Preksha Meditation - Five Disciplines in Preksha Meditation

Five Disciplines in Preksha Meditation

• Bhavakriya - Synchrony of mental and physical actions

This is threefold:

1. Present mindedness

2. Complete awareness of one's actions.

3. Uninterrupted (spiritual) vigilance.

• Act - Do not 'react'

Habitually we react to external stimuli, that is we are generally overwhelmed by retaliatory emotional forces within us demanding appropriate action. But surely this cannot be called 'action' it is in fact ' re-action' Discipline of the reasoning mind controls the reactive forces and results in appropriate 'action' rather than 're-action', one should endeavour to establish control and avoid retaliatory behaviour.

• Amity

Behavior of a sadhaka should radiate friendliness, compassion and sympathy. This is possible only when one is able to countermand one's reactive tendencies by reasoning and avoiding retaliatory thoughts and actions. Subjugation of retaliatory impulse results in friendly and compassionate behavior. The sadhaka should be ever vigilant in this respect and cultivate amity.

• Diet

Dietetics is an important facet of meditation practice. Intake of food deeply influences not only our physical health, but also mental tendencies and emotional states. Habitually we eat too much. This overloads our digestive system and results in indigestion etc. This in turn further weakens not only the digestive organs but vitiates the entire organism including mental tendencies and emotional states. Sadhaka should be vigilant towards his diet, avoid over eating. He should particularly abstain from such foods and drinks as are unsalutary to one's health, physical as well as mental.

• Silence

The last discipline of the initiation is - controlled speech or complete silence. We speak in order to communicate with one another. However, habitually we speak too much or too long. Sadhaka should be careful to effect full control over his speaking mechanism. It should be used only when necessary. His speech should be modulated and measured.