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Peace through Preksha Meditation

By Mr. Nandlal Jain

There are about one hundred and twelve types of meditation systems prevalent throughout the world according to the latest survey carried out by some researchers. Based on the basic Patanjali system, they are serving the main objects of meditation in their own way, involving different degrees. Though, formerly, it was proclaimed for inner spiritual development, now, it has three-dimensional objectives - physical, mental and spiritual development. All these objectives are universal. The effects may be in succession, simultaneous or specific depending upon the stages of meditation. Many institutions throughout the world like Lonavala, Moongyr etc. are working on the mechanism of various meditation effects and they are doing work to eradicate many misconceptions and elaborate many effects.

Meditation has now two forms: (i) concentration of mind or thought in definite (mostly subtle) direction and (ii) concentrated perception on subtle psychic centres. The latter process has been called Preksha Meditation (perceptive meditation) developed by His Holiness Acharya Mahapragya in early seventies of this century. It has been impressed that this system is better in totality and leads to overall improvement of the individual. It represents the present rather than the past or the future. If one could improve one's present, one will automatically have better future.

Any meditation system affects first our body through relaxation and respiratory controls to lead to (i) natural sleep (ii) reduction in metabolic processes (iii) reduction in normal oxygen consumption and blood lactate (iv) increase in CSR (v) increase. in blood flow rate (vi) the efficiency of lungs and heart due to the purificatory process and (vii) reducing the intensity of many dreadful diseases like B.P., heart system, cancer, allergy etc. It is due to all these effects that meditation and Yoga are gradually getting an important place in medical treatments and education.

It has been experimentally observed that meditation affects the (i) increase in stress­resisting capacity of mind (ii) coordination of body and mind functions (iii) change in attitudes of aggression, anger 'etc. leading to pacifist mind and (iv) changes in the wave­pattern in the brain and the like. Due to uni­directional concentration, it increases the internal energy and reduces its dissipation. We are interested here in these changes so that the humankind may have a universal kingdom of peace rather than wars. It is said that meditation leads to permanent modification in attitudes, personality and behaviours in comparison to the current medical treatments or surgical operations. That is why one wishes meditation to be practised from the beginning of one's life. It has been observed that the attitude of school children (for better memory and emotional IQ)' jail criminals (for better life), stressful managers and persons (for improved working capacity) and patients of different types (for reducing the intensity of disease and improving the internal resisting capacity to feel and become normal) have shown positive changes.

The ancient literature on meditation gives the process and its effects only. It does not describe the mechanism through which these effects result. Anatomy and physiology and other branches of medical science including neuroscience are helping us to understand this mechanism - though not fully yet. This requires the knowledge about the body and mind involving their inner functioning. We are interested more in mind and mental functions which could lead to plan things for overall peace-loving society of the future.

Our body has two main systems: nervous and endocrine glandular, which are important for our understanding of the meditational effects. They produce thoughts and emotions. The digestive system should also be added here because it is our quality and quantity of food which, on metabolisation, yields materials and other components for proper working of nervous and glandular systems. It must be understood that the internal functioning of our system is highly democratic and mostly automatic. However, the equilibrated normal system gets imbalanced due to imbalanced or excess food intake which may lead to non-production of secretions in proper amounts and/ or proper electric voltage across the cell membranes. Meditation leads to equilibrating these imbalanced internal situations.

Mind is the cradle for our urges, emotions, passions and also of our wisdom. Meditation leads to the purity of mental states involving our well-being and peacefulness. When we achieve this, mental purification will automatically result. Mind functions through the neuro-endrocrine system whose products not only participate in bodily functions, but they influence our mental states and behaviour also. This system is the seat of our instincts, impulses, anger and aggression.

The two hemispheres of brain are joined by corpus colossom. Their cells are joined through serotonin which moves at the rate of 120 metres per second to transmit cognitive and motor information. These are connected with spinal chord. Their activity is dependent upon foods, environment, emotions and hormonal secretions. Most of these depend upon chemicals and chemical reactions involving respiratory oxygen.

There are a large number of endocrine glands which have specific secretions of hormones activating different functions involving impulses and emotions. They are mostly autonomous. It is these glands which are important for mental activities. It has been observed that the proper quantities of these secretions are required for normal healthy and peaceful life.

Medical scientists have found that there are four types of chemicals which may be called behaviour modifiers:

Nor-epinephrine System: Producing hormones from adrenal glands. It is produced from foods containing the amino acid of tyrosine. It accelerates anger, fight or flight etc.

Serotonin System : It effects sleep, pain, depression etc. It is produced from foods containing the aminoacid of tryptophan. It functions in the brain.

Dopamine System : It exerts inhibitory effects. It is produced from foods containing gama-aminobutyric acid.

Acetylcholine System : It is epinephrine, formed in adrenal medullary extracts. It has exitory effects. However, they may be inhibited by many inhibitors.

It is observed that pituitary and adrenal glands and, therefore, their secretions are very important in originating and controlling mental states. Hence, if one could get their secretions under proper quality and quantity, we may have better peaceful state of mind.

It is seen that it is the two aminoacids of proteins-tyrosine and tryptophan which yield useful secretions for effecting mental states. If we intake our proteinous foods which contain these amino acids in proper proportion, it could serve our purpose. Also, the daily minimum quantity of these aminoacids required has been given in FAO Bulletin as below:

(i) Tryptophan 180 mg. for 60 kg. man
(ii) Tyrosine 260 mg. for 60 kg. Man

It will be about 25 % less for women. On this basis, the food intake must contain wheat, peas, soyabean, milk, cheese and almonds etc. for the supply of requisite amounts of the above aminoacids. One should modify one's intake so that it may have the above proportions. It is said hat the meditator automatically becomes a vegetarian. Besides the proper food intake as above, the practice of meditation and Yoga also result in internal chemical transfor­ mations to produce the requisite amounts of secretions for purifying the mental states. These practices change body chemistry and lead to chemical transformations through atomic oxygen and increased internal energy. This means that necessary balanced secretions are produced due to meditation also while synthesizing the proper impulse­producing hormones and affecting the appropriate changes in the nature of brain waves, Also, the increased internal energy content catalyses this process. Thus, the proper secretion of serotonin, dopamine, nor­epinephrine and their utilisation in controlling instincts and impulses of anger and fight makes the meditator an altogether changed personality.

However, food and meditation are individual points, but they will yield better society if adopted and practised by all individuals. Proper promotional efforts must be undertaken so that all people even in high places and positions are also involved actively in the process. This will lead to a better and peaceful world of the twenty-first century. We require saints like Hemchandra and Hirvijayji who could impress the .0001% people to mend their minds meditationally. It is only about 3% people who are responsible for the world of fights and aggressions. Let us hope the rest 97 % peace lovers will prevail upon them to make the world peaceful through introspective meditational practices.

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Author :
 
Mr. Nandlal Jain is former Professor of Chemistry and has written several articles relating to scientific aspects in Jainism. He is based at Riwa ( MP ) India

Article Source :
Anuvibha Reporter ( Special Issue : Dec. 2000 )
Ahimsa, Peacemaking, Conflict Prevention and Management Proceedings and Presentations
Fourth International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action ( IV ICPNA )
New Delhi : Nov. 10-14, 1999

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