Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the Senses YS II - 54

Yoga Sutra II- 54 - SVA VISAYASAMPRAYOGE CITTA-SVAPRUPANUKARA IVENDRIYANAM PRATYAHARAH - When the senses withdraw themselves from the objects and imitate, as it were, the nature of mind-stuff, this is pratyahara.
Swami Satchidananda starts his commentary with "With pranayama, the mind is still not completely fit, because there are other things that will try to pull the mind here and there---namely, the senses. " He tell us how the senses will tell the mind "Ah, there is a wonderful thing in this showcase. Come on, why not buy it?" Or something might smell great, the mind might be quiet, but the nose will be activated, the tongue will salivate, the eyes will want to see what is smelling good. "We must have a good rein over these turbulent senses."

"In the Bhagavad Gita the battle with the senses is explained, in an esoteric way, as a battlefield. The battlefield is the world, the turbulent life which distracts us. Arjuna, the individual self, is confused by it and goes to the Lord, Sri Krishna, for help." After Krishna becomes his charioteer, Arjuna becomes more steadfast and calm when Krishna has the reins of the chariot's white horses, symbolized by the eyes, nose, ears, tongue and sense of feeling. The senses are referred to as the pancha indriyas, or the five sensory organs. "These organs should be offered to the Lord's service. When they are engaged in that manner they are controlled." We are told that unless the five sensory organs are properly controlled or engaged, "they will always drag the mind outside."

Swami Satchidananda informs us that "The senses are like a mirror. Turned outward, they reflect the outside; turned inward, they reflect the pure light." Further more he tells us that the senses are like a gateway allowing the externals into the mind. And since the mind takes form of what it sees (the law of perception) "when we have sense control we only allow the mind to take the forms we want." He gives examples of how the senses are made to engage in spiritual pursuits in the Hindu system ( in the temples).

At the end of the commentary Swami Satchidananda states "Pratyahara is another way of controlling the mind." Gaining mastery in pratyahara is not easy and one shouldn't delude themselves even after a few years, as one can slip . In order to achieve full value of Yoga, all the precautions should be adhered to qualify ourselves. "We shouldn't go to extremes but should have limitations."

Related posts:

• Are you Aware of Your Senses? YS I -35
• The Eight Limbs of Yoga - YS II - 28, 29