Preksha Dhyana: Perception Of Body: [0.1] Publisher's Note

In publishing this booklet, it is hoped to bring to the reader, in simple language, some of the truths, already known to the ancient philosophies, and now known to modern science.

Age of Tension

In this age of technology, industrialisation and overurbanisation, we are constantly subjected to tremendous stresses and tensions. These, in turn, produce psychosomatic diseases like hyper­tension, insomnia and various types of heart diseases. In desperation, people take to drinking and dangerous drugs which give temporary relief, but create more serious problems. The remedy does not lie in drugs or fantasy, but in the process of catharsis and development of the inherent powers.

Philosophy teaches us to realise that our existence is functioning in duality, i.e. there is a spiritual self within a physical body. Science is also proving that life's processes for man lie almost wholly within himself and are amenable to controL The control has to be exercised by the power of the spiritual self, and that inherent potency can be developed by knowing how to live properly, which includes eating, drinking and breathing as well as thinking properly.

What is Preksā Dhyāna?

Prekṣā Dhyāna is a technique of meditation for attitudinal change, behavioural modification and integrated development of personality. It is based on the wisdom of ancient philosophy and has been formulated in terms of modern scientific concepts. We hope that the synthesis of the ancient wisdom and the modern scientific knowledge will help us in achieving the blissful aim of establishing amity, peace and happiness in the world by eradicating the bestial urges such as cruelty, retaliation and hate.

The different methods of prekṣā (i.e. perception) include Śvāsa-prekṣā (perception of breathing). Śarīra-Prekṣā (perception of body), Chaitanya- kendra-prekṣā (perception of psychic centres), etc. All these are methods of ultimate transformation in inner consciousness. Here, there is no need to sermonize for adopting virtues and giving up evils. When one starts practising perception, one experiences himself that one is changing, that anger and fear are pacifying, that one is getting transformed into a righteous person.

Our series of "Science of Living" includes tracts on various facets of Prekṣā-Dhyāna. In the present one, the reader will find an elaborate discussion on "Śarīra-prekṣā" (perception of body). One could never reach the spiritual self without properly understanding the significance of the subtle vital energy flowing in the body, or the mysteries necessary first to become acquainted with the body as a medium of spiritual advancement The "Perception of body" is a practice of becoming acquainted with the body. During the practice, the sādhak concentrates his perception on the various parts of the body and perceives the event taking place inside it without any like or dislike. A great number of changes take place every moment throughout the body. The practitioner of śarīra-prekṣā realizes them, and comprehends the truth.

The intellectual man of the modern age seems to have lost his self-awareness. The more he is engrossed in his intellectual activities, the less he knows about the "self" and his "body". He feels tension but it would be difficult for him to actually locate it. In the present tract, we shall see how the technique of śarīra-prekṣā enables one to reach the subtlemost processes in the body, and helps him to regain his self-awareness.

Benefits of Prekṣā Dhyāna

Prekṣā may appear to mean different things to different people, because it contributes to increase physical, nervous as well as spiritual energies.

On physical level, it helps each bodily cell to revitalize itself: it facilitates digestion; it makes respiration more efficient and improves circulation and quality of blood.

On mental level, it proves to be an applied method to train the mind to concentrate; it cleans and relaxes the mind;it offers a way to read serious psychosomatic illnesses without drug; it is an efficient tool for overcoming addictions and other bad habits; it reveals to one the mysteries of mind through realization and the real experience of the inner consciousness which includes the subconscious and the unconscious.

On the emotional level, the strengthening of conscious reasoning 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 psychological distortions.

On spiritual level, the firm control of the reasoning mind, regulation and transformation of blood-chemistry through proper synthesization of neuro-endocrinal secretions, and production of dispassionate internal vibrations lead one to attain the power to control the mind, and to become free from the effect of external forces compelling one to lose equanimity.

No Theological Dogma

Preksha Dhyana can be learnt and practised by anybody without distinction of caste, colour, country and creed. There is no communal or theological bias, nor does it insist on any particular theological belief.

Though the process is not very difficult to learn and practise, it is essential to learn the technique through experienced and trained teachers. Normally a 10-day retreat (training camp) is a suitable means to acquire proper training.

Review of Results

During the last 15 years, hundreds of training camp have been organised and more that 10,000 persons have been oriented in this technique. Amongst them are scientists, doctors, engineers, professors, government servants and other intelligentsia, besides the general public. Police Department, Education Department and others have taken part in the Special Courses organised by Tulsi Adhyatma Nidam. More such Courses are being planned for different disciplines, professions and work areas. Over and above those who have been trained in these camps, thousands of others have practised preksa dhyana and have been benefited thereby. While many of them have restored their physical health, hundreds of others have been cured of mental tensions, hypertension and other psychosomatic diseases.

For all these, we are grateful to Yugapradhāna Āchārya Shrī Tulsī and his successor-designate Yuvāchārya Shrī Mahāprajña for their constant guidance and efforts in this direction.

These two great spiritual saints have truly blessed the entire human race with the boon of preksa dyana, and we are confident that all and sundry will be benefited by learning and practising this universal and easy-to-learn technique of prekṣā dhyāna.

Three permanent training centres have been established viz. 1. Tulsi Adhyatma Nidam at Jain Vishva Bharati, Ladnun (Rajasthan), 2. Adhyatma Sadhna Kendra at Chhattarpur Road, Mehrauli, New Delhi and 3. Tulsi Sadhana Shikhar at Rajsamand, Rajasthan.