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Pratyahara


After a brief jaunt through the vayus, we now return to our regularly scheduled exploration of the limbs of Ashtānga Yoga.

Remember the stability of the consciousness that is cultivated through pranāyāma as described in sūtra 1.34? That stability carries into the next limb of Ashtānga Yoga to pratyāhāra – withdrawal of the senses.



Pratyāhāra is first alluded to in sūtra I.35 and the goes onto being further defined and explored in sūtras II.54 and II.55.

It has already been mentioned that the practice of pranāyāma removes the clouds that obscure intelligence and allows it to shine forth.  Instead of searching for sense gratification, the senses turn inward. Pratyāhāra is the state where the scattered thoughts of the outgoing mind that motivate the sense organs are stilled. The practitioner moves from the more external practices yamas, niyamas, asana, pranāyāma (bahiranga sādhanā) to the internal practices, dhāranā, dhyāna, samādhi (antaranga sādhanā).  Pratyāhāra acts as a bridge between the external and internal practices.

The effects of pratyāhāra, described in sūtras III.48 and III.49 delve deeper into the potential depths that can be reached within pratyāhāra.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * For our meeting on April 12, please review the following sūtras and their commentaries on pratyāhāra – as these are the sūtras that we will focus on:

  1. I.35, II.54, II.55

For further information on the effects of pratyāhāra, feel free to explore the following sūtras in the vibhūti pada and their commentaries:

  1. III.48, III.49 – describes the deeper and resonating effects of pratyāhāra.

Resources:

Astadala Yogamala: Vol. 2.  B.K.S. Iyengar.  New Delhi: Allied Publishers Pvt. Limited, 2001. 111 – 114.

Core of the Yoga Sūtras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga.  B.K.S. Iyengar.  London: HarperThorsons, 2012. 90-92, 164 – 166.

Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. B.K.S. Iyengar. London: Thorsons, 1993. 87-88, 168-171, 229-231.

Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra Paricaya: An Introduction to Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra-s.  B.K.S. Iyengar.  New Delhi: Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, 2013.  45-46, 93-95, 130-131

Yaugika Manas: Know and Realize the Yogic Mind.  B.K.S. Iyengar.  Mumbai: Yog, 2010. 100 – 101.

The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and commentary with Insights from the Traditional Commentators. Edwin P. Bryant. New York: North Point Press, 2009. 132-133, 297-300.

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