Prekshadhyana Kayotsarga

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prekshadhyana Kayotsarga" by Yuvacharya Mahapragna, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Prekshadhyana Kayotsarga Author: Yuvacharya Mahapragna Publisher: Anekant Bharati Prakashan

This book, part of the "Jivanvigyan Granthamala," focuses on Kayotsarga, a crucial technique within the Prekshadhyana (Preksha Meditation) system. The core message is that Kayotsarga is a foundational practice for self-transformation, mental peace, and spiritual development, presented from both scientific and spiritual perspectives.

Core Concepts and Purpose of Kayotsarga:

• Self-Transformation: Prekshadhyana, as a method, bridges ancient wisdom with scientific understanding to guide individuals toward eliminating negative emotions (like anger, greed, fear) and fostering positive qualities (like non-violence, peace, happiness). Kayotsarga is presented as a key process in this transformation.
• Holistic Well-being: Kayotsarga is not just about physical or mental health; it's a powerful tool for spiritual sadhana and all-round personality development.
• Foundation for Meditation: Kayotsarga is described as the "groundwork for meditation" and the "first step." Without physical stability (Kayotsarga), breath stability, and speech silence, the mind cannot become stable, and thus, meditation cannot occur.
• "Kāyika Dhyāna" (Bodily Meditation): It's also referred to as bodily meditation, emphasizing the importance of physical stillness.

Scientific Perspective on Stress and Kayotsarga:

• The Stressful Era: The modern age, characterized by industrialization and urbanization, leads to constant pressure and stress, resulting in health issues like high blood pressure, insomnia, heart problems, and various physical ailments.
• The "Fight or Flight" Response: The book explains the physiological response to stress (the "stress mechanism" or "druck tantra" as described by Dr. Hans Selye). This involves the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands releasing hormones that prepare the body for action (like increased heart rate, narrowed blood vessels, slowed digestion).
• Chronic Stress: When this stress response is activated frequently, it leads to chronic stress. This prolonged state can cause serious health problems, including heart attacks, hypertension, digestive issues, breathing difficulties, muscle pain, and mental anxieties.
• Causes of Stress: Lifestyle changes, as identified by researchers like Holmes and Rahe, are major contributors to stress. Events like death of a spouse, divorce, job loss, or even minor life adjustments can accumulate stress.
• The Solution - Relaxation: Kayotsarga is presented as a natural and harmless way to combat stress. It's a process of "relaxation" (shithilikaran) where bodily movements are stilled, the breath is calmed, and the mind is emptied. This physical and mental relaxation counteracts the harmful effects of stress.
• Physiological Impact of Kayotsarga: By consciously relaxing the body, especially the muscles and nerves, the body's stress response is calmed. This reduces electrical impulses and muscle tension, conserving energy. It's even more restorative than sleep.
• Autosuggestion: Kayotsarga utilizes autosuggestion (swam-sūchan) where the individual guides their body parts to relax. This is distinct from hypnosis, which involves external suggestion.

Spiritual Perspective on Stress and Kayotsarga:

