Pratyahara: The Science of Turning Inward

The eightfold path of mystic yoga offers us a step-by-step process for entering into a blissful state of deep meditation by which we can achieve the ultimate goal of yoga: self-realization. But there are obstacles that stand between us and the experience of our true, eternal, and joyful inner self. One obstacle is the outside world, which throws endless distractions at us. Another obstacle is our own minds: even if we manage to turn the world’s volume down, our minds, like restless children, have no interest in sitting still.

You might think that it’s impossible to control the mind. Even spiritual wisdom texts like the Bhagavad-gita say that trying to control the mind is like trying to control the wind, but those same texts tell us that it can be done. So, if it can be done, why is it so difficult for most people to turn off the world and get the mind to sit still long enough to reach a deep meditative state? One reason is that most people skip a step in the process: the practice of turning inward. All too often, practitioners are led straight to meditation without receiving instructions on how to draw awareness inward as a means to develop the power of concentration.

In this 30-minute session, Hari-kirtana das will speak about the underlying principles of pratyahara, turning the senses inward, and guide you through the process of moving your awareness beyond the physical and metaphysical elements that cover our innermost spiritual consciousness.

You can use this link -

https://hari-kirtana.com/2023-free-meditation-download/

to download a free guided meditation that expands on the meditation we did in this class.