Preksha meditation: History and Methods
by Samani Pratibha Pragya | 2016 | 111,074 words
This page relates 鈥楾he Bhavana ascetic practices鈥� of study dealing with Preksha-Dhyana: a meditation technique created by Acharya Shri Mahapragya (Acarya Mahaprajna) in the late twentieth century. It synthesizes ancient Jain ascetic methods, ritualistic practices, and modern scientific insights, appealing to a global audience. The thesis explores its historical context, theoretical foundations, and the rise of contemporary Jain meditation systems.
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7. The 叠丑腻惫补苍腻 ascetic practices
叠丑腻惫补苍腻 (root 鈭�产丑奴: 鈥榯o bring into being鈥�, 鈥榯o cultivate鈥�, 鈥榯o develop鈥�) literally means 鈥渃ausing to become鈥� as coming from the causative form of 鈥�产丑奴鈥� it means 鈥減roducing鈥� or the act of becoming or arising[1]. Cort (2001: 206) translates it as 鈥渋ntentionally generated meditational sentiment鈥�. 叠丑腻惫补苍腻 mainly refers to old ascetic practices which were supplementary to the five great vows. At some point, it is confused with 补苍耻辫谤别办峁Ｄ�. In the context of 辫谤别办峁Ｄ�-诲丑测腻苍补, 产丑腻惫补苍腻 is translated as 鈥渞eflection鈥�. Reflection (产丑腻惫补苍腻) means frequent and prolonged repetition of an idea, a practice which can bring about a radical attitudinal change in the practitioner. This is a technique mentioned in the 膧肠腻谤腻峁単补-肠奴濒腻 (膧SII. 15. 788鈥�91) as a practice which places emphasis on the purification of the soul. In the Jaina canonical texts, those ascetics who have developed themselves by the practice of 产丑腻惫补苍腻 are called 产丑腻惫颈迟腻迟尘腻. A 鈥�产丑腻惫颈迟腻迟尘腻鈥� is a self-cultivated ascetic whose soul is permeated with pure thoughts and who practices various yogic forms (叠丑补驳补惫补迟墨-蝉奴迟谤补, 3.205).
A canonical text, the 厂补尘补惫腻测腻峁単补-蝉奴迟谤补 (25.1), enumerates the twenty-five 产丑腻惫补苍腻s of the five great vows (尘补丑腻惫谤补迟补). Bhatta discusses these 产丑腻惫补苍腻s critically:
The 25 产丑腻惫补苍腻s described in this (膧SII 15) are designed to foster the five 尘补丑腻惫谤补迟补s and help the ascetic gain self-discipline and strengthen his 鈥渞ight conduct鈥� (samyak-肠腻谤颈迟谤补). These 产丑腻惫补苍补蝉 are not to be confused with the 12 补峁嘘辫别丑腻蝉 (补苍耻辫谤别办峁Ｄ乻, 鈥渞eflections鈥�) (Bhatta, 1993: 97).
叠丑腻惫补苍腻, has a long historical practice in Jainism, mainly related to asceticism. 叠丑腻惫补苍腻鈥檚 importance is noted by 鲍辫腻诲丑测腻测补 Vinayavijaya (17th c. CE). He states that 鈥渆ven in the mind of learned ones, the nectar of peace does not flourish without reflection (产丑腻惫补苍腻).[2] In chapter 4, we will see how Mah膩praj帽a retained this term and developed a concept of 产丑腻惫补苍腻 in 辫谤别办峁Ｄ�-诲丑测腻苍补 which was equally useful for monastic and lay people.