Internal Trip
The second step of Preksa
Dhyana is Antaryatra (Internal Trip). It follows the
Kayotsarga. Exertion in systematic meditation discipline needs good deal
of nervous energy, and it is, therefore, essential to generate it. Susumna,
i.e. the spinal cord is an important part of the central nervous system. Its
bottom end is in the vicinity of sakti kendra i.e. centre of energy. In
the practice of Antaryatra the conscious mind travels from
Sakti-kendra to Jnana-kendra (centre of knowledge, top of the head)
via the spinal cord. This internal trip of the conscious mind is repeated
several times, and results in an increased flow of the vital energy (prana
sakti) upwards. Repeated practice of this process assists in better
generation of the nervous energy necessary for further meditation practice.
Nervous system is an essential
and very important component for the functioning of conscious activities. It
permeates the entire body through a network of nerves. The spinal cord and the
brain are the commanding stations of the entire system. The former extends
from the centre of energy situated in the lumbar region of the spine and
enters the latter at the base of the skull, and is connected to it by the
brain-stem and pons. These, therefore, are the chief centres of consciousness
and the seat of the conscious mind. The nerves from the sense-organs also
converge here. Sensation, motor action and perception converge to or are
radiated from here. Sensory nerves and motor nerves are energized and
activated by it.
Man represents the culmination
of the process of evolution in the entire cosmos. Human mind alone possesses
the capacity for conscious reasoning. Lower organisms do not possess a
rational reasoning mind. Man’s ability for rational and conceptual thinking is
derived from his reasoning mind. Thus man alone is capable to direct the flow
of his spiritual energy in an upward direction. If the flow is downwards, the
behaviour will be guided by psychological distortions such as cruelty, greed,
fear and hate; on the other hand, if the flow is reversed, these distortions
will disappear. This will immensely strengthen the power of the unique human
attribute-rational thinking and conscious reasoning. It is the direction of
the flow of the spiritual energy which is a decider of the human behaviour
