Transmutation of Personality through Preksha Meditation

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

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During the last century, the practice of meditation was somewhat neglected, but the last two or three decades witnessed a revival. During this period, new techniques were evolved and various exercises performed. Jain sadhus and sadhvis and shravaks, convinced that no recognised system of meditation was available to them, began to look around and were attracted by contemporary exercises. Also a new practice of studying ancient scriptures gained ground. The study of the old books revealed that although dhyana-sadhana was a perennial topic of discussion therein, but no practical work was being done. It was however clear that a definite tradition of meditation did exist among the Jains.
Time, place, situation and mood were all favourable. Conditions were ripe, and time in league with them, and the idea was born of reuniting the threads of tradition that had been cut off. The work of Agama-research was on. In this connection, Uttaradhyayan Agama was in the process of being edited. We had before us many volumes relating to the Swetambar and Digambar traditions. A study of these revealed that diverse elements of dhyana lay scattered in the Jain Agamas. This aroused our interest and a direction was given to Muni Nathmalji (now Yuvacharya Mahaprajna) that the ancient tradition of meditation in Jainism should be re-discovered and the disjointed elements organised into a cohesive whole, and a technique evolved for the use of the present generation.
During the Udaipur chaturmas in 2019 (Vikram Era) work in this direction was started. In the first place, the fundamental elements of dhyana were sought in the Agamas. Later, a programme of practice and experimentation ensued. During the course of these experiments, new curiosities were aroused and resolved and through constant effort, the steadfast resolve matured. After
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