowledge Until one becomes competent and adept for meditating, contemplation and reflection are the only tools to search the reality. Similarly a practitioner of meditation is often faced with many problems. If one is not able to resort to contemplation, he may become confused. Some prescribe that for a practitioner of meditation, reading, thinking, contemplating and reflecting become distractions and should, therefore, be abandoned. One cannot disagree with this formula but total freedom from thought is not an early achievement.
Contemplation is an Armour
Motionless state of the body and steadiness of mind are threats to karma sarira which is the real enemy. To perpetuate its existence, the karma sarira assumes a very aggressive stance and tries to agitate the practitioner. He would need, at this time, the defending support of contemplation to reinforce his resources Whereas, the meditational practice increases the vital energy on one hand, it also intensifies the urges of anger etc. on the other. Enhanced vital energy tends to produce agitation and excitation if it is not properly controlled or sublimated. On the contrary, it it is regulated and controlled, it enhances the other benefits of meditation manifold. Otherwise the increased energy may take a dangerously explosive state.
The principle of contemplative meditation shows the way to the practitioner to sublimate the increased energy. There are
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