Is Meditation Possible without Pratyahara?
A talk in Hindi, with an English summary.
Talk in Hindi · 2 min · 10 August 2023 · Kya bina pratyahar kiye dhyan sambhav hai?
Summary
Pratyahara — the withdrawal of the senses — is not something foreign to us, Yogi Shri explains. It happens naturally every time we fall asleep: the energy that normally spreads outward through the senses contracts and turns inward. The difference in practice is that we remain the witness of our own consciousness as it happens, instead of falling asleep.
He connects this with the end of life: a lifetime of practice is tested at death. Someone who has practiced pratyahara can, as the energy withdraws, pass straight into meditation and remain awake.
Key points
- Pratyahara happens naturally in sleep.
- Practice means staying aware as the energy withdraws.
- Pratyahara is the doorway to meditation.
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Summary prepared from the recording by the Yogishri team (the talk is in Hindi). The video is the authoritative source.