International Journal of and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159) Volume: 7, Issue: 2; July- Dec 2018 Comparative Study of Yoga and Prekṣā Meditation

Rohit Talwalkar Research Assistant

Abstract

Philosophical systems are goal oriented. Know thy-self is the message of all saints and sages. Kaivalya in yoga system andmokṣa in Jainism. To achieve such a goal meditation is one of the essential tools. Man is not only rational animal but also spiritual one. Life without meditation is like horse without reins or boat without rudder.

Patañjal yoga and Jainism Teachings of patañjaliandmahāviraflourished in India. According to them ignorance is the root cause of suffering and purpose of this life is enlightenment. Spiritual teacher (guru) plays an important role in the path of liberation. Theory and practice are equally important in yoga and Jainism. Apparently, they are pessimistic because of teaching of sarvaṃdukkhaṃbut in substance they are optimistic as there is path for freedom from suffering. One can see reality as it is with help of yoga and prekṣā meditation.

Due to common characteristic between the two religious traditions there is ample scope for comparison.

Teachings of patañjaliand mahāvira are equally useful even today. Though we see apparent similarities between two mediation techniques there are differences also.

This paper is a small attempt to study similarities and differences between yoga and prekṣā meditation.

Key words: Yoga, meditation, prekṣā

Introduction sāṁkhya philosophy” Apparently, they are There are different goals in different pessimistic because of teaching of philosophical systems (darṥana).Kaivalya sarvaṃdukkhaṃ but in substance they are in yoga system andmokṣa in Jainism. To optimistic as there is path for freedom achieve such a goal meditation is one of from suffering. One can see reality as it is the essential tools. Man is not only rational with help of meditation techniques. animal but also spiritual one. Life without Due to common characteristic between the meditation is like horse without reins or two religious traditions there is ample boat without rudder. scope for comparison.

Patañjali Yoga and Jainism This paper is a small attempt to study Teachings of patañjali and mahāvira similarities and differences between yoga flourished in India. According to them andprekṣā meditation. ignorance is the root cause of suffering and purpose of this life is enlightenment. Prekṣā Meditation Spiritual teacher (guru) plays an important Bharata Chakravarti was the founder role in the path of liberation. Theory and ofprekṣā meditation. The wordprekṣā has practice are equally important in Yoga and two component parts;pra and ikṣā. ‘Pra’ Jainism. “Yoga is the practical path of means special with intensity and ‘ikṣā’ realization of the theoretical ideals of means survey, overall looking. So prekṣā

