Hi there, does anyone know any techniques for development of the [I]?Pratyahara?. [/I]As a lot of people seem to talk about this state of mind. But few talk about how you go about the practice of this. Or will this state naturally develop through mediation/asana?s when practiced with the attention focused inward. However, any advice would be welcomed upon this matter.
With thanks
Hello Yoga-Yoda,
Yes pratyahara is a natural result from meditation. Basically it means that the senses are no longer distracted by the outside world. While you could practice to keep attention inward and shut out all outer sense perceptions, you will be better off revising your interests. I find that concentration practices in general are arduous phenomena if your primary interest is not in the object or subject of concentration.
Therefore I will have to say: Try to develop an most honest and dedicated interest into your inner self, into awareness. If your interest in this peaceful state of awareness becomes greater than your interest in the outer phenomena and sense perceptions, pratyahara is naturally attained. It is all about what you belief is wordt most to you. if you still think you can get something out of chasing after desires and external factors, than your attention will be scattered and concentration is near impossible to bring you to peace.
If on the other hand your inner beingness, your peace of mind seems to be the only real happiness to you, you will no longer be disturbed by any of these sense perceptions. you have realized they are just that and that they cannot give you lasting satisfaction.
Love,
Bentinho
Namaste Yoga-yoda,
Pratyahara is a state that is the outflow of a dedicated and disciplined yoga practice. Your own teacher can facilitate the development of pratyahara by adding the relaxation in corpse pose at the end of a class and by doing yoga nidra with the class at regular intervals.
Pratyahara is ususally hard for people who are new to yoga or nor regular in their practice to develop and to experience, as it is a practice which demands a certain level of purification through asana, once reached pratyahara will be easier to practice and develop.
Hi All, so does one have to make a conscience effort to achieve this state. Some have said that you can achieve this mental state through various means, such as a mantra, or anything that focuses your mind inward. But the thing I am still having trouble understanding is. Are you aware of this state of mind. Or it is a by-product of the practice, and therefore cannot been achieved by itself. As I thought it was a technique for mediation, but it seems to me to be the other way around?
Hi Yoga-yoda,
For me pratyahara is part of your everyday yoga, it is not something that stands alone for me and that can be achieved on its own, nor is it a by-product, for me it is a product of your practice. Perhaps if one tries hard you might cultivate withdrawal of the senses on its own, but for me if you look at the eight limbs of yoga they all form part of a bigger practice and they are interdependent for me.
Awareness of this state will depend on you general awareness in life. If you go through life totally unaware then that will be true for you in all aspects, but if you are aware, then you will most probably be aware of this state and recognise it in yourself.
So for me it is an integration of all eight limbs practice no each one on its own, but as a whole.
In Patanjali’s system the eight limbs are progressive.
Therefore it is yama, niyama, asana, and pranayama that lead the aspirant to pratyahara.
To me this is an interesting question, because there seems to be little understanding of the techniques or process. For now, I’m not going to try to give an answer, just check my own experience with others.
I usually notice, after I have been practicing pranayama, I get to a state where I begin to notice my surroundings. Whereas, I have been focused on asanas and breath, and not paying attention to other sensory inputs, usually I will hear something first, and then I may start to be aware of other sensory inputs. I believe it is at this point that I’m beginning to move into pratyahara.
Can anyone validate this?
Pratyahara is still in my future mostly (I believe I have withdrawn my senses on occasion when meditating after asana or while praying a rosary), but I have a question –
what is the distinction you are making between ‘practicing pranayama’ and ‘focused on … breath’?
(yep, much of pranayama is still in my future, too.)
[QUOTE=Techne;18322]
what is the distinction you are making between ‘practicing pranayama’ and ‘focused on … breath’?
[/QUOTE]
I didn’t intend any distinction. Technically I suppose you could make a distinction, since practicing pranayama involves not just breathing, but bandas, and prana, and mantra as well.
Sorry – the ‘whereas’ threw me off. I see now that both practices you mention are followed by a gradual reintroduction to the world via your senses.
Thanks!
Pratyahara gradually emerges from consistent practice of eight-limbs of yoga. Drawing one’s attention inward is the practice, but in time awareness refines into experiencing being less drawn to outward sensory objects, the inner awareness of (S)self being more gratifying. Have faith in the practice. Study with integrity and the essence of pratyahara will naturally reveal itself to you.
[QUOTE=Techne;18351] … I see now that both practices you mention are followed by a gradual reintroduction to the world via your senses.
Thanks![/QUOTE]
Pratyahara is the state where sensory organs like the eye not concern themselves with things outside but turn themselves inwards. 120
Similar to the Sun taking his rays inwards at the third period of dusk, the yogi who is in the third stage would control his mind. 121 From the Yoga Chudamani Upanishad
I agree with Inner Athlete that the process is progressive. I don’t think that full-blown pranayama is necessary, but the breath at least has to be calm and regulated. You have to be aware of your senses in order to consiously withdraw from them.
It helps to understand that the yogic concept of perception involves the individual buddhi going out to the objects of perception via the senses. In Pratyahara the going out subsides and the attention turns inward. It’s a mental process. If you think in terms of koshas, Pratyahara might be described as moving from pranomaya kosha to manomaya.
Also agreed.