Preksha meditation: History and Methods
by Samani Pratibha Pragya | 2016 | 111,074 words
This page relates ‘Glossary� 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.
Glossary
a-bandhaka bondage free -ṇḍ aura
a-ī devoid of speech
abhaya-Գܱṣ� contemplation of fearlessness ⲹ-ܻ gesture of fearlessness
-ī un-piercable
a-Dzī free from sensual enjoyment
a-cala immovable
峦ⲹ leader of ascetic group; spiritual leader
-ī un-breakable
a-پⲹ medium of rest
ٳ-viñԲ-Գܱṣ� contemplation of spirituality and science
ⲹⲹ a subtle level of consciousness, at which its interaction takes place with the karmic body
a-gama inaccessible
岵 scripture, canonical text
ṇ� leader of a group of mendicants
a-guru-laghu one type of the generic quality of a substance which is responsible for keeping intact the existence of the substance
-śܻ purity of food ṃs non-violence a-jara immutable a-kala entire
-첹ṃp un-shakeable a-karma without karma
ś space
-첹ṣī free of passion a-khaya imperishable -ī devoid of sorrow alakha invisible, formless
Բ image or form used as focus of meditation
Բ support / aid
-ī beyond psychic colouring
a-loka supracosmic space
a-mala spotless
a-mara immortal
-ī nameless
-徱 beginning-less
ī the soul which does not do the intake of the alimental materials
formless
anԲ concentrating on abstract attributes for focus of meditation
峾 ring finger
-Բṅt infinite
Բī specific meditative technique of Buddhist meditative system 貹
ansakti-Գܱṣ� contemplation of non-attachment
ś devoid of karmic influx
śٲ independent
ٳ non-soul
anaudaya unrising state of karma
Աṅdīⲹ liberated one who is beyond senses
ṅg limb; inner corpus of the Jaina canon
ṅgṣṭ thumb
Ծṣa-ṣ� open eye gazing
a-nitya transitory
antara-ṛṣṭi interior perspective, intuition
antar-ٳ interior self
Գٲ첹-ṣa inherent capacities
antar-mauna inner silence
antar-ٰ internal journey
anubhaga-bandha intensity of fruition of karma
Գܱṣ� contemplation
anyatva un-connectedness
a-para alone
aparampara successionless
a-ⲹ state of mind when it thinks deeply on the causes of suffering in the world
a-岹 vigilance
a岹-kendra centre of vigilance
ṇ� devoid of vital force
epoch
arahant worthy one, an epithet of one who has attained absolute spiritual enlightenment
arhat enlightened being
a-Dzī free from disease
ٳٲ-Բ afflicted meditation
ūī formless
-ṃsī liberated soul
Բ posture
ṅgī without attachments
śṇa without refuge
śǰ첹 without sorrow
ś inflow
asthi bone
śܲ-Dz inauspicious activity
śܳ dirt and disease
貹 ascetic heat: a meditative practice under the scorching sun
atindriya ñԲ intuition consciousness
ٳ soul; self
ٳnuśsan contemplation of self-discipline
ܻ첹 ī gross body
ṅgܰ-śⲹԲ lying on front posture
辱ṇ� descending time cycle
屹śⲹ첹 essential or obligatory duty
屹śⲹ첹 obligatory ritual
ī devoid of sexual feelings
ⲹ-ṃvⲹ thinking what should not be thought
avirata non-abstinence
aviruddha not bound
free from bondage
ī non-pervasive
ayoga state devoid of mental, physical and vocal activity
Dzī free from three-fold activities of mind, body and speech
ayogi-kevala omniscient without activity
Dzī free from birth
ṣy-karma life-span determining karma
ī external
bahirٳ exterior self
bandha yogic practice of bodily locks
bandha binding of karmic matter
ṇḍ treasure house: Jaina manuscript archive
屹 subtle dispositions of the self/mental attitude
屹n reflection
屹-ū veneration without using material items
bheda-viñԲ knowledge of the distinction between the material body and soul
ū-madha concentration on the area between the eyebrows
bindu dot
bodhi-durlabha rare occasion, rarity in obtaining correct teachings
buddhi intellect
caitanya-kendra-ṣ� perception of psychic centres
cakra wheel
ī universal sovereign
ٰ proper conduct
ٳܰ rainy season sojourn
caturvidha four-fold
ܲīī twenty-four īٳṅk
ٲ Consciousness
chadamastha person in state of bondage
쾱ٲ Therapy
Գ峾ṇi wish fulfilling magical thought-gem
citta mind, psyche
岹ṣiṇa-ś-śⲹԲ posture of lying on right side of the body
岹śԲ seeing (the image of the Jina, etc.)
