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**Steady Gaze:** The restraint of the senses (pratyahara) is not the absence of the senses, but rather the non-attachment to the objects of the senses.
(457) Pratyahara is the imitation of the true nature of the mind (chitta). This means that when the senses, such as the eyes, are not engaged with their respective objects, such as forms, they cease to be drawn towards them. The senses withdraw from their objects, remaining in their own state, and this imitation of the true nature of the mind (chitta) provides the material for the restraint of the mind (chittanirodha). This is called the restraint of the senses (pratyahara). What kind of restraint is this? It is a fruit-bearing restraint that subdues the senses. Through the practice of pratyahara, the senses become so disciplined and obedient that they do not wander even when exposed to external objects.
In the fourth stage of the steady gaze, through pranayama, external emotions are expelled, internal emotions are cultivated, and their retention and stabilization are achieved. Thus, the seeker who progresses on the path of yoga, their tendencies no longer play in external emotions, but rather culminate in internal emotions. Therefore, with the attainment of this fifth stage, the seeker's senses no longer engage with their respective objects, and they withdraw from them, becoming restrained. They become absorbed in internal activities, serving the mind's essence, and imitating the true nature of the mind.
The senses, which previously roamed freely like wild horses, now become disciplined, withdraw, and are bound to their own mental abode. They abandon their outward tendencies, which were like mouths seeking objects, and become wise and introspective. The eyes, which once saw external forms, now see the inner essence through feeling. The ears, which once heard external sounds, now hear the inner sound. The nose, which once enjoyed external fragrances, now finds satisfaction in the fragrance of feeling. The tongue, which once relished external tastes, now delights in the taste of inner consciousness. The body, which once found pleasure in external touch, now experiences joy in the touch of the essence of consciousness. Thus, the external tendencies of the senses cease, and the internal tendencies, which are in the form of feeling, prevail. Because the five senses, like unruly horses, are now controlled by the awakened soul.
* "The restraint of the senses is the knowledge that arises from the non-attachment to objects. It is the state of being free from the desire for objects."
* "When the senses are not engaged with their respective objects, they imitate the true nature of the mind. From this, the senses become restrained." - Shri Patanjali Yoga Sutras, 2-54-55.