Dana and Dhyana in Jaina Yoga: A Case Study of Preksadhyana and the Terapanth

This dissertation examines the role one aspect of the Jaina tradition plays in a globalized world in the 21st century vis-a-vis an economically viable, socially just, and ecologically sustainable society. I address this by means of an in-depth study of dana (giving, gifting, charity) and dhyana (meditation) conducting a case study of preksadhyana, a form of meditation developed by the Terapanth, a Svetambara Jaina sect, in 1975 and their stance on dana. These practices, the Terapanth claim, are transformative on an individual and societal level. I argue that while preksadhyana’s spiritually transformative influence remains narrowly circumscribed to the individual level, nevertheless it allows the Terapanth to participate in the booming economy of the transnational yoga market. Yet, as my analyses of their historically controversial position on dana vis-a-vis the Jaina position on dana and the recent change in this position within the Terapanth reveal, their ability to transform the world is limited to their own community. I explore, through participation/observation, how preksadhyana as a performative ritual brings an individual closer to spiritual liberation, and attempt to demonstrate how the Terapanth construct this practice as a form of modern yoga by using authoritative discourses of science and scripture. I conclude by offering some final iii thoughts on how successful the Terapanth are in their dissemination of preksadhyana to a global audience and what role the authoritative discourses of science and scripture play in the evaluation and/or erosion of Jaina theology.

Department dc:contributor.department

Religion, Study of

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Kothari, Smita

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Emmrich, Christoph
• Scharper, Stephen

• Yoga
• Jainism
• Jain
• Meditation
• gift giving
• dana
• dhyana
• Terapanth
• Preksha
• ecology
• social justice
• environment

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/43620

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/43620