岹śԲ-kendra centre of intuition
śٲ partial abstinence
dhairya-Գܱṣ� contemplation of patience
ṇ� fixation of thought
ṇ� concentration, retention
dharma-Բ virtuous meditation
dharma-Բ religious or righteous meditation
پⲹ medium of motion
dharmya reality
ٳ physical constituent
dhvani sound
Բ meditation
dhynԲ posture of meditation
meditator
s meditator
dhyeya-ūٰ aphorism of aim
īṣ�-ܰ initiator of a monk
dz verse-form
屹ṣa aversion
岵 focussed concentration
Գٲ alternate days
ekatva solitude
ṇa ford-maker’s core disciple
ԳٳīٲԳٰ endocrine or glandular system
guhya- hidden sciences
ṇa-ṇa transference of qualities
ṇa-sthna fourteen stages of Jaina spiritual advancement
gupti control
hasita-ܻ laughing gesture
ṻ-yoga system of yoga described India
ṃs injurious acts
jala water
japa repetition
jina spiritual victor; a synonym for īٳṅk
jina-kalpa solitary mendicant life
jina-ܻ meditative posture of Jina
ñԲ knowledge
ñԲ-yoga internal spiritual activity or yoga through knowledge
jyoti-kendra centre of enlightenment
time cycle
峾-Գ wish fulfilling / heavenly cow
kamala lotus
첹Ծṣṭ little finger
Գ a state of 'pleasant' meditation where there is a higher concentration for the sake of compassion toward others
첹ṇṭ-ū貹 pit of the throat
첹-ū realm of action
ṇa-śī karmic body
첹-첹 result of action
karma-yoga spiritual activity or yoga through effort or action
kartavyaniṣṭh-Գܱṣ� contemplation of dutifulness
첹ṇ� compassion
ⲹ-śܻ purity of body
ⲹ-貹 meditative techniques that are applied to various parts of the body
ⲹ-yoga bodily activity
dzٲ abandonment of the body, total relaxation with self awareness
dzٲ-ܻ standing meditative posture
kevala-ñԲ omniscient knowledge
kevalin one who has achieved omniscient knowledge; a synonym for arahant
kohum who am I
ṇḍī coiled power, mystical centre of psychic energy
labdhi miraculous/yogic power
laukika-vidhi social performance of rites
ś psychic colours
loka world
ǰǰ첹ñⲹ첹 knower of cosmic and super cosmic space
ⲹٳ equanimity,
ūٲ elementary substances
峾Գٰ great mantra
ṇ� great nun
ٰī friendship
Բ pride
manas mind
Բsika mental states
Բsika-ṃtܱԲ-Գܱṣ� contemplation of mental equilibrium
Բvīya-ekt-Գܱṣ� contemplation of the unity of mankind
mana-yoga activity of the mind
پṣkīⲹ tarṅg brain waves
deceit
meda fat
moha delusion
ǰṣa liberation
ǰṣa- path to liberation
mṛdut-Գܱṣ� contemplation of gentleness
ṛṣ lying
ܳūٲ 48 minutes
mūla-ūٰ root canon, a group of texts belonging to the subsidiary Jaina canons which are considered as root texts to study for the ascetics
ḍ� channels or veins of the subtle body
Բ salutation
nandanvana heavenly garden
Աپ岹 dialectic negation
ԾԲ fulfilment of desire
nigoda single body possessing an infinite number of souls of vegetable life
nirgrantha unattached, without possessions
ԾᲹ shedding (of karma)
niryukti Prakrit verse commentary
ԾⲹԳٰṇa achieve control
貹𱹲ḍ� cloth covering of ascetics
padastha meditation on mantra or syllable
padmԲ lotus posture
貹ñ- fifth epoch of time cycle
Paramٳ ʲṣa
辱ṇḍٳ meditation on corporal body
radiant
prahara quarter part of the day and night
īṇa첹 miscellaneous (texts); group of later Jaina canonical texts
ṛt nature of karma
峾ṇi첹�-Գܱṣ� contemplation of honesty
ٳٲ-ṃyٲ self-restraint with laxity
pramoda appreciation
prṇa-kendra centre of vital energy (breath)
prṇa-śپ vital energy
prṇa- knowledge of breath
prṇyma yogic control of breath
prtibha-ñԲ intuitive knowledge
پṇa ritual of repentance, ritualized confession
pratilekhan ritual of inspection
pratim stages of renunciation for Jaina layman
praty withdrawal (of senses)
pryaścitta penance
