Preksha Dhyana: Human Body Part I (Anatomy And Physiology): [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 Tensions

In this age of technology, industrialisation and over-urbanization, 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 realize 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 properly as well as thinking properly.

What is Prekṣā 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 would 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), chaitanyakendra-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 he is changing, that anger and fear are pacifying, that greed and deceit are deteriorating, that one is getting transformed into a 'righteous' person.

Our series on "Science of Living" includes tracts on various facets of prekṣā dhyāna.

For a practitioner of Preksha-dhyana, it is necessary to know the functions and characteristic activities of the human body and the roles played by them in health as well as diseases. This book provides an adequate understanding of the subject in an easy-to-read non-technical text. For convenience, it is divided into two parts. In the first part, an attempt has been made to provide a foundation of basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology in an accurate and comprehensive way. The term anatomy refers to the study of different parts of the body, their form and relationship to each other, while physiology deals with the function of the living body. Because the study of the function is meaningless without the knowledge of the structure involved, anatomy and physiology are inter-related and essential for the study of life sciences as well as health-care. The second part of the book deals with various facets of health-care.

Everybody has a right to remain healthy and everybody can develop the ability to protect himself from the sickening effects of the environment and prevent illness. The process of keeping fit and healthy is more a matter of common sense and self-discipline rather than hard work. But basic to the care of health is a working knowledge of the living body. One must first acquire adequate knowledge of the working of various body systems. Then and only then one will be equipped to take better care of one's vital organs such as heart, lungs and liver.

The knowledge and care of the body would positively increase the ability to resist environmental hazards and develop the strength to fight off their attacks more vigorously.

This book is specially useful for the non-medical common man and woman who keenly desires to remain healthy and fit not only in youth but also in old age. The text is complemented with suitable illustrations and tables. It is hoped that it would give the reader in general and Preksha-sadhak in particular an opportunity to learn the way to live a better life.

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, and 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 offers a way to treat serious psychosomatic illnesses without drugs; it is an efficient tool for ending addiction and other bad habits; it reveals to one the mysteries of the mind by the 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 reaction to environmental conditions, situations, and behaviour of others; harmonization of the functioning of nervous and endocrine system results in control and eradication of psychological distortions.

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

No Theological Dogma

Prekṣā dhyāna 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 ten-day retreat (training camp) is a suitable means to acquire proper training.

Review of Results

During the last eleven years, more than 70 training camps have been organised and more than 8000 persons have learnt this technique. Amongst them are scientists, doctors, engineers, professors, teachers, 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 others have practised prekṣā dhyāna and have been benefited thereby. While many of them have restored their physical health, hundreds others have been cured of mental tensions, hypertension and other psychosomatic diseases.

For all this, we are grateful to Yugapradhāna Āchārya Shrī Tulsī and his successor-designate Yuvāchārya Shrī Mahaprajña 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 prekṣā dhyāna, 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 Bharti, Ladnun (Rajasthan), 2. Adhyatma Sadhana Kendra at Mehrauli, New Delhi, and 3. Tulsi Sadhna Shikhar at Rajsamand (Rajasthan).