Preksha meditation: History and Methods
by Samani Pratibha Pragya | 2016 | 111,074 words
This page relates ‘The Role of Time in Preksha-Dhyana� 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.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
5. The Role of Time in Prekṣ�-Dhyāna
It is commonly accepted that ancient and ritualistic meditation is time bound; the question of time with relation to ṣ�-Բ is a highly debated one. Prekṣ�-Բ is a perception-based meditation, with its roots in the canonical dictum �samppikkhae appagamappaeṇa�� i.e. see yourself through yourself. This ūٰ is taken from the ٲś첹-ܱ, which is a later added appendix to ٲś첹-ūٰ. This verse focuses on self-introspection. An ascetic should perform self-introspection on their own faults and transgressions (پ) in the first part and the last quarter (prahara) of the night. In this case, introspection has been denoted as meditation. This model of meditation on the first and last prahara is different from the model of ٳٲⲹⲹԲ-ūٰ. In ٳٲⲹⲹԲ-ūٰ it is documented that the second prahara of the day and night is dedicated to meditation[1]; however this is not practised today, as Flügel (2012: 286�295) has shown.[2] It seems that the ٳٲⲹⲹԲ-ūٰ -model is plausibly the way of life of the jina (jina-kalpa), contrary to the asceticism of the elders (sthavira-kalpa). The meditation performed in the first (purva) and the last (apara) quarter of the night is common and is a part of ritualistic پṇa. During پṇa, an ascetic analyses his/her activities of the day and night. In this context, ṣ�-Բ can be seen as a third model which is different from the time bound practice of jina-kalpa and sthavira-kalpa.
Some aspects of meditation continued to be ritualistic for monastics. However, ṣ�-Բ was presented as a practice in its own entirety, as a part of modernisation and increased accessibility to Jaina and non-Jaina lay communities, without being a part of the old rituals.
Conversely, ṣ�-Բ has no time constraints unlike the aforementioned two canonical models meaning that one is able to choose its duration; nor is it bound to a certain time of day, offering opportunities for it to be practised by the laity as well as ascetic community at intervals to suit their modern lifestyles. This is a big impact of modernisation, to tailor the package in order to suit a modern hectic life style. Otherwise, all ritualistic meditations are kept strictly within a timeframe. If one cannot perform them in a time limit, one has to take atonement (ⲹśٳٲ).
Footnotes and references:
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[2]:
This model of ascetic life style raised some questions about the practice of meditation. It is documented that the second prahara of the day and night is dedicated to meditation but it is not in motion today. However the canonical study (ⲹ) is still in the mainstream practice as it is recorded in the ٳٲⲹⲹԲ. Most of the ascetics who indulge in ⲹ follow the same system.