Equinox I (04).pdf

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING
PRATYÂHÂRA
The next step in Raja Yoga is called Pratyâhâra, or the
making of the mind introspective, by which the mind gains
will to control the senses and to shut out all but the one object
it is concentrating upon.
He who has succeeded in attaching or detaching his mind to or from the
centres of will, has succeeded in Pratyâhâra, which means "gathering towards,"
checking the outgoing powers of the mind, freeing it from the thraldom of the
senses. When we can do this we shall really possess a character; then alone we
shall have made a long step towards freedom; before that we are mere
machines.*
The absorption of the mind in the ever-enlightened Brahman by resolving all
objects into Âtman, should be known as Pratyâhâra.†
The mind in ordinary men is entirely the slave of their
senses. should there be a noise, man hears it; should there
be an odour, man smell it; a taste, man tastes it; by means of
his eyes he sees what is passing on around him, whether he
likes it or not; and by means of his skin he feels sensations
pleasant or painful. But in none of these cases is he actually
master over his senses. The man who is, is able to accomodate
his senses to his mind. To him no longer are external
things necessary, for he can stimulate mentally the sensation
desired. he can hear beautiful sounds without listening to
beautiful music, and see beautiful sights without gazing upon
them; he in fact becomes the creator of what he wills, he can
exalt his imagination to such a degree over his senses, that by
a mere act of imagination he can make those senses instantaneously
respond to his appeal, for he is lord over the senses,
* Vivekânanda, “Raja Yoga,” p. 48. It will be noticed that Prânâyâma itself
naturally merges into Pratyâhâra as concentration on the breath increases.
† “The Unity of Jîva and Brahman, Srimat Sânkarâchârya,” paragraph 121.
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