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Preksha Meditation - An Approach to Spiritual Revolution

By Mr. R. L. Kothari, Former Faculty Member Jain Vishwa Bharti, Ladnoo, Rajasthan

At the stroke of the midnight of August 15, 1947 the first transmission of the day on Radio was by the first Prime minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru who declared that, "when the world sleeps India awakes and rises to freedom". This was an event of momentous significance when India was free from the shackles of foreign rule through peaceful mean s of Satyagrah and non-co-operation. Satyagrah-a Peaceful revolution embedded in the Indian culture was followed by the father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi, which was described as the unique of all the revolutions prevalent in the world history restoring power to the Indian people having been lost it out to the aliens long before. This has thus heralded a pathway to self-rule-a Govt. of the people have thus demonstrated to the world that the strength of the soul is more powerful than the strength of the sword.

Similarly, revolution in the realm of our consciousness can be brought about through supernal fiat, the power of self control. The soul by virtue of its independent entiry is possessed of omniscience, omnipotence and on bliss but it is overshadowed by the alien forces. Speaking with more candour, our spiritual identity is governed by the alien rule of five senses and five modification viz. Lust, anger, avarice, arrogance and geology and to-cap it all ego-bound ignorance. The said strength of soul, if illumined, can helpfully liberate us from meditation is one among others can be an instrument of accession to the soul.

The meditation and Yog-Vidya-the spritual wisdom of the ancient India has received enormous recognition all over the world. The various religious and spiritual disciplines in India and out side have adopted the Yoga in one or the other forms not only for physical or mental health but for the spiritual advancement. According to Jain belief the human being including all other living organisms are being cycled and recycled through numerous births. But why and what for? The answer in the nature of Karma (Deeds good or bad) we perform in the worldly life which go with the sublime body from one life to another life evolving itself unconsciously through many lives till the soul attains perfection and freed from the vices and becomes one with the God/Super soul.

"Nij per shasan Phir Anushasan" is a clarion call given by the saint visionary Acharya Sri Tulshi through his Anuvrat Mission in post Independent Period of India (1949) for individual self purification. I may assert with no sense of complacency that it was the first step to-wards nation building through the creation of true individuals. In keeping with this his worthy successor Acharya Mahapragya has taken lead to Strengthen it and supplement this approach by reviving the Jain Yog/Jain Dhyan Paddhatti: a forgotten chapter of Jain traditions which he has named as 'Preksha Meditation'. Although Preksha Meditation has its roots in the Jain scriptures, the Aagams do-not lay down any systematised mode of meditation. Still there are numerous stray traces in the Aagams which establish that the Jain Yogi/Saints used to practice Kayotsarga and sit in contemplation for hours/days together completely absorbed in the inner world forgetting their physical slf so as to have a spiritual encounter with the higher strata of the soul. The Preksha Dhyan is a modified form of meditation in the modern context embracing the composite exercises of Physical, mental and spiritual self incorporating Kayo tsarg-the total relaxation of body and mind with self awareness, the internal trip of the relaxed 'Chitta' between the centres of energy and that of knowledge followed by deep breathing, concentration and perception of bright white colour at the centre of enlightenment (forehead). Meditation ends with and aphorism 'Appanha Such-chemeseja, mentim Bhhueshu Kappayya". This means "search the truth yourself and be friendly to all living beings. Thus, the purpose of Preksha Meditation is two fold-one the realization of truth of soul and other one, besides personal purification, in its application to creating an environment conductive to the welfare of social and national life. The Yogah Karmeshu Kaushalam' is the need of the present century which is full of stress and tension.

The very fundamental ethics of Preksha Meditation is "Samphikkyaya appagamappaanhens". It means to say 'See thyself through thyself. Perceive deeply and perceive attentively the inner world in total harmony. Preksha Dhyan is an attempt to unfold the innate qualities of soul there by liberating the soul from the Physical bondage. However, if our conscious preparation for this revolution is as scrupulous as that was under the leadership Mahatma Gandhi or a soldier fighting at the warfront for his mother land, a decisive turn can take place at one stroke with the liberating delight of the Divine.

Passing through many lives, lord Mahaveer the 24th and last Thirthankar of Jain Discipline Ultimately had a rare revelation through Kayotssarga meditation and contemplation marking the end of his Journey of soul with Nirvanha a complete salvation, the home of eternal peace from where never to return. Nevertheless it is a tool of change for a layman in life of monotony, an internal and external revolution in the life style.

A room kept closed for centuries has been thrown open to the welfare of humanity by Acharya Mahapragya and for himself with wonderful experiences. It does not imply that he has reached the Gate-way but he has definitely gone into a very high state of consciousness with the amazing rapidity from where the future spiritual can be pursued with certainly and vigor.

The Preksha Meditation is an approach to spiritual revolution constant and continuous like any other revolution in the spectrum of spiritual advancement and can be adopted for developing peaceful co-existence world peace amity and world fraternity.

 

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Mr. R. L. Kothari , 'Artham', C-16, Jamuna Nagar, Sodala, Jaipur-6, Tele : 0141-221130

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