Light on Yoga - Day 30

              

Tribute to Guruji and Light on Yoga - Day 30

Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the Senses

The fifth limb of Yoga where the senses, instead of running after external desires turn inward with the rhythmic control of the breath. 

Mr. Iyengar writes, "The mind, in truth, is for mankind the cause of bondage and liberation; it bring bondage if it is bound to the objects of desire and liberation when it is free from objects."

He goes on to say that when the mind craves, grieves or is unhappy that is bondage and the mind becomes pure when all desires and fears are gone.

This is not an easy path because at the beginning it may seem very hard, but the end result is liberation.  It is much easier to pick the path that seems easier and more enjoyable but the end result may not be liberation.

Mr. Iyengar speaks of the gunas or qualities according to Hindu philosophy that the consciousness manifests.
They are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
Sattva is the illumination, pure or good quality that leads to mental clarity
Rajas is the quality of mobility and makes a person actve
Tamas is the dark and restraining quality. That of delusion, inertia and ignorance.

Mr. Iyengar writes about the different attributes that one may have depending on their combination of the gunas.

He says also," The yogi who is also human is affected by these three gunas.  By his constant and disciplined study (abhyasa) of himself and of the objects which his senses tend to purse, he learns which thoughts, words and actions are prompted by tamas and which by rajas."

One must constantly work or practice (vairagya) to achieve a sattvic frame of mind and go beyond the pull of the gunas.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.BlogSpot.com