Transmutation of Personality through Preksha Meditation

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

Page 75

Sangh has most respectfully invited you for lecturing on Drishtivad. Kindly do us the favour of living with us so as to benefit us with your knowledge and wisdom.” Acharya Bhadrabahu heard the Sangh's invitation but was loath to accept it. He had accepted dhyana-sadhana as the sole objective of his life. Looking into the mirror of his intuitive knowledge, he had seen reflected there the image of the shortness of his life and bidding goodbye to all activity, had resolved to devote himself exclusively to self-realization. He gave himself up completely to the practice of Mahaprana meditation. The Shramansangh felt unhappy at this. Because of their insistence, he agreed with certain conditions, to talk about the 14 purvas without interrupting his practice of dhyana.
Among the later dhyana-sadhaks succeeding Lord Mahavir, the second important name is that of Durbalika Pushyamitra. Durbalika Pushyamitra was born in the sixth century of Vir Nirvan and died in the seventh. He was the disciple of Yugapradhan Acharya Aryarakshit. Study and meditation was the chief aim of his life. He had mastered nine purvas out of fourteen. Since he was continually engaged in study and meditation his body had grown emaciated. Once some Buddhist mendicants expressed reservations about Pushyamitra's dhyanasadhana. For their assurance, Aryarakshit permitted Pushyamitra to roam for sometime in the region frequented by the Buddhist mendicants. On observing Pushyamitra's systematic dhyana-sadhana, the Buddhist monks and other admirers found their reservations all resolved. Up to the last moments of his life, Durbalika Pushyamitra continued to perform special exercises in meditation.
I have talked briefly about Bhadrabahu and Durbalika Pushyamitra. Authentic research in literature could probably yield information about many more dedi
60