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In Prekṣā system, there is scope for both types of meditational practice. The word Prekṣā means profound perception (sans conception.) Here, the practitioner's full attention is engaged in perception of an object or phenomenon. For instance, perception of body is an exercise of becoming mentally aware of the functioning of one's own body. In this exercise, the practitioner concentrates his full attention, inturn, on various parts and organs of the body, and becomes aware of their functioning. Starting from the outermost layers (of consciousness), he has to mentally penetrate inside. First, he perceives the superficial sensations of the skin such as contact with cloth, warmth, perspiration, itching etc. Then he becomes aware of the sensations produced by the muscular system. Next, he experiences the awareness of the functioning of inner organs- he 'hears' the heart-beats, perceives the contraction and expansion of the lungs, peristalsis of the gastro-intestinal tract, coursing of the blood in the blood vessels and exchange of nutrients and waste-products. With practice, as his mind becomes sharpened, he becomes aware of the subtle vibrations caused by the chemical reactance of the metabolic processes as well as the electro-magnetic impulses criss-crossing the nervous system. Finally, he is able to perceive the flow of vital energy which activates the entire organism. There is incessant motion producing agitation, sensation and vibrations everywhere and nothing is static. The practitioner just perceives them all without indulging in emotion and thought. Undoubtedly, he must develop his perceptual ability and intensify his concentration on the organ under observation. But the process is mostly without conceptual activity of the mind. Thus Prekṣā is concentration of perception.
The other branch of prekṣā system is Amuprekṣā ie. Contemplation-objective reflection of what has been perceived during the exercise of Prekṣā. For instance,it has been revealed that there is incessant agitation within the body-food- materials are being broken-down into their simpler constituents and then resynthesized; waste products are constantly being excreted, millions
1. See, tract No. 5 in this series.
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