Preksha meditation: History and Methods
by Samani Pratibha Pragya | 2016 | 111,074 words
This page relates 鈥楳ahaprajna and the Emergence of Preksha-Dhyana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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4.1. Mah膩praj帽a and the Emergence of 笔谤别办峁Ｄ�-顿丑测腻苍补
[Full title: The Development of 笔谤别办峁Ｄ�-顿丑测腻苍补 between 1944鈥�1975 (1) Mah膩praj帽a and the Emergence of 笔谤别办峁Ｄ�-顿丑测腻苍补]
Mah膩praj帽a was the main figure in the development of 辫谤别办峁Ｄ�-诲丑测腻苍补. Without knowing about his life, it is hard to fully comprehend the formative influences of his creation. His autobiography, A Journey of Penniless (驰腻迟谤腻 Eka 础办颈帽肠补苍补 办墨) (2010a), is a valuable resource for understanding the development of 辫谤别办峁Ｄ�-诲丑测腻苍补, fostered by Mah膩praj帽a's own innate meditational abilities. It claims that he was born with special esoteric abilities (Mah膩praj帽a, 2010: 274). His personal archives are evidence of his keen desire for meditation, which is identified as the basis of his direct perception of the self (蝉腻办峁Ｄ乼办腻谤补), or the potential of it.[1]
Further, his approach seems to go beyond his own personal selfrealization as 罢耻濒补蝉墨 himself blessed Mah膩praj帽a鈥檚 work during a nine-month seclusion in 1977: 鈥楾his spiritual practice of yours is not just yours but mine and the Ter膩panth 蝉补峁単丑补. The entire Order will benefit from this鈥� (罢耻濒补蝉墨鈥檚 letter 17th March 1977). The whole initiative seemed to surpass the soteriological purpose of self-liberation. 罢耻濒补蝉墨鈥檚 role and responsibility as the head of the congregation was pivotal in his aspiration for positive change for the 罢别谤腻辫补苍迟丑补, and wider society as a whole, both on a national and global level.
Mah膩praj帽a, justifying the initiatives, says,
鈥極nly that religion whose foundation has a clearly laid out method of self-realization and with practice there is experience of self, being pragmatic can survive in this era鈥� (Mah膩praj帽a, 2013: 274).
This claim reveals the need to revive less-active Jaina meditation practices, and further the need for reinforcement of spiritual practice rather than solely ritualistic religion. Hence, 罢耻濒补蝉墨 and Mah膩praj帽a ventured the revival of Jaina spirituality with a modernistic approach.