Pratyahara

Pratyahara, the practice of withdrawing from our sense organs, is a key step in focusing the mind and unlocking the source of thoughts. By controlling sensory inputs and distractions, we can direct our mind in a positive direction.
Sensory Control, Focused Mind, Thought Origins

Once we understand that our behaviors flow from our thoughts, and our thoughts flow from our senses and emotional attachments, we can unlock the source of thoughts: sensory control. Pratyahara is the practice of withdrawing from our sense organs, which is a key step in focusing the mind.

• How often do you find yourself distracted by sensory inputs like notifications, sounds, or visuals?
• What benefits might you experience by practicing sensory withdrawal and focusing your mind?

Our senses and attention are closely linked. Distractions from various sensory inputs can make it difficult to focus, even when those inputs seem unrelated to the task at hand. In today’s world of constant notifications and stimuli, it’s increasingly important to control our sensory organs to maintain focus.
Senses and Attention, Distractions, Focus

We get assaulted all the time by sort of sensory input. And if we’re not careful or this is actually what happens to most of us, most of us because we’re not careful. Is that we end up getting distracted, right? It’s very hard to focus when we’re hearing pings on our phone when we’re getting notifications over there.

• Reflect on a time when sensory distractions interfered with your ability to focus on a task. How did you handle the situation?
• What strategies can you implement to minimize sensory distractions and improve your focus?

When we focus our attention on a single sensory organ, the experience becomes more powerful and enjoyable. However, we often fracture our attention across multiple senses simultaneously, diluting the overall experience and productivity.
Focused Attention, Sensory Experience, Productivity

So there’s a very simple principle, which is that the more that we focus our attention in one sense, Oregon, the more powerful it becomes. And so I want you all to think about a tension kind of like light, where we can have a light bulb, which has diffused attention in 1000 different directions and we can kind of light up a room. But if we concentrate all of that light into a laser beam, you can actually cut through stuff.

• Think of an activity you enjoy, like listening to music or eating a meal. How might focusing your attention solely on that activity enhance your experience?
• In what areas of your life could you benefit from more focused attention and less multitasking?

Pratyahara is a meditative technique designed to control the mind by restraining the sense organs. By controlling our sensory inputs, we gain control over our attention and can direct it towards positive results.
Pratyahara, Mind Control, Positive Results

Pratyahara is the way that we restrain our sensory organs to focus our attention. So we really need to understand is what is the relationship between our senses and our attention?

• How might practicing Pratyahara help you gain greater control over your thoughts and actions?
• What specific sensory inputs do you feel most challenged by when it comes to maintaining focus and control?

When we’re bored, we often seek sensory stimulation to occupy our attention. However, relying on external distractions as a crutch can lead to a loss of control over our attention, perpetuating a cycle of boredom and distraction.
Boredom, Distraction, Attention Control

As we sort of retreat away from boredom, this creates a real problem because now what we’re actually doing is rather than controlling our sensory organs to control our attention, we’re actually using an external thing is a crutch. So instead of being able to direct my attention, where I wanted to, I’m relying on a TV show or video game or piece of music, or some kind of like social media post to pull my attention in a particular way.

• Reflect on your own patterns of boredom and distraction. How often do you rely on external stimuli to occupy your mind?
• What internal resources or practices could you cultivate to manage boredom without resorting to distractions?

In today’s digital world, companies are increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to capture and manipulate our attention. Pratyahara is more important than ever as a tool to regain control over our attention and focus in the face of these challenges.
Digital Distractions, Attention Manipulation, Pratyahara’s Relevance

Even though pratyahara has been important for 1000s of years, I actually think it’s the most important it’s ever been. Because the truth is that controlling your attention is actually really hard to begin with. But it’s actually getting increasingly difficult because there are actually companies out there that for you know, we’ll spend hundreds of 1000s if not millions, or even billions of dollars, warring for your attention.

• How have you experienced the attention-grabbing tactics of digital media and technology in your own life?
• What role can Pratyahara play in helping you navigate the challenges of the digital age with greater focus and control?

As we practice Pratyahara, we progressively trim away each sense, enhancing the experience of the remaining senses until we reach a state of pure, unadulterated attention. In this state, the mind becomes quiet, and worries, fears, and ego attachments melt away.
Progressive Sensory Restraint, Pure Attention, Mental Quietude

So pratyahara is the practice that allows us to restrain all those sensory organs and focus our mind. So let’s understand what happens as I focus my mind and eyes as I engage in Pratyahara. so when we start out we sort of have five different senses or six different senses that are focused on all these different things, right? I’m seeing stuff, I’m hearing stuff, I’m smelling stuff, and I’m tasting stuff. So what happens as we do a pratyahara practice. So we’ll start off by doing something simple like closing our eyes. And even if you close your eyes right now, what you’ll notice is that your ability to hear me changes, you’ll become more aware of your body you’ll become more aware of the sound you’ll become more aware of smell and taste.

• Experiment with progressively restraining your senses, starting with closing your eyes. What do you notice about your experience of the remaining senses?
• How might achieving a state of pure attention impact your ability to act with clarity and purpose?

When we reach a state of pure attention through Pratyahara, we experience a liberation from the worries, fears, and ego attachments that often hinder our actions. By directing our attention without these mental obstacles, we become more peaceful and productive.
Pure Attention, Mental Liberation, Productivity

And so what happens is we engage in Pratyahara, and we’re sort of this pure, unadulterated attention is that all of our worries and cares and all that stuff sort of starts to melt away. And that has a very, very liberating effect on us. As we enter the state of pure attention, and all of our troubles go away, our ability to act actually becomes a lot more potent, because if you really think about it, what is it that keeps you from acting? It’s all the crap in the mind, right?

• Reflect on a time when worries, fears, or ego attachments held you back from taking action. How might practicing Pratyahara help you overcome these obstacles in the future?
• What areas of your life could benefit from the increased peace and productivity that come with pure attention?

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna compares the sense organs to five horses pulling a chariot in different directions. By harnessing the horses (controlling the senses), the chariot (mind) can go where the driver (you) directs it. When the horses are in control, the chariot is pulled apart, much like how our attention is fragmented by unrestrained sensory inputs.
Bhagavad Gita, Sense Control, Mind Control

Krishna is sort of revered in the Hindu tradition is a divine figure, whether he is God or not. I don’t really think that matters too much personally. I mean, some people will take offense to that, but whatever. You know, I think the important thing is what Krishna shared with Arjun and what he explained to Arjun who was really despairing and really distraught, is he said that if you want to control your mind, you actually have to control your sense organs and he tells Arjun that I want you to think of your sense organs as five horses, and each one each horse is running in a different direction. And if you want to harness the power of your mind, what you need to do is take those five horses and attach them to a chariot. We want to harness them to a chariot and if you are in control of your sense organs, the chariot will go where you tell it to.

• How does the analogy of the five horses and the chariot relate to your own experience of sensory distractions and mental control?
• What practical steps can you take to “harness the horses” of your senses and direct your mind with greater intention?

Pratyahara offers a powerful tool for regaining control over our attention and focus in an age of increasing sensory distractions. By practicing sensory withdrawal and cultivating pure attention, we can experience greater peace, productivity, and purposeful action in our lives.