Whoever coined the phrase “green with envy” probably wasn’t thinking about auras.  

But anyone familiar with the teachings of Arun Zaveri, an expert in Preksha Meditation, would have been informed a jealous person usually emits a dingy green or red electromagnetic field around his or her body. The energy, in the form of light, cannot be seen by most people.  

Zaveri, who lives in Bombay, India, is on his first US tour and will teach two meditation courses in weekend. His goal is to introduce the Western world, including Tri City residents, to the benefits of Preksha, which are said to include peace of mind, energy and health.  

The word Preksha means to perceive carefully and profoundly. The technique is developed from ancient scriptures of Jain, a philosophy that embraces reincarnation and the idea that every kind of thing has a soul.  

A former engineer, Zaveri, 59, left his silver refining business to study the ancient scriptures and explained them with modern scientific and medical concepts. The result was a book published this year, Therapeutic Thinking: A Scientific Meditation Technique for Achieving the True Human Potential. The book was edited with the help of his son Rahul Zaveri, a chemical engineer who lives in Richland.  

Preksha accepts the idea that people produce energy linked with their emotions.  

“If I produce negative energy, it will effect my mind and body and it will effect others,” said the elder Zaveri.  

By concentrating on parts of the body called psychic centers and visualizing specific colors, he says a person can eliminate negative energies, thoughts and feelings and replace them with positive ones.  

“Psychic centers are nothing but neuroendocrine centers,” he said.  

A typical Preksha meditation session goes like this:  
The person meditating sits and tries to remain motionless and alert throughout the exercise. The session begins by slowly exhaling while humming. This is followed by deep, slow breathing.  

When total relaxation is achieved, the person concentrates full attention on a prescribed psychic center and visualizes the bright color at that center.  

There are seven centers in all; the cerebral cortex, or center of wisdom; the pineal gland or center of enlightenment: pituitary gland or center of intuition; thyroid gland or center of purity; thymus gland or center of bliss; adrenal gland or center of bio-electricity; the gonads or center of energy.  

The colors are golden yellow, full moon white, sunrise (orange-red), emerald green and peacock blue.  

“Perception of a specific psychic color at a particular psychic center enhances harmonious internal chemical transmutations in the neuroendocrine system,” Zaveri wrote.  

For example, visualizing “full moon white” at the center of enlightenment is believed to produce tranquility and subsidize anger. While thinking of peacock blue at the center of bliss is said to spur fearlessness and immunity.  

While visualizing, the meditator speaks an objective. Someone who wants to become more patient, for example, might say, “I will confront any situation with patience. I am developing my power of coolness,” and other such affirmation.  

Zaveri said a university in India is conducting experiments to see weather Preksha can change behavior and cure ailments such as diabetes, ulcers, heart problems and depression. He believes the research will show that it can.  

Before discovering Preksha in 1977, he took medicines for migraines and depression.  

“I was a very heavy smoker and very short tempered person,” he added.  
“Then, after practicing this regularly, I can keep myself cool and calm.”  

Moreover, he said he hasn’t touched a cigarette and pill in more than twenty years.  

Zaveri will be assisted by his wife Mayuri, when he teaches two introductory courses to Preksha week end. Sessions are scheduled for 10.30 a.m. to noon Saturday and 2.30 to 4.00 p.m. Sunday at the Richland Public Library. Advance registration is recommended. Call 946-6160.  

Reporter Kristin Alexander can be reached at 582-1543 or via  
E-mail at kalexander@tri-cityherald.com