Category:Pratyahara
Theme Analysis
The mechanical and spiritual dimensions of pratyāhāra form the core of this category. As an essential step in the eightfold aṣṭāṅga-yoga system, pratyāhāra involves the deliberate withdrawal of the senses from external material objects. Through the extensive teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda, it becomes clear that while less intelligent persons must practice this mechanically to subdue their bodily addictions, true and permanent sense restriction is effortlessly achieved through pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
- The Meaning of Diversion: The word pratyāhāra literally translates to "the opposite," indicating the required shift from cooperating with the external material energy to focusing on the internal spiritual reality.
- Withdrawing from Worldly Beauty: The eyes and other senses are naturally drawn to temporary material aesthetics; pratyāhāra demands that the practitioner retracts this vision to concentrate on the beauty within, particularly at the time of death.
- The Eightfold Path: Pratyāhāra operates as the crucial fifth stage in the mystic yoga system, bridging the physical practices of āsana and prāṇāyāma with the deep mental focus of dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi.
- Mechanical Restriction for the Neophyte: For those deeply entrenched in the bodily concept of life, the forceful driving out of sense objects through the rules of haṭha-yoga is prescribed to slowly tame the unruly mind.
- The Perfection of Devotional Service: While mystic yogīs struggle to mechanically pull their senses away from matter, a sincere Vaiṣṇava automatically achieves the perfection of pratyāhāra by positively engaging all their senses in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Withdrawing the Senses through Pratyāhāra.
Pages in category "Pratyahara"
The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total.
I
- In the yoga system this process is called pratyahara, which means "just the opposite." Although during life the eyes are engaged in seeing worldly beauty, at death one has to retract the senses from their objects and see the beauty within
- In the yoga system this process is called pratyahara, which means, in technical language, "the opposite." Now the eyes are engaged in seeing worldly beauty, so one has to withdraw them from enjoying that beauty and concentrate on seeing beauty inside
T
- The eightfold yoga mysticism is automatically practiced in KC because the ultimate purpose is served. There is gradual process of elevation in the practice of yama, niyama, asana, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana, pranayama, and samadhi. BG 1972 purports
- The eyes are engaged in seeing worldly beauty, so one has to withdraw them from enjoying that beauty and concentrate on seeing beauty inside. That is called pratyahara
- The mystic yogis simply try to control the senses by practicing the eight divisions of yoga-yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, etc. - and the jnanis try by mental reasoning to understand that sense enjoyment is false
- The practice of mysticism or yoga, known as astanga-yoga, which is divisible into an eightfold procedure called yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. BG 1972 purports
- The preliminary activities of the way of yoga are asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana, etc
- The process by which we give up our thoughts of material things is called pratyahara, which entails being freed from all material thoughts and engagements
- The word pratyak is significant. In yogic practice, the eight divisions are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Pratyahara means to wind up the activities of the senses
- These (the practice of yama, niyama, asana, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana, pranayama, and samadhi) only preface perfection by devotional service, which alone can award peace to the human being. It is the highest perfection of life. BG 1972 purports
- This process of turning the senses from material attachment to the loving transcendental service of the Lord is called pratyahara, and the very process is called pranayama, ending in samadhi, or absorption in pleasing the Supreme Lord Hari by all means
- Those who are very much addicted to the bodily necessities of life, for them this hatha-yoga system. Hatha-yoga system means astanga-yoga. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, dhyana, dharana, pratyahara, samadhi
- To practice yoga, as suggested here (in BG 8.12), one first has to close the door of all sense enjoyment. This practice is called pratyahara, or withdrawing the senses from the sense objects. BG 1972 purports