• Three Types of Stress:
  1. Physical Stress: Alleviated by Kayotsarga, which provides more rest than sleep in half the time.
  2. Mental Stress: Caused by excessive thinking and dwelling on the past or future. The solution lies in living in the present moment.
  3. Emotional Stress: Complex and driven by negative emotions like attachment, aversion, anger, and resentment (Artādhyāna and Raudradhyāna). This is considered the most severe form of stress.
• The Importance of Stillness: The spiritual path begins with controlling the body's movements. Physical stillness leads to breath stillness, which leads to mental stillness.
• "Kāyika Dhyāna" as the Root: Bodily stillness (Kayotsarga) is the root of all meditation, enabling verbal (vāchika) and mental (mānasika) meditation.
• Relationship with Breath: Kayotsarga is deeply connected to breath control. The measure of Kayotsarga is often defined by breath cycles.
• Kayotsarga as "Release" or "Discharge": The literal meaning of Kayotsarga is the "discharge of the body" with conscious awareness. This involves letting go of bodily activities, freeing consciousness from its physical attachments.
• "Bhed Vigyan" (Discrimination Knowledge): Kayotsarga is a practice for discriminating between the body and consciousness, desires and consciousness, and so on. This discrimination leads to self-realization.
• The "Death Process": Kayotsarga is described as a "death process" because the body becomes so relaxed and still that voluntary activities cease, and breathing becomes almost imperceptible, simulating a state of detachment from the physical self. This is a profound spiritual practice of voluntarily letting go of the body.
• Overcoming Attachment and Fear: The practice of Kayotsarga helps overcome attachment to the body and the fear associated with it. Attachment to the body is seen as the root of fear.
• Role of Patience and Fearlessness: Patience (Sahishnuta) is a key component. One must tolerate physical discomfort or external disturbances without breaking the practice. This patience leads to fearlessness (Abhay), which is fundamental to spirituality and Kayotsarga.
• Saving and Utilizing Energy: Kayotsarga is essential for conserving vital energy (Shakti) that is often wasted through unnecessary physical, verbal, and mental activities. This saved energy can then be channeled for spiritual growth.
• Nature Transformation: It aids in changing one's nature and purifying the mind.
• Problem Solving: By calming the mind through Kayotsarga, one can approach problems with clarity and find solutions.

The Process and Practice of Kayotsarga:

• Ahimsa and Inner Transformation: The book emphasizes that mere verbal instruction is not enough; practical action is needed. By practicing Kayotsarga, one experiences a transformation within, leading to the awakening of righteous conduct.
• Three Postures: Kayotsarga can be performed standing, sitting, or lying down.
• The Sankalpa (Intention): A specific sankalpa is provided, outlining the intention to release negative habits, purify the mind, and overcome stress.
• Step-by-Step Relaxation: The practice involves systematically relaxing each part of the body, from the toes to the head, using autosuggestion.
• Focus on Breath and Relaxation: Slowing down the breath and achieving deep physical relaxation are paramount for success.
• Consistency: Even 15 minutes of Kayotsarga can be sufficient for stress relief, while longer durations are beneficial for spiritual progress and resolving past karmic impressions.
• Proper Environment: It's recommended to practice on a firm surface, without cushions or mattresses, using only a thin blanket.

Outcomes and Results of Kayotsarga:

• Four Stages of Development:
  1. Stability: Physical relaxation, stress relief, and improvement in psychosomatic ailments.
  2. Subtle Changes: Muscle system activation, changes in brain waves, reduced oxygen consumption, better control over involuntary muscles, increased physical efficiency, reduced inertia, increased tolerance, and improved concentration.
  3. Subtle Body Awareness: Transcendence of the gross body, increased activity of the subtle body, and perception of subtle phenomena.
  4. Self-Realization: Direct experience of the soul's conscious nature, leading to knowledge and realization of the self as a knower and seer.
• Stress and Anxiety Relief: Immediate relief from mental burden and a sense of lightness.
• Cessation of Agitation: Achieving physical stillness leads to the calming of the nervous system, including heart rate and breathing.
• Physical Effects: Improved blood circulation, revitalization of nerve cells, and a profound sense of rest that is more effective than sleep.
• Physiological Benefits: Improved cardiovascular health, reduced risk of heart disease, and overall enhanced immunity.
• Knowledge of Subtle Body: Understanding internal bodily processes, energy flows, and chemical changes through increased awareness.
• Development of the Knower-Seer Attitude: Experiencing the true nature of the self beyond the physical body.
• Aura Perception: In advanced stages, the perception of the aura (ābhāmaṇḍal).
• Vivek Chetana (Discriminating Consciousness): Awakening of the ability to clearly distinguish between the body and consciousness, the eternal and the temporal.
• Abhay (Fearlessness): Cultivating fearlessness, a key spiritual attainment.
• Equanimity (Samata): Development of equanimity towards pleasure and pain, gain and loss, praise and criticism.
• Prajna (Wisdom): Awakening of wisdom beyond mere intellect.

In essence, "Prekshadhyana Kayotsarga" by Yuvacharya Mahapragna serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and practicing Kayotsarga, emphasizing its vital role in overcoming modern-day stress and embarking on a path of spiritual awakening and holistic well-being.