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Preksha Meditation - Components

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Components of Preksha Meditation

In order to make the objectives of Preksha Meditation attainable, HH Acharya Mahapragya prescribed various tools & techniques such as:

  • Kayotsarg (relaxation)
  • Antaryatra (internal trip)
  • Shvas Preksha (perception of breathing)
  • Sharir Preksha (perception of physical body)
  • Chaitanya Kendra Preksha (perception ofpsychic centers)
  • Leshya Dhyna (perception of psychic colour)
  • Anupreksha (contemplation)
  • Chanting of Mantras (mantra meditation)

Kayotsarg (relaxation)

Kayotsarg means relaxation of the body with full awareness. According to Lord Mahavir 'relaxation relieves one from all sorrow.' Modern era has termed kayotsarg as relaxation. Relaxation is the process of awakening the consciousness and relieving oneself from stresses. The first step in Preksha Meditation is relaxation, through which the stability of body is achieved. In this practice, the muscles are relieved from stress and relaxed by autosuggestion.

Antaryatra (internal trip)

There exists two worlds-the external and the inner world. The human consciousness has a natural tendency to incline towards the external world. This is because the sense are continually in touch with the external world. The eyes analyse physical beauty, the ears receive and respond to the sound waves, the nose identifies various smells, the tongue relishes different kinds of flavours and the skin gives the sense of touch. Similarly, the mind is conditioned and acclimatized with the impressions of the external world. In contrast, the inner world often remains unexplored because we are not acquainted with the powers that assist us in realization of the true beauty of it. In Preksha Meditation , there is a technique named Internal trip through which one can become familiar with the inner world and realise oneself.

Shvas Preksha (perception of breathing)

  • Regulate your breathing; make it slow, deep and rhythmic.
  • Let the vibrations of each breath reach your navel.
  • Allow your abdominal muscles to expand during inhalation and contract during exhalation.
  • Now concentrate your mind fully on your navel. Practice deep, slow and rhythmic breathing, by allowing each breath to take the same time. Perceive each inhalation and exhalation through the expansion and contraction of the abdominal muscles accompanying each inhalation and exhalation respectively.
  • Now concentrate your mind fully on your navel. Practice deep, slow and rhythmic breathing, by allowing each breath to take the same time. Perceive each inhalation and exhalation through the expansion and contraction of the abdominal muscles accompanying each inhalation and exhalation respectively.
  • Now concentrate your mind fully on your navel. Practice deep, slow and rhythmic breathing, by allowing each breath to take the same time. Perceive each inhalation and exhalation through the expansion and contraction of the abdominal muscles accompanying each inhalation and exhalation respectively.
  • Continuing the slow, deep and rhythmic breathing, now shift your attention from the navel and focus it inside the nostrils at the junction of both the nostrils. Perceive each incoming and outgoing breath. Remain fully aware of each and every breath. Continuously practice slow, long and rhythmic breathing - inhale and exhale each breath while remaining fully aware of it.
  • Fully occupy your mind in perception of breathing.

Sharir Preksha (perception of physical body)

The practice of the pereception of body consists in concentrating the mind on each part of the body, one by one and perceiving the sensations and vibrations taking place in each part. Of course, here the perception does not mean the visual perception, but the mental one. The sensations may be superficial sensations of the skin such as the contact with your clothes warmth or coolness, itching and perspiration etc, or they may be the sensations of pain, numbness, tingling etc. felt in the muscles or the vibrations of the electrical impulses in the nervous system or any other type of vibrations.

Chaitanya Kendra Preksha (perception of psychic centers)

To cleanse the psyche from the dirt of animal impulses, carnal desires, and such other pernicious bad habits it is essential to know the sources of uncleanliness and its modus operandi. Once we know this, the process of cleansing becomes easy and efficient. We can discuss the process applying the ancient methodology of Yoga as well as that of modern science.

Leshya Dhyna (perception of psychic colour)

Earlier it was stated that urges and impulses, passions and emotions are all endocrine expressions. There are forces more subtle than the physique. These forces are the primal drives emanating from the microbody (Karma-sarira) which is intimately united with the psyche. The micro-vibrations of the primal drives first produce appropriate conditions in the neuro-endocrine system. The integrated action of this system produces hormones and neuro-hormones which not only generate feelings but also command appropriate action that satisfies the need of the urge. We either progress or retrogress depending on whether we control and subdue our primal drives or succumb to them. The process of subduing the forces of primal drives consists in generating vibrations or waves which countermand them by conscious reasoning. It is the authority of the spiritual self which commands the reasoning mind to produce the counter-vibrations. The vibrations of waves resulting from the primal drives are malevolent lesyas whereas the counter-vibrations produced by the authority of the self are benevolent lesyas

Anupreksha (contemplation)

Preksha Meditation focuses on perception i.e. to perceive without attachment or aversion, excluding thoughts of the past or imaginations of the future. DuringPreksha , one acknowledges the truth. But after we perceive and realise the truth, we need to contemplate it in Anupreksha.

Chanting of Mantras (mantra meditation)


In Sanskrit, the word "Mantra" implies – ‘a liberator of mind’.A mantra is composed of potent sound syllables that are capable of influencing the human system both physically and spiritually. Many seed letters and terms or phrases that can be recited incantatory are available for chanting. Among these, 'Aum', 'Hreem', 'Shreem' 'Kleem' etc., are seed letters. These are invested with great powers. An articulation of a word generates special kind of sound waves and vibrations, which influence our mind. Mantra plays an important role in Preksha Meditation.