Besides the number zero, without which no modern technology and the benefits which have come with it would have been possible, India’s other gifts to the world are ayurveda and yoga. Recognising the importance of yoga in our everyday life, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 June as the intrnational day of yoga. To quote Mr Modi, yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition to the world. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature.
The two most recognised yoga pactices are Raj Yoga (to do with the mind) and Hatha Yoga (to do with the body). However there is another system of yoga which was introduced to the world by Acharya Maha Pragna, a Jain ascetic. This ancient practice of meditation was practised by Bhagwan Mahavir, Jainism’s 24th and last Tiranthakar Bhagwan, 2600 years ago. It is called Preksh yoga or Preksh Dhyana.
The word “preksha” means to perceive and “dhyana” means deep concentration. Like the Jain ritual of Samayik, by performing preksh dhyana, one can realise an equanimity between mind and body. Preksha is a useful tool in Stress Management. It is the awakening of ones own reasoning mind and thereby controlling ones passions and emotions. It is based on the principle of engaging ones mind by concentrating on the perception rather than on thought. The perception is that of internal phenomena of consciousness and not of external objects.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
