________________
meditation is practised on these centres. The lower centres are not so pure. In the system of preksha dhyana so far only two lower centres have been used for meditationthe Centre of Health and the Centre of Energy.
The psychic centre located between the navel and the pubic region is the Centre of Health. In Hatha-Yoga it is called Svadhisthana Chakra (the hypogastric plexus.) In the language of physiology, this region is influenced by the gonads. From the point of view of brahmcharya, this centre is of great utility. The relationship between brahmcharya and health is not yet fully known to modern physiology. However, the ancient masters of spirituality gave it a good deal of attention. According to the discoveries made by them, from the points of view of both sadhana and health, the practice of brahmcharya has a special importance in the acquisition and preservation of energy
Below the Centre of Health is the Centre of Energy. In Hatha-Yoga it is called the Muladhara Chakra. It is the lower-most of the fundamental centres. It is connected with sushumna or the nervous system. The energy which is created by Tejas Kendra, the Centre of Bio-electricity has its source in Shakti Kendra, the Centre of Power. From this viewpoint, it is also called the Centre of Energy. The electricity or energy required by our brain is supplied by this centre. That is indeed the objective of the exercise of the internal trip during which consciousness is made to move up and down, form the Centre of Energy to the Centre of Knowledge and back. During that trip our consciousness, becoming the vehicle of energy, conveys it to the Centre of Knowledge in the brain. Thus, all the psychic centres make an unparalleled contribution to our physical, mental and emotional health and spiritual development.
Tejas Kendra (the Centre of Bio-electricity) in the rear part of the navel, Swasthya Kendra (the Centre of Health) located between the navel and the pubic region, and Shakti
182
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org