Transmutation of Personality through Preksha Meditation

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

Page 30

On the way to veetragta-the condition of total freedom from passions and affections-the stages of elementary practice are : relaxation (kayotsarg), breath-perception, breath-control, slowness of breathing, perception of changes occurring in the body, cleansing of the special psychic centres present in the body, and the perception of psychic colours for the purification of passions, etc. This process brings about a transformation both within and without. On the level of the body, there occurs a change in the endocrine secretions, and on the mental level, a change in character takes place. These physical and mental changes affect the soul. Even before one reaches perfection, one experiences a kind of self-fulfilment.
Q. Did you prescribe this whole method at the very
beginning, or was it stabilized only after many changes had been introduced as a result of experimentation and experience?
Ans. How can a new technique be stabilized at once?
- Particularly where experimentation and experiencing predominate, no method can be confirmed on the basis of pre-conceptions. Although, a recognized method of sadhana requires stability to be able to inspire deep faith in it, this can only be accomplished as a result of experimentation and experience. The system of preksha dhyana, too, is the consummation of many years of practice and experimentation. The wealth of experience grows with every exercise, which strengthens the groundwork for the 'next exercise. In my opinion, there should not be any kind of rigidity with respect to dhyana. A stereotyped technique is liable to become a hindrance to future progress. So, keeping open the field of experimentation and experience, one should gradually move forward through the medium of one's adopted technique.
15