ṣ–Բ� perception (in the text) meditation
ṛtī earth
purva a group of fourteen Jaina canonical texts (now extinct)
rga attachment
rahasya- mystic knowledge
rakta red, blood
raudra-Բ wrathful meditation, meditation on distress
ṛjut-Գܱṣ� contemplation of simplicity
ū貹ٳ-Բ meditation on forms of arhat
rūptīta-Բ meditation on the pure formless self
sdhaka aspirant, practitioner
sdhvī-pramukh head-nun
saha-astitva-Գܱṣ� contemplation of co-existence
sahasrra-cakra centre of the thousand-petal lotus
sahiṣṇut-Գܱṣ� contemplation of tolerance
śپ energy
sԲ with support
samdhi absolute or highest meditation
samharaṇ� withdrawal of mind, body and speech from outer objects and concentration on one point
貹ṇa dedication to the guru
ṇa commonly used for the assembly where the īٳṅk delivers his sermon
smyika practice/state of equanimity
īṣaṇa introspection
saṃlekhan the religious death through fasting
Ṽ۲ṣaṇa protection of possessions
saṃsra cycle of birth and death
samudghta expansion of the soul to the limits of the Jaina universe
samvara stoppage of influx of karma
sandhi those parts of the soul, where the karmic veil is shallow or absent; also known as 'psychic centres�
ṅg community, congregation
ṅk貹 resolution
śnti-kendra centre of peace
śī-ṣ� perception of body
śarīrԲ posture of body
sarvrtha siddha ultimate heavens
sattvԲ another name for padmԲ
satya-Գܱṣ� contemplation of truth
śayansthna lying down posture
sayogi-kevala omniscience with activity
ś camp
ṛt memory
’h I am that / my nature is that
貹ś touch
śṇa non-Vedic mendicant usually Jaina or Buddhist; one who strives
sthna correct position, station
sthiti-bandha duration of bondage of karmic matter
stuti hymn of Praise
śܲ-yoga auspicious activity
sudha pure or 'white' meditation
sukha bliss
śukla-Բ pure or 'white' meditation
śܰ semen
ūṣm-śī subtle body
ūٰ aphorism, mnemonic text, canonical scripture
svdhyya self-study (of the scriptures)
śvsa-ṣ� perception of breathing
svsthya-kendra centre of health
svata� clita ḍītantra autonomous nervous system
svvalambana-Գܱṣ� contemplation of self-reliance
ⲹṃṅ-buddha self-awakened spiritually
ⲹ�-sambuddha self-awakened
śvetmbara white-clad (name of Jaina mendicants who wear white garments
tdtmya contemplation on one’s own nature being similar to that of the siddhas - a kind of meditation upon sameness
taijasa-śپ fiery physical energy
taijasa-śī fiery body
tantra system or doctrine used by Tantrics which was an inter-religious movement that arose in medieval India
tapa austerity
ٲᲹī index finger
Terpanth path of the thirteen; name of a sub-sect
īٳṅk ford-maker
trṭaka unblinking, fixed gaze meditation
trika ten triads
ٰ貹ī three steps
tyga-pratykhna vow of renunciation
ܰ첹ḵ squatting posture
upṅga sub-limbs; outer corpus of Jaina literature
upsaka lay follower
upayoga active consciousness
urdhva-dzٲ standing meditation
ūṇa correct pronunciation
ܳٲ辱ṇ� ascending time cycle
uttna-śⲹԲ posture of lying on the back
vacanaśܻ purity of speech
vacantiśaya verbal superhuman magnificence
vacana-yoga vocal activity
vma-ś-śⲹԲ posture of lying on left side of the body
vyu air
vedan experience
vicra thought
vicaya particular state of the mind
vicaya-Բ analytical meditation
vidhi procedure
-guru mentor
laya school
vipka fruition of karma
貹 Buddhist insight meditation śṣṭ-ṅg special limbs
viśܻ- Buddhist path of purification
vitargat a state devoid of attachment and aversion
vrata vow
vrata-ūṣaṇa non-violation of vows
yama restraint
yoga-nidr yogic sleep
yoga-nirodha cessation of all activities (of body, mind and speech
yognubhuti yogic experience yukta engaged in yoga