Preksha meditation: History and Methods
by Samani Pratibha Pragya | 2016 | 111,074 words
This page relates 鈥楳editation in Jainism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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4. Meditation in Jainism
The English word meditation (from Latin meditatio) is defined as,鈥渢he practice of thinking deeply in silence, especially for religious reasons, or in order to make your mind calm鈥�.[1] This standard definition partially accords with early Jaina texts which portray meditation as a purely solitary, ascetic practice of 鈥渃oncentration鈥�, for instance in the 膧c膩r膩峁単a-蝉奴迟谤补 (hereafter 膧c膩r膩峁単a-蝉奴迟谤补) the oldest parts of which have been dated 4th鈥�rd c. BCE. The ninth (in some editions: eighth) chapter of 膧c膩r膩峁単a-蝉奴迟谤补 I depicts 惭补丑腻惫墨谤补 as a yet to be enlightened ascetic meditating in solitary by concentrating on objects in the external world with absolute focus of the mind, absence of agitation and delusion.[2]
In Jaina canonical literature there is a frequent use of the Prakrit word 鈥�箩丑腻峁嘺鈥� for meditative practices. However, a definition or explanation of the term is not available in the early 艢惫别迟腻尘产补谤补 canon. The Sanskrit term 鈥�诲丑测腻苍补鈥� is derived from the root 鈭�dhyai, which literally means 肠颈苍迟腻测腻峁�[3] or 鈥渢hinking鈥�. As a mode of practice, the Jaina 膧惫补峁补办补-苍颈谤测耻办迟颈 defined 诲丑测腻苍补 as follows: 鈥渇ourty eight minutes one point positioned consciousness is meditation (诲丑测腻苍补)鈥�.[4] In addition to 鈥渢hinking鈥�, Haribhadra later added two more interpretations of the meaning of the root dhyai: 鈥渞estraint of physical action鈥� (办腻测补-测辞驳补-nirodha), and 鈥渁bstinence from all action (a-yoga).[5]
Later developments inthe 腻惫补艣测补办补 literature indicate a shift from solitary meditation towards meditation as a collective endeavour by groups of mendicants or lay people (艣谤腻惫补办补), such as the observance of concentration meditation during obligatory ritualistic repentance (辫谤补迟颈办谤补尘补峁嘺) and atonements (辫谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟补).
However, the date of the earliest texts of the 膧va艣yaka tradition is unknown and it has developed over a long period of time. Leumann (1934, 2010:2) regards 膧va艣yaka-蝉奴迟谤补 1 as the oldest Jaina text. He states, 鈥淭he 膧va艣yaka, has been handed down in three very different editions, the first of which is represented by two and the second and third, each by numerous recensions. The first edition existed before the schism, the second belongs to the 艢惫别迟腻尘产补谤补, and the third to the Digambara confession鈥�. Leumann鈥檚 phrase 鈥渂efore the schism鈥� proves that it is among the oldest of texts. 笔补峁囜笉颈迟补 Sukhala (1957: 196) dates even the 膧va艣yaka-蝉奴迟谤补 as a whole from 5th c. BCE to early 4th c. BCE. It is noted in the 础苍耻测辞驳补诲惫腻谤补-蝉奴迟谤补, one of the youngest 膧驳补尘补 texts, that the 腻惫补艣测补办补 became an obligatory ritual to perform at dawn and dusk for ascetics and laities.[6]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Oxford English Dictionary, 2010:1115
[3]:
See, 厂颈诲诲丑补丑别尘补肠补苍诲谤补艣补产诲腻苍耻艣腻蝉补苍补峁� (Siddhahemacandra艣abd膩nu艣膩sana, P. 519).
[6]:
础苍耻测辞驳补诲惫腻谤补-蝉奴迟谤补, 1.28.2.鈥�
sam峁噀峁嘺 s膩vae峁嘺 ya, avassak膩yavva峁� havai jamh膩.
anto ahonisassa u, tamh膩 腻惫补蝉蝉补测补峁� 苍腻尘补.