Jeevan Vigyan - 8: Lesson-6 : Contemplation : Anupreksha

Anupreksha helps a person to bring about changes in himself. Anu means after and Preksha means perception. When one does preksha one perceives and realizes the truth. The contemplation of this truth is Anupreksha. Whenever one reflects on what one has perceived and realized, the mind gets influenced by it. This revision for self development is called Contemplation (Anupreksha) or (Bhavana).

While undertaking Anupreksha, positive values are developed and negative elements are discarded. This action is undertaken by way of auto-suggestion.Positive thoughts effect change in a person through the medium of auto-suggestion resulting in beneficent development of a person.This is highlighted in the table given below:

Now let us discuss the negative thoughts also. The main purpose of this discussion is to identify the negative thoughts. We will also try to learn how our personality and behaviour are affected by negative thoughts. We must know the result of these negative thoughts. We can know the answer to these questions from the table given below:

The aim of education is to deliver a person from the influence of negative thoughts. We can also say that the aim of education is a multifold development of positive thoughts and personality of human beings.

The basis of Anupreksha is the consciousness of knowledge as perceived by the viewer himself. Repeated contemplation clarifies his vision. It removes the cover of infatuation (Moorchha) from the conscious mind. Then one can perceive the truth clearly. This is our main aim.

To achieve this aim, the first step is envision (Kalpana), second is following the ideal (Anukarna) and the third is to practice the same (Abhyasa).

IMAGINATION/ENVISIONMENT (Kalpana): At this level, the Sadhaka (seeker) creates a vision in his mind regarding what he want to achieve. While doing so the end-result of his vision becomes crystal clear.

FOLLOWING THE IDEAL (Anukarana): At this level, the sadhaka (seeker) must endeavour to transform the vision into reality.

PRACTICE/REVISION (Abhyasa): By repeating the second step the Sadhaka (seeker) becomes proficient in realizing his vision.

The following precept should be imparted to students for realizing vision:

“Oh You the Unseen one! I have not been able to envision you.

Oh You the Seeker! You are unable to see the Unseen one because of your own

infatuation. If you have faith in what the vision tells you, you would attain your goal.”

When the above said idea Bhavana is developed, the seeker is able to devote himself to Dhyan. By virtue of BHAVANA of VAIRAGYA (Asceticism), one can practice ABSTINENCE (Anasakti). ABSENCE OF DESIRE (Anakanksha) and FEARLESSNESS (Abhaya).

The practice of SHAREER PREKSHA causes several changes to occur within the body. These occurrences are of two kinds: long term and short term.

Infancy, youth and old age are long term occurrences. Feelings of pleasure or pain, like or dislike, sensitivity to heat or cold, blood circulation and heart beat, changes occurring in the body-cells, etc. are examples of short term occurrences.

This ours body is mortal. Despite this awareness the attachment to our body makes us devise ways and means to protect it from damage., However, in spite of our best efforts, one day the end of the body takes place. Therefore, when one loses the attachment of the body, he becomes an Ascetic (Anasakta). Shareer preksha is the art of observing the changes that occur inside our body. Constant contemplation of the knowledge of these changes is called Anitya Anupreksha. Regular exercise of Anitya Anupreksha limits our desires and dispels negative feelings of fear. Death is the greatest fear in our lives. All living beings have an intense desire to live. Man procures food so that he can live. He strives to make his life as secure as possible. In order to understand this fear of death, we must first try to analyse it and then dispel it from our minds. The practice of Breath Preksha and Body Preksha helps to remove fear from our minds. It is essential to achieve the state of fearlessness through contemplation. Then only we can coordinate the mind and the thoughts. The procedure for the contemplation of Fearlessness (Akshaya-Anupreksha) is as given below:

1. Mahaprana Dhvani—for 2 minutes.
2. Total Relaxation (Kayotsarg)—5 minute. (Procedure for this exercise has been outlined in Lesson 3).
3. Visualize or contemplate that there are pink atoms around you. Breathe in the pinkness of roses from these pink atoms. Visualize that with each inhalation these pink atoms are entering in your body. Do it for 3 minutes.
4. Contemplate or visualize pink colour on the centres of bliss (Anand-Kendra)—3minutes.
5. Contemplation (Anupreksha) is to be exercised by concentrating on the and chanting the following:
• “Fearlessness is becoming stronger and stronger. Fear is going away”. Recite it 9 times. Then exercise the Inner Chanting (Manasik Jap) 9 times for 5 minutes.
6. Mentally recite:
   • “Fear depletes even the developed faculties. New qualities cannot be developed. Therefore, I must practice Fearlessness.”
   • “One who shows fear becomes an easy target for others to terrify him. Fear weakens a person. Nobody likes to help or cooperate with a weak person.”
   • “It is my firm determination to inculcate the habit of Fearlessness for the development of power within myself. I will surely get rid of fear”—10 minutes
7. Complete the contemplation (Anupreksha) with the Mahaprana Dhvani—2 minutes.

EXEPRIMENTS IN DETERMINATION (Sankalpa)

Assume the specified posture of the Sukhasana. In order to create an atmosphere congenial to Sankalpa (Determination), begin the exercise of Mahaprana Dhvani. Place your right hand just above the right knee. The hand should be in open position. Place the left palm on the naval, concentrate on breathing in (inhalation) as well as breathing out (exhalation). Both these actions should be equal and balanced. Convert the exhalation and inhalation into a rhythmic cycle.

Visualize that the consciousness (Life-Force) is being activated with each inhalation.The consciousness (Life-Force) is flowing from the right hand thumb to the index finger and from there to the middle finger, the right finger and then little finger. Then let the feeling of the flow of the consciousness (Life-Force) spread to the whole hand. Repeat this visualization several times. After a short while, you would feel a strange sensation in your hands. With the advent of this consciousness (Life-Force) in the whole of the body, similar feeling would gradually spread all over and soon you would cease to feel the existence of your hand. When you reach this stage, exercise your determination to create a mental picture that your hand is in its abstract form. This consciousness would slowly rise to the centre of forehead, the point known as the Darshan Kendra (The Visualization Centre), also known as the Agya Chakra. The moment the sensation of touch at the Darshan Kendra is realized, one enters the stage of Dhyan without any exertion. At this stage the hand would rise by itself and touch the Darshan Kendra. This would generate the feeling of an indescribable peace. The Agya Chakra is also known as ‘The Third Eye’, that is, the Eye of knowledge. Minimum time for this exercise of Determination (Sankalpa) is 15 minutes. It can be increased as per one’s convenience. This is a very good experimental exercise for developing the power of Determination (Sankalpa Shakti).

EXERCISE

1. What is the importance of Contemplation (Anupreksha)?
2. What are the advantages of positive thoughts?
3. What are the disadvantages of negative thoughts?
4. What is the basis of Anupreksha?
5. How can Anasakti (Asceticism) be achieved?
6. Why is the Anupreksha of fearlessness necessary?
7. In what way Kalpana (Visualization), practicing contemplation (Anukarana) and Abhyasa (Practise) relate to each other?
8. Describe the various stages of the Determination (Sankalpa).
9. What is the importance of the Sankalpa experiment?