Yogananda ~ Pratyahar Process

On May 25. 2021, a student yogi was present for the morning session of kapalabhati/bhastrika breath infusion which is followed by meditation. On the psychic side, during the procedure, Paramhamsa Yogananda arrived. He had something to say which I related to the student. It was this.

“Pratyahar practice is of two types:

• aggressive
• passive

The aggressive type is when the yogi exerts much force pulling in the sensual energies which course outwards from the psyche. This is like in a tug-of-war sport where there is strong exertion to pull the rope in one’s direction because the opponent applies a counterforce. In that sense this may be termed as a dharana pratyahar or an exertion retraction of sensual interest into the self.

“The passive type is when the yogi finds that there is no need for an exertion because the sensual energies do not course outward bur rather come into the self of their own accord. That is dhyana pratyahar.

“A yogi should practice this for some months until only the passive type occurs in meditation, where the strong outward flow ceases.”