This year as I did the Bhaav Pratikraman with Srimad Rajchandra folks, I learnt about the role of Kayotsarga or Kausagga in it.
It comes after the stage of acknowledging our mistakes, and even asking Michchami Dukkadam. After that, as a way of seeing that these mistakes don’t happen again, we stay unmoving in Kausagga posture for a relatively long span of time… I think in the traditional Pratikraman they say 40 logass sutras. While in this Bhaav Pratikraman they played the Atma Siddhi Shastra, which takes roughly 30 – 40 minutes.
1) we have to stay unmoving. Seemingly, lost in meditation & prayaschit.. leaving the body & mind aside. Not catering to its smallest of whims. Deeply engrossed into the chant.
When I did the Kausagga with this awareness, I must say last few minutes were a little tough for me. Where keeping down the urge to wiggle, move just-a-little, rub my nose etc… seemed difficult.
It was a new experience for me. A small one I would say, but still relevant.
2) before we start the Kausagga, a few exceptions are declared. Movements due to inhalation, exhalation, coughing, sneezing and many other involuntary movements.
There are times in deep meditation when even breath gets suspended for a while. I guess true unmoving is also possible .. then these exceptions aren’t needed. 🙂
Apart from involuntary bodily movements, exceptions are also said for extreme external situations like a fire or riot or whatever…
Standing Meditation
This is the first Standing Meditation technique I have so far come across. Maybe to a small extent the standing hatha yoga postures can be meditative.
Especially, cause it is iconic of the great tirthankara to spend so much time in Kausagga, I am glad to have peeled a small layer into this practice.
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