Prekṣā meditation : history and methods
Samani Pratibha Pragya
Center for International and Regional Studies 2017 DOI: 10.25501/soas.00024340 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that prekṣā-dhyāna, developed by Ācārya Mahāprajña, is an expression of Jaina modernism that has a firm foothold in international meditative practices. The system integrates seven distinct sources: Jaina textual meditation, Hindu yoga, Buddhist vipassanā, Āyurvedic concepts, astronomical elements, modern science, and Mahāprajña's personal experiences. Mahāprajña's innovative use of scientific concepts, not previously incorporated into Jaina meditation systems, is presented as unique and an important step toward Jaina modernism. |
Abstract
This study is an attempt to trace the history and development of prekṣā-dhyāna (perception meditation), developed in the last quarter of the twentieth century by Ācārya Mahāprajña (1920-2010), the tenth ācārya of the Jaina Śvetāmbara Terāpanth sect.Prekṣā-dhyāna represents a new synthesis of ancient Jaina ascetic techniques, classical ritualistic meditative elements, and modern science, aimed at an audience that is global and inclusive of Jainas and non-Jainas alike.The argument of the thesis is that prekṣādhyāna is an expression of Jaina modernism that has a firm foothold it in the world of international meditative practices.The study uses textual sources to provide a historical overview of the Jaina meditative tradition in an area that has not yet been explored.It examines the theory and practice of prekṣā-dhyāna in detail.It demonstrates that Mahāprajña's construction of the prekṣā-dhyāna system integrates seven distinct sources: (i) Jaina textual accounts of meditative practices (ii) elements of Hindu yoga systems (iii) elements of Buddhist vipassanā meditation (iv) Āyurvedic concepts (v) Astronomical elements (vi) modern science and (vii) reflections on his own experiences and explorations.Finally, twentieth century Jaina meditative systems other than prekṣā-dhyāna, newly developed by mendicants from the Śvetāmbara Mūrtipūjaka and Sthānakavāsī traditions have been examined and their similarities and differences vis-à-vis prekṣādhyāna investigated.The reasons for the current proliferation of these new systems of meditation in the Jaina tradition have also been examined.This thesis demonstrates that Mahāprajña's innovative use of scientific concepts, which was not previously incorporated within Jaina meditation systems is unique and represents an important step towards Jaina modernism.4.4.1 Jaina Textual Sources of Prekṣā-Dhyāna 4.4.2Elements and Sources from Hindu Yoga Systems 4.4.3Elements and Sources from Buddhist Vipassanā 4.4.4Āyurvedic Elements 4.4.5 Seven Constituents of the Body (sapta-dhātu-prekṣā) 4.4.6 Astronomical Elements 4.4.7 Modern Scientific Elements 4.4.8Mahāprajña's Personal Experiences 4.5 The Role of Time in Prekṣā-Dhyāna 4.6 Conclusion Chapter 5. Other Modern Forms of Jaina Meditation 5.1Je māyadaṃsī se lobhadaṃsī, je lobhadaṃsī se pejjadaṃsī, Je pejjadaṃsī se dosadaṃsī, je dosadaṃsī se mohadaṃsī, Je mohadaṃsī se gabbhadaṃsī, je gabbhadaṃsī se jammadaṃsī, Je jammadaṃsī se māradaṃsī, je māradaṃsī se nirayadaṃsī, Je nirayadaṃsī se tiriyadaṃsī, je tiriyadaṃsī se dukkhadaṃsī 218 See chapter 5 section 5.8.219 A eulogy of twenty-four Tirthaṅkara being a part of Pratikramaṇa ritual or āvaśyaka-sūtra.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |