Preksa Dhyana - Theory And Practice: [02.05] Philosophical Basis for Kayotsarga (Relaxation) - Awareness Of The Self

Published: 01.09.2006
Updated: 06.08.2008

From the above it is clear that total relaxation is that condition in which the separateness of the body and the soul is no longer a belief but a real experience. The awareness of the real self apart from the body, apart from the tribulations, apart from the emotions and excitement is the real purpose of kayotsarga.

The consciousness, the SELF, is neither the body, nor the desire nor the sleep nor the primal urge. This realization by actual experience is the first step towards emancipation and the process of self-awareness begins with cessation of body-movement, discipline of the limbs, speech and sense-organs.

In fact, the process of self-awareness does not commence until all voluntary movements are totally stopped and the gravity is freely allowed to do its pull on the body. Thus, motionlessness of the body is the main gate to self-realization. After stopping the action of the skeletal muscles, the next step is to suspend the action of the more subtle internal smooth muscles. But as long as the flow of vital energy is active and the wandering of the mind continues, total staticity of the body cannot be realized. All subtle as well as gross movements of the body are caused by the haphazard flow of vital energy and the scattered activity of the mind.

If the stream of vital energy and the flow of thoughts are channelized and turned towards self-awareness and self- realization, the muscle will calm down. This is because the impulses, which activated and excited the muscles and which were generated by mental unsteadiness, are no longer available. Once the body is totally motionless, it can be cast off, and the purpose of kayotsarga fulfilled.

Sources
  • Preksa Dhyana - Theory And Practice by Acharya Mahaprajna, © 1994
  • Edited by Muni Mahendra Kumar
  • Translated by Muni Mahendra Kumar, Jethalal Zaveri
  • Published by Jain Vishva Barati, Edition 2003

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Some texts contain  footnotes  and  glossary  entries. To distinguish between them, the links have different colors.
  1. Body
  2. Consciousness
  3. Discipline
  4. Kayotsarga
  5. Soul
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