The Equinox (Volume I, Number IV)

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING PRATYAHARA The next step in Raja Yoga is called Praty4hara, 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 Pratyahara, 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 Atman, should be known as Pratyahara.t 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 smells 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 accom- modate 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 instan- taneously respond to his appeal, for he is lord over the senses, * Raja Yoga, “ Vivekananda,” p. 48. It will be noticed that Pranaydma itself naturally merges into Pratyahara as concentration on the breath increases. + “The Unity of Jiva and Brahman, Srimat Sankaracharya,” paragraph 121. 103