hear, touch, and taste. Pratyahara refers to the withdrawal of the senses from external objects and
our modern-day need for constant gratification from sensory stimuli. Our minds are constantly being
pulled outward to evaluate all the information the senses bring in. Evaluation involves categorizing
what has been perceived; often, we hold on to what we believe is desirable, push away what we
believe is undesirable, and ignore what we believe to be neutral. Pratyahara gives our minds a
moment to rest and teaches us to be free of the grasping and clinging to the things we enjoy and
avoiding the undesirable.
When you throw a pebble into a pond, your reflection becomes distorted by the resulting ripples.
Your mind works in very much the same way: Every thought creates a ripple that distorts the ability to
see your true self clearly. Constantly disrupted by these ripples, you begin to believe that the distorted
reflection is who you really are. Practicing pratyahara calms the mind, allowing you to see yourself
clearly.
SIXTH LIMB Dharana (One-Pointed Concentration)
Asanas, pranayamas, and pratyahara help prepare us for meditation.
When the mind moves from experiencing random scattered thoughts to single one-pointed
concentration, it can then find complete absorption in the present moment. By practicing one-pointed
concentration, we clear the mind of all distracting thoughts. This can be achieved by focusing on your
breath, counting, reciting mantras, or observing a candle flame or an image. Because we are
constantly entangled in reliving past memories or living in anticipation of what is to come, it is very
seldom that we live in the present moment. It is even less common to be mindful of the present
moment with a calm and focused mind. However, this is crucial when trying to achieve self-
realization. The power is in the now!
SEVENTH LIMB Dhyana (Meditation)
Just as there are many different types of yoga poses, there are many ways of meditating. Meditation is
a form of inner contemplation that allows you to access a state of mind that has transcended the ego.
This is a state of pure awareness of the present moment that is free of judgment. All meditation leads
to a state of full awareness that does not discriminate or categorize things in a dualistic manner,
which is to say the perception of what is good versus what is bad, beautiful versus ugly, pleasant
versus unpleasant, etc. When we examine reasons behind such judgments, we find many of these
beliefs are based on learned behavior, may vary from one culture to another, and have no fixed or
concrete reality. With consistent reflection and an open mind, we can correct our biased perceptions.
You will develop that part of you called “the Observer.” Once grounded in a regular seated
mediation, it is important to take it into a moving mediation throughout your daily life.
EIGHTH LIMB Samadhi (Total Absorption)
Samadhi occurs when the analytical mind becomes absent and at one with the object of meditation.
The object of meditation can be whatever you are focusing on in your meditation that is used to