Pratyahara practice - basic

Introduction – All identity depends on the stimulus-response cycle to reinforce existence. When the identity is isolated, the person will experience extreme fear and anxiety at the loss of confirmation of identity. Hence, complete and sudden isolation of the identity is neither advisable or possible without severe psychological damage. Hence, practice of pratyahara will need to be in stages.

A comparison: We can liken ourselves to a computer.

Ø  We are born with a certain configuration – we can be a 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 or 256 bit machine, with varying RAM or hard disk capacity. This is our DNA.

Ø  When we are started, our start up software only knows how to cry – when we are hungry or uncomfortable.

Ø  Our operating system (OS) is loaded by our parents from age 0 to 4. This is dharma or conditioning.

Ø  On this OS is loaded various software’s which we will primarily use to interact with the world. This is loaded primarily at school, by friends and family between the ages of 4 and 19.

Ø  We begin interaction with other machines and evolve as we load and learn to use our software programmes. This is svabhaava or behaviour.

Ø  Once we are capable, we are attached to a server and begin to first act as a slave and then progress to being a server ourselves, depending on our capability and awareness.

Ø  By now, we have changed, added and used a lot of programmes and applications, our contact list is huge, and we are networked to a wide web called society, following strict protocols of operation.

Ø  However, over time, we begin slowing down because, though we may have a very good configuration, we have loaded ourselves with a lot of outdated software and do not have the capability of processing the new information. There is a drop in performance and though we try, we are often discarded for newer machines or relegated to less significant roles. At this stage, many of us are also dissatisfied with the way the whole network is operating and are seeking new solution.

Pratyahara and system maintenance;

Yama – We regulate our interaction with the network;

\ We stop trying to respond to all data coming in. If it’s on cc, it’s for information, not for action!

\ We are choosy of the battles we fight, we learn to say NO!

\ If possible, we disconnect from as many servers as possible and stay connected only with the important ones.

\ We update critical software regularly.

\ We don’t spread malware!

NiYama – Here we speed up our system capabilities;

\ We remove programmes, files and folders not in use, or have no value. We free up RAM and disk space. Initially, we may keep it on an external disc but ultimately, we get rid of it.

\ We load new programmes, more relevant to our current status.

\ We curb you ambition to more sustainable levels.

\ We get out of smaller and non value adding networks. Stop watching TV.

\ We learn key skills regularly,

Asana – system fitness;

\ Perform defragmentation regularly.

\ Ensure segments are aligned and dead segments isolated for optimum performance.

\ Ensure system temperature is managed well.

Pranayama – Keeping the system in a flow.

\ Clean virus regularly,

Summary: We build capability on the configuration that we inherit. Over time, we layer these capabilities with applications, programmes and upgrades, finally reaching a stage where our processing capability slows down, sometimes to a point where we become ineffective. Sometimes we rediscover ourselves by adding capability, but often we find the need to transform ourselves. Pratyahara is an exercise of eliminating these layers and learning to operate from first principles – our operating system.