Preksha Dhyana Perception of Breathing

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

Page 45

to be sorrow; they are inseparable. What one achieves as a benefit is happiness, and not joy.
Concentration and Operational Efficiency
Perception of breath is an important aid for mental concentration. Besides, it improves circulation, stimulates generation of energy, improves conductivity, and in general, assists the nervous system in its proper functioning. All these collectively result in the control of emotions and passions as well as concentration
Concentration is an important factor in the daily working and professional field. Our operational efficiency depends on mental concentration. Be he a doctor, advocate, professor or administrator; be he (or she) a managing director of a large concern or a simple housewife engaged in the domestic work, for good results, every one has to concentrate on his or her) respective work. When one has not learnt to concentrate one's mind on the work-in-hand or concentrate fully on the present moment, one's operational efficiency would be very low -- 20% production and 80% losses. But when he learns to concentrate by training his mental equipment to engage only in the work-in-hand, the production will be 80% and lossés 20%. The ratio would be reversed.
The exercise of perception of breathing is an easy-to-learn and efficient tool to increase mental concentration and thereby enhance operational efficiency. The practitioner of this exercise trains his mind to concentrate fully on the present activity. Mental concentration means giving total attention to the work-in- hand, i.e. without distraction by memory of the past or planning for the future. Perception of breathing is neither a memory of the past nor an imagination of the future but a reality of the present moment. It is neither imagination nor a mere appearance; it is true and real. And so the exercise of perception of breathing is a tool for concentration on the present moment, of living in the present. Svāsa prekşā is strictly an event of the present moment - neither of the past nor of the future, because one is aware of the
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