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Preksha meditation: History and Methods

by Samani Pratibha Pragya | 2016 | 111,074 words

This page relates ‘The Acaranga-curni (by Jinadasa Mahattara)� of study dealing with Preksha-Dhyana: a meditation technique created by Acharya Shri Mahapragya (Acarya Mahaprajna) in the late twentieth century. It synthesizes ancient Jain ascetic methods, ritualistic practices, and modern scientific insights, appealing to a global audience. The thesis explores its historical context, theoretical foundations, and the rise of contemporary Jain meditation systems.

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5. The Āṅg-ūṇi (by Բ Mahattara)

The Āṅg-ūṇi of Բ Mahattara (7th c. CE), presents many events of Ѳ屹ī’s life, drawn from the Niryukti literature. Ѳ屹ī’s meditative practices are described in greater detail in Āṅg-ūṇi as compared to Āṅg-ūٰ The first type of meditation described is “walking meditation�. Ѳ屹ī practised meditation even whilst walking, as he walked carefully with his eyes fixed on the path approximately one body-length in front of him and his gaze gradually widening up to six feet ahead of him (Āṅg-ūṇi, p 301).[1] Children would raise a hue and cry as they were shocked at seeing Ѳ屹ī walking with a fixed gaze, unaffected by the spectacle around him. This sketch of Ѳ屹ī’s walking meditation describes walking meditation as practised today by Jaina monastics as a component of careful movement or walking ( samiti). The process of -samiti is walking carefully, being mindful of, and observing a yoke-length of path in front of oneself (ٳٲⲹⲹԲ-ūٰ, 24.7[2]). Herman Jacobi accepts this walking meditation of Ѳ屹ī on the basis of Āṅg-ūṇi and his translation follows the Āṅg-ūٰ A somewhat different form of walking meditation practice is also present in Buddhist tradition.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Āṅg-ūṇi, p 301. purao anto majjhe yātīti paśyati, tadeva tassa jjhāṇa� ja� riuvayogo aṇimisāe diṭṭhīe baddhehi� acchīhi�, ta� 𱹲� baddhaacchī jugantaraṇirikkhaṇa� daṭṭhu�

[2]:

ٳٲⲹⲹԲ-ūٰ, 24.7. davvao cakkhusā pehe, jugamitta� ca khettao. kālao java rīejjā, uvautte ya bhāvao.

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