170

International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159) Volume: 7, Issue: 2; July- Dec 2018 means look or observe carefully or developed. Forprekṣāpajňā and for minutely. ĀcāryaTulsi reintroduced this yoga (ṛtaṁbharāprajňā). There meditation in India. This meditation is arises wisdom. popular in Terāpanth tradition. 2) Enlightenment is the result Śvāsaprekṣā, ṥariraprekṣā, kāyotsarga ofprekṣā and yoga meditation. By andāntaryātrā are the four bodies prekṣāmokṣa is said to be attained ofprekṣāmeditation. This is a universal, and byyoga meditation goal is scientific technique to observe the mind attained which is known and body. asKaivalya. 3) Destruction of ignorance takes Yoga Meditation - Yoga darśana is one place in prekṣā meditation. yoga of the important darśanas of Indian meditation destroys ignorance. philosophical discipline; darśana means direct experience. Yoga- darśana gives 4) One can see one’s own nature with direct experience of the spiritual realm. help of prekṣā and yoga Yoga speaks about mind, mental meditation. modification, and realization of self. 5) Cycle of birth and death ceases by defines yoga as yoga is cessation practice of prekṣā and yoga of mental modifications. Yoga darśana is meditation. also called Rājayoga- 6) Purpose of yoga and prekṣā śāstra, Bhāratiyamānasa- meditation is the realization of self. śāstra and Pātaňjala- yoga- śāstra. Observe the soul through the The system of yoga is so called because it medium of soul” The soul abides teaches the means by which individual in itself. soul (jivātmāna) can be united with 7) (Postures)āsana is one of the universal soul (parmātmana) and secure important limbsbefore yoga liberation. The word Yoga is derived from andprekṣāmeditation. √yuj which means join. Yoga advocates control over body, senses and mind Differences between yoga and prekṣā Yamaniyamāsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhāradh mediation āraṇādhyānsamādhayo’ṣṭāvaṅgāni 1) With help yoga meditation one can experience supernormal powers. But Yama(curb), (observance), prekṣā meditation is not for any āsana(postures), prāņāyāma(control of supernormal powers. breath), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses from their sensual objects), dhāraņā 2) With help of yoga meditation, one can (concentration of mind), achieve concentration. But purpose of dhyāna(meditation) and samādhi (intense prekṣāmediation is not achieve contemplation) are the eight limbs of yoga. concentration but purification. Yama, niyama, āsana, prāņāyāma, The aim ofsādhakais to achieve pratyāhāraare the external limbs. purification of the mind. The Mind’s fixity on particular region is called Prekṣāsādhakadoes not practice dhāraņā meditation to achieve concentration” Dhyāna is continuous flow of mind 3) One can learnprekṣāmeditation. But towards that object. One cannot teach yoga mediation because it happens. Similarities between yoga and prekṣā 4) No imagination is involved in prekṣā meditation mediation as object of concentration is 1) By practice of prekṣā and yoga breath but in yoga meditation some meditation wisdom supposed to be kind of imagination is involved

171

International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159) Volume: 7, Issue: 2; July- Dec 2018

because object of concentration is is then partially occupied in keeping image of God or deity. the body erect. The reclining position 5) One cannot create citta with help of too is unsuitable as one may feel prekṣā mediation but with help of yoga drowsy. A sitting posture avoids all mediation one can create citta. these faults. 6) The purpose of prekṣā mediation is 9) In prekṣā mediation anuprekṣā is cittanirodhabut purpose of yoga important but in yoga mediation no meditation is cittavṛttinirodha. Yoga is place for anuprekṣā. cessation of mental modification. 7) Noble silence is required to learnprekṣā Conclusion: mediation but to learn yoga mediation Teachings of patañjali and mahāvira are noble silence is not required. equally useful even today. Yoga and 8) One can practice prekṣā mediation in prekṣā meditations are popular in India any position.But for practice ofyoga and abroad. Both are scientific and mediation cross legged position is universal techniques to observe the mind necessary. According to Badarayana, and body. contemplation is possible only in Though we see apparent similarities sitting posture. Śankara explains this as between two mediation techniques there “It is difficult to concentrate while are important differences also which we running or walking as any kind of cannot neglect. movements tends to cause distraction. Any kind of meditation is useful for We cannot fix attention on subtle spiritual progres object in standing position, since mind

References: 1) Vatsyayan Indian PhilosophyKedar Nath Ram Nath Meerut 1996 p177 2) Yogaṥcittavṛttinirodhaḥy.s. I.2 3) B.K. S. Iyengar .Yoga EkaKalpataru, Yoga Institute, Santacruz 1965 p21 4) Deṥabandhaṥcittasyadhārṇāy.s. III.1 5) Tatrapratyayaikatānatādhyānam y.s. III.2 6) Ṛtambharātatraprajňāy.s. I.48 7) R.K. SethTransmutation of Personality Through Preksha Meditation, Jain Vishvabharti, Rajastan 1994 p 113 8) Tadādraṣṭuḥsvarupe’vasthānamy.s. I.3 9) R.K. SethTransmutation of Personality Through Preksha Meditation, Jain Vishva Bharati, Rajasthan 1994 p 113 10) Yogaṥcittavṛttinirodhḥy.s. I.2 11) M.R. Yardi The Yoga of Patanjali, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 1979 Pune p 49

*** ***

172