Pratyahara concept

The classical definition of pratyahara (retreat in Sanskrit) is withdrawal of the senses.

Why is this stage important? Raja Yoga consist of 2 major stages – kriya yoga where the actions of an individual are tempered to a spiritual goal and samyama yoga where the individuals internal processes evolve to reach the spiritual goal of samadhi. Hence, prayahara can be called the bridge between the activity based yoga or bahiranga (outside arm) and reflection/ meditation based yoga or antaranga (internal arm). It can therefore be construed that serious practice of pratyahara will make the practitioner withdraw from society and work at a deeper understanding of the self.

Revisiting the concept;

\ Everything we do is for our sense of identity.

\ Our sense of Identity exists because someone acknowledges our existence.

\ Hence, with these entities that acknowledge us, we build an existential bond to ensure that we get continuous confirmation of our existence.

\ From the beginning of our existence, we build multiple bonds and these bonds condition us and ultimately define our identity. This is called dharma or conditioning.

\ Within our bonds, we either find congruence or dissonance of dharma or conditioning in the bond and this causes and movement towards or away from the other entity. This is karma or action.

More on dharma or conditioning;

Dharma or conditioning covers more than just human conditioning. It covers all existence. Dharma is the “rule of existence “which defines the existence and role of each entity in the universe.

Let us start by looking at the dharma of a few entities.

1-   A waveform – a wave is an oscillation, vibration or disturbance pattern, each wave having a different connotation. Waves can be mechanical, electromagnetic or gravitational but each is different and can be termed as a unique manifestation of an identity by way of different amplitude, frequency, wavelength and speed.

2-   Elements – all matter comprise of elements, each having a unique identity. For example – Hydrogen’s identity is known by its atomic number 1 and atomic weight of 1.007. It behaves in a manner particular to an element having the above atomic weight and number. Should the atomic number become 2, the element will become Helium, having completely different behaviour.

3-   Combination – when elements combine, they form molecules. Water, the most abundant of resources, is a combination of two Hydrogen and one Oxygen atoms. The resulting water molecule is nothing like its constituent elements, but water has a unique identity and its behaviour is unique. This is its conditioning or dharma.

4-   The body – within the body, the heart is built in a particular manner and performs a function which cannot be replicated by another organ, such as the kidney, stomach or liver. The heart functions in the same manner, whether in a pig, goat, frog or shark. This tells us that the heart has a dharma, as has each organ in the body.

5-   The organs of the body cannot function outside the body, the body cannot function outside the earth, and the earth cannot function outside the solar system because it is held in place by the relative position of the Sun and other planets. Each of these entities, no matter how big or small have an identity and a function which is inviolate. The lion will always be a predator, a deer always a prey. The roles can never be reversed, this conditioning of each entity is dharma and because of the universality of the concept, it is called Sanatana Dharma (Universal conditioning).

Raja Yoga is an exercise in regression where we move from current existence to the root of our identity by slowly isolating elements of our identity. The process is in 2 phases – Kriya Yoga, where we neutralise our external bonds and conditioning, so that we do not experience fear of loss of relationships through yama and niyama; align the bonds within the body through use of asana and pranayama and finally isolate our existence through pratyahara. The second phase, Samyama Yoga consists of merger of the identity with the source, in this case known as the Brahman.

The key experience which we will need to tackle is fear and its opposite emotion, exultation. The journey begins with kriya yoga which has the following components;

Yama – control of one’s interaction with the environment. Here we mould our behaviour to follow specific rules when dealing with our environment. This is conditioning or dharma.

Since, this conditioning is a voluntary transformation and need not necessarily conform to societal norms, it is called svadharma (sva= self). Also, since this conditioning causes change, they induce an experience of fear, anxiety, conformance, binding and other emotions which will need managing.

When following yama we respond to stimulus through regulation of behaviour. This results in a heightening of awareness during the transaction, but often we have to force ourselves to conform to the rules of yama, and this induces stress in us. Simultaneously, the increased need for awareness forces us to reduce the number of transactions to ensure better compliance to yama because others may not conform to our standards forcing us into situations where we feel we are breaking rules. This can result in temporary feeling of insecurity as we cope with the altered awareness demands of yama.

NiYama – yama results in altered consciousness and stress owing to forced changes in behaviour which need to be supported by corresponding changes to our conditioning (svadharma). In yama, strict rules of behaviour is maintained but this causes the following outcomes; it causes anxiety of both decision making and outcomes, fear of non-conformance, exaltation at receiving praise or success and finally, baggage or residue of the experience, all need to be calibrated to ensure that we are close to homeostasis in any situation. This is not easy but over time conforming to yama rules, yet staying in homeostasis becomes easier. As this change occurs, increased requirement of conformance to niYama rules kick in requiring a person to focus more on various aspects of his or her own conditioning (svadharma) and identity (siva).

Asana – Behaviour without a healthy body is like a car with a good engine but a rusted body. It will fall apart when subjected to the stress of changes induced by yama and niYama. Asana aligns the various elements of the body to keep the body in a condition of homeostasis. This element removes illness and makes the body fit to take on the stress of everyday living.

PranaYama – Breathing is critical to regaining balance in any stimulus-response. In any stress situation, breathing is hampered. Breath control maximises oxygen absorption, ensuring tissue regeneration, healthy oxygen balance in the blood and better left-right brain activity. Hence, this is a critical aspect of one’s development.

So, it is obvious that pratyahara is the crossover point from material existence to spiritual consciousness. It is an exercise in the negation of existence and experience of the residue of that which remains after the negation.