Preksha meditation: History and Methods
by Samani Pratibha Pragya | 2016 | 111,074 words
This page relates ‘Chota-dhyana (Short Meditation)’ 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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3.2. Choṭā-dhyāna (Short Meditation)
[Full title: Jayācārya’s Meditation (2) Choṭā-dhyāna (Short Meditation) ]
As the name itself suggests, this is a very short composition, which is based on the famous Jain ‘great mantra’ (mahā-mantra) or ‘salutation mantra’ (namaskāra-mantra). This is used for ‘mantra meditation’, or veneration of the gurus or teachers, which has become a standard practice amongst all Jainas. It is a regular part of the morning and evening veneration of the guru (guru-vandanā) and veneration of the five states of the spiritual self (pañcapada-vandanā).[1] This meditation is based on mental recitation on the qualities of five worthy ones (pañcaparameṣṭhī).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See Appendix 1 for the full text. In Jayācārya, (n.d./1997b: 92–94), the text details this practice in five steps.