food for thoughts, Siva bala yogi maharaj told me the same things during our interview in 1993 in Bangalore, hence our focus on short sessions of Nadi shodhana pranayama, just to induce gently a state of interiorization (pratyahara).Pratyahara means drawing back or retreat. The word ahara means nourishment; pratyahara translates as to withdraw oneself from that which nourishes the senses. In yoga, the term pratyahara implies withdrawal of the senses from attachment to external objects. For example, when we are totally absorbed in the breath during pranayama, pratyahara occurs quite automatically. The mind is so intensely occupied with the breath that all links between mind, senses, and external objects that have nothing to do with the breath are cut off. So pratyahara is not a state of sleep. The senses are quite capable of responding, but they do not because they have withdrawn or detached. When the senses are no longer tied to external sources, the result is restraint, interiorization or pratyahara. Now that the vital forces are flowing back to the Source within, one can concentrate (dharana) without being distracted by externals stimulis.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 08:21:38 +0000
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