Yuvacharya Mahapragya
Practice of self-observation unravels the mysteries of the unconscious mind and brings about catharsis. The technique balances and harmonizes the endocrine system, which in turn controls the nervous system. This results in equilibrium of the Neuro-Endocrine System.
On Physical Level: Preksha helps each cell to revitalize itself; it facilitates digestion; it makes respiration more efficient, it improves circulation and quality of blood.
On Mental Level: Preksha becomes a methodology to train the mind to concentrate; it cleans and relaxes the mind; it offers a way to treat serious psychosomatic illnesses without drugs; it is an efficient exercise in self-discipline leading to the end of addiction and other bad habits; it leads to what lies beyond the conscious mind.
On Emotional Level: The active functioning of reasoning mind controls reactions to environmental conditions, situations and behaviour of others, harmonization of the functioning of nervous and endocrine systems results in control and ultimate eradication of fear, jealousy, anger, lust and sexual perversion.
On Spiritual Level: The firm control of the reasoning mind, regulation and transformation of blood-chemistry through proper blending of the neuro-endocrinal secretions and production of dispassionate internal vibrations lead to attain infinite compassion, equanimity, bliss and happiness.
(i) Perception of Breathing
Preksha-dhyan includes the following exercises: (a) complete scientific breathing through the proper functioning of diaphragm; long, deep and rhythmic breathing with total awareness; use of full vital capacity.
(b) Breathing through alternate nostrils (together with holding of breath).
(ii)Perception of Body
Concentration on each part of the body for perceiving the subtle vibrations and sensations taking place even on the cellular level.
(iii)Internal Trip (through the spinal cord and brain)
(Antaryatra)
Perception of the Sushumna (spinal cord) and the cerebral cortex.
(iv)Perception of Psychic Centres
The specific centres in the body where consciousness is more active and which are interconnected with the endocrine glands and nervous plexuses.
(v)Perception of Psychic Colours
Visualization of selected Colours while concentrating the mind on different psychic centres. Such practice is found to be unbelievably effective to produce internal changes in subtle consciousness levels.
(vi) Value-education through Anupreksha and Bhavana
(Contemplation and Auto-suggestion): Value-oriented techniques are the backbone of Science of Living. The moral and spiritual values to be inculcated in the learner through the practice of Anupreksha or bhavana are:
1.Sense of duty
2.Self-dependence
3.Truthfulness
4.Reconciliation
5.Freedom from fanaticism
6.Human equality
7.Co-existence
8.Patriotism (Loyalty)
9.Mental equilibrium
10.Patience
11.Honesty
12.Compassion
13Freedom from lust
14.Forbearance
15.Modesty
16.Freedom from conceit
17.Freedom from fear
18.Self-discipline
19.Friendliness
20.Freedom from avidity
21.Will-power
22.Detachment to the body
These values cannot be inculcated merely by books or preaching. The exercises of auto-suggestion (bhavana) coupled with concentration on psychic centres and breath-control brings about required internal (chemical and electrical) changes with the ultimate result of transformation in personality.
The teacher can devise similar value-imbibing exercises of bhavana or anupreksha to befit a particular learner to bring about his ultimate transformation.
EXPOSITIONEducation has been the chief determinant of all development. The basic meaning of education is practice. Nowadays we have forgotten this meaning. Today by education we mean studying.
Today the education institutions are facing many problems which are far too many in the case of colleges and universities than in those of primary schools. Educational institutions, the family, the society and the country all expect that the students
10 should be disciplined and that they should have a good character. We want education to develop character, discipline, restraint and toleration. Somehow this is not happening. What we are witnessing is the occurrence of vandalism, violent agitations and arrogance. The reason is obvious. Modern education has nothing to offer for the students' mental and emotional development. Our schools are full of teachers of physical exercises and yogic postures as well as of those who dole out enormous quantities of materials for intellectual development but they have hardly anyone who can take care of the student's mental and emotional development. The Government is not in the least worried about it, nor does the present system of education offer any method for solving the problem. We want to reap the fruits without sowing the seeds and blame the system of education for everything. How surprising! It is a clear indication of topsyturviness.
The Science of Living visualizes a balanced system of education. In fact Science of Living and balanced system of education are being used synonymously. And by the word 'balanced' is meant equal importance given to bodily and intellectual development on the one hand and mental an« emotional development on the other. It alone can make education balanced.
What are the facts involved in a balanced education?
The first fact is a balanced vital force (pranadhara). The development and balance of the vital force is essential for mental and emotional development. In modern physiological terms they are called Parasympathetic Nervous System and Sympathetic Nervous System respectively. Unless these two flows of the vital energy (prana) are balanced, we cannot realize the ideal of the type of student we cherish. If the right course of the vital breath is hyperactive, the tendency to indulge in insolent and irresponsible behaviour as well as in violence and vandalism is roused. If on the other hand the left course of the vital breath is hyperactive, the individual suffers from inferiority, fear and weakness. A balance between the two courses is vital for a balanced development of personality.
Modern medical science has established the truth that it is the left lobe of the human brain that is connected with all learning activity. Logic, Mathematics and languages are all related to the left lobe. Though scientists do not yet know everything about the human brain, it has been proved that whereas the left lobe is responsible for the development of the intellect and of knowledge, it is the right lobe that determines spirituality, inner consciousness and all mental attitudes.
The modern malady lies in a disproportionate growth of the left lobe at the cost of its right counterpart. Over development of one and retardation of another has created a serious imbalance.
The second fact involved in the Science of Living is the establishment of a biological balance.
The third is creating faith in one's own competence. Man is unaware of his potentialities. From the point of view of philosophy infinite knowledge, power and joy in here in man. Modern science reiterates the same hoary truth.
Science has proved that of his infinite potentialities man hardly uses five to seven percent; he who begins to use ten percent of them becomes great.
Through the Science of Living students have got to be made aware of their limitless competence and they have to be further made to believe that it lies in their power to activate it.
The fourth fact involved in the Science of Living is refinement, which has three forms: refinement of outlook, behaviour and feelings. Nations have risen and fallen according as these three refinements have been present or absent. Right outlook, right behaviour and right feelings are basic to all progress.
Here it will not be out of place to ask: What causes our outlook, behaviour and feelings to be vitiated? For this it is necessary to know who or what their controller is. Scientific investigations have revealed that they are controlled by the hypothalamus and the endocrine glands, specifically the pineal and the pituitary glands ard the adrenal gland as affected by these two. We have to concentrate on the hypothalamus first, which will refine the secretions of the endocrine glands and this in turn will refine our outlook, behaviour and feelings. While circumstances can be regarded as the instrumental cause, the secretions can be regarded as the material cause. The latter is more important than the former.
We have presented four aspects of the Science of Living:
1.The balance of the vital force
2.Establishment of biological balance
3.Rousing faith in the individual’s potentialities
4.Refinement
All this will yield results of four kinds:
1.Bodily development
2.Intellectual development
3.Mental development
4.Emotional development.
