| As described earlier, Ashtanga Yoga has eight limbs or | | | | nor of the material world.Dharana(to hold), |
| parts. So far Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama has | | | | Dhyana(meditation)and Samadhi(total |
| been described. In the present article Pratyahar, | | | | concentration)Dharana means to hold. After one |
| Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi shall be | | | | withdraws oneself from the gross body and senses, |
| described.Pratyahar(withdrawal)Before Pratyahar one | | | | one should hold mind firmly. One can enter into |
| should lie in Sukhasana comfortably and motionlessly. | | | | Samadhi through this mind only. The saints and sages |
| Then one should practice Pranayama by keeping mind | | | | of Ancient India first realisd that nothing is as great as |
| on the movements of breath across the nostrills. After | | | | mind in the whole universe. Mind is the cause of |
| half an hour in Pranayama, there is cut off in inhalation | | | | everything; creation, maintenance and destruction of |
| and exhalation. Mind and Pranabreath for practical | | | | this universe goes on because of this mind only. It is |
| purpose) become one and motionless. In this state one | | | | also the cause of bondage and liberation of all. Mind |
| should practice Pratyahar.Patanjali describes - when | | | | can be a good servent, good friend as well as good |
| senses leave their objects of enjoyment and get | | | | master. So in Dharana one learns how to hold mind |
| engaged in realising true self(svarup), it is called | | | | firmly for own liberation.After Dharana comes |
| Pratyahar(II>54). So far Yoga is concerned, there are | | | | Dhyana(meditation). In Yoga meditator, meditation and |
| two directions - one is outside and the other is inside. | | | | the object of medition are one. Because the aim of |
| Outside there is enjoyment(bhoga) and enjoying(ahara) | | | | Yoga is to realise the true self. In Dharana and Dhyana |
| and inside there is Yoga and Pratyahar(withdrawal | | | | mind should be fixed at Ajna Chakra in between |
| from enjoyment). So long as senses are fixed on the | | | | eyebrows(trikuti). Eyes should be closed in practicing all |
| objects of enjoyment, there is enjoying(ahara); but as | | | | the limbs of Yoga starting from Asana to Samadhi. |
| soon as senses withdraw from them, there is Yoga | | | | However religious masters teach to meditate upon |
| and Pratyahar.In enjoyment there is loss of energy; | | | | some symbols or pictures of Gods and Goddesses |
| whereas in Yoga there is conservation of energy. | | | | with eyes open. Through such meditation mind does |
| Inside there is treasure of energy, happiness, | | | | not come inwards and so no Yoga shall be |
| knowledge, health and longivity; but outside there is loss | | | | practised.Through regular and sincere practice of |
| of energy, pain, ignorance, disease and death. as | | | | Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana and Dhyana, one may |
| people take their earned money from home and | | | | enter into Samadhi one day. Only a true and rare |
| spend them outside, so people earn energy, happiness | | | | practitioner achieves this state, also called Turiya. |
| inside, but spend them outside. People who spend | | | | Normally all men experience three states - waking, |
| more and more money outside, get bankrupt and | | | | dreaming and deep sleep. The state of Turiya, which is |
| people who spend more and more energy outside get | | | | the fourth state of a being, is experienced by a Yogi |
| diseased. So a true Yogi earns more and more | | | | alone. This is such a dreaming state, where one is |
| energy inside, but spends less and less outside to | | | | awake while sleeping. This is such a waking state, |
| remain happy, knowledgeable and healthy.Pratyahar is | | | | where one does not use one's body and senses. This |
| practiced after Pranayama in the same | | | | is such a deep sleep where one is fully concious. As |
| posture(sukhasana). It is a mental excercise only. In the | | | | without sound sleep a man cannot remain healthy and |
| legs there are six sets of joints and in the body there | | | | peaceful, so without Turiya a man cannot be healthy |
| are six Chakra. From the tip of fingers in the legs one | | | | and peaceful completely. For complete peace and |
| should rise upwards joint by joint and Chakra by | | | | bliss, for complete knowledge, freedom and liberation, |
| Chakra. In each joint or Chakra one should remain for | | | | every individual should practice Yoga and try out to |
| a while and feel that lower parts from that joint or | | | | reach the state of Turiya or Samadhi.Author is an |
| Chakra have gone senseles. In this manner one should | | | | Indian and a desciple of Late Munisvar Shiv kumar |
| reach Ajna Chakra in between eyebrows. At Ajna | | | | Shastri. Those who are in the quest for true spiritualism |
| Chakra one should feel that there is no sensual feeling | | | | and yoga and want freedom and bliss should go |
| of the body. One should see nothing, hear nothing or | | | | through his book 'Quest for Truth: the spiritual and |
| feel nothing. There is neither the feeling of the body | | | | yogic way' and email to him. |