What is Pratyahara?

There are eight limbs of yoga. The fifth limb, pratyahara, has always confused me. Pratyahara is commonly described as the ‘withdrawing of the senses,’ but what does that mean? I had to think about it and, after going through several concepts (listed below), I think I have some understanding of it now.

1. The kosha model

This model divides the mind into two parts: manomaya kosha and vijnanamaya kosha. Manomaya kosha is the part responsible for feelings/emotions and is largely driven by the senses (i.e. the five organs of perception). Vijnanamaya kosha is the part responsible for judgment and discernment; it is the intelligence.

2. Neuroscience

From a neuroscience perspective, the manomaya kosha can be likened to the limbic brain and the vijnanamaya kosha can be likened to the neocortex. They can be considered physical manifiestations of these koshas.

3. The klesas (causes of suffering)

Specifically, raga (attachment, desire) and dvesa (aversion).

From these three concepts we can work towards an understanding of pratyahara. Sense-objects act on the senses and create desire for certain stimuli and aversion to other stimuli as governed by the limbic brain. From the side of raga this can create impulsive, compulsive, and addictive behaviour. From the side of dvesa this can create fears, phobias, and inhibitions. The common thread between such behaviours is that they are reactive. What is needed is for the neocortex (or vijnanamaya kosha) to override the limbic brain (or manomaya kosha) and consciously choose how you behave; it’s all about self-control. Thus, the withdrawal of the senses means that you aren’t ‘led by the nose’ so to speak and, on a larger scope, pratyahara can be seen as the removal of two causes of suffering: raga and dvesa. That answers what pratyahara is. The question now is how do you practice pratyahara?