Jain Center Minnesota MN 2007 07 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center Minnesota USA
Publisher: USA Jain Center Minnesota

Page 65

5. PRATYAHAR. The five senses possessed by human beings are of great importance. These senses have a power of their own in as much as they can cause uplift of a person and they can cause a person's downfall. These senses have to be dealt wisely and sensibly. These senses have to be disciplined and contained; they are not to be tortured to submission. Pratyahar entails reversing the direction of the five senses or introverting the five senses which are normally in an extrovert state.
Five Senses are: Sight, Hearing, Tasting, Touching and Smelling. These five senses act like five wild bulls at all times in pursuit of the allurements of the outside world. These senses need to be controlled and put under tight reins. There are five different types of controls or reins, one for each of the five senses. These then are the five different forms of Pratyahar.
The discipline of Pratyahar sets out the five control mechanisms over these five senses in the following three steps which together can be described as the Gateway to Spirituality.
⚫ Shift from bad sense-objects to good sense-objects; from passion to bliss.
⚫ Move away from numerous objects and focus onto one object.
Shift away from the gross inert to the subtle live.
6. DHARNA. Focused Concentration as in the case of the five senses, the human mind also is in itself a special power. The mind is the key to a person's upliftment or to his or her downfall. Each and every human being has experienced the instability and the restlessness of the mind. It is said that it is easier to conquer and win over thousand of enemy troops on a battle-field than to conquer and control the mind. Dharna entails concentration of mind on to this single object. There are numerous different forms of this discipline, such as Rupasth, Padastha, Pindasth and Rupatit Dharma, just to name few.
7. DHYAN. (Meditation) Whereas in Dharna the mind is immersed in concentration, in Dhyan or meditation, the mind is submerged in meditation to the extent that it is lost. There are many forms of Meditation. When Dharna reaches its peak, it becomes Dhyan. Dhyan has numerous forms corresponding to the forms under Dharna.
8. SAMADHI. This is the pinnacle of Yog. When through the practice of Dharna and Dhyan the consciousness becomes pure and tranquil and is forever free from attachments and from malevolence and is forever merged with the soul-that is Samadhi. There is highly developed science of Samadhi, Samadhi has many forms and levels and these are dealt with in great details in Yog Sutras and in Jain Agam Sutras. This is a very vast and complex subject
CONCLUSION:
It is advisable to fully understand the eight components of Yog and to develop oneself to the study of the same under guidance of experience and self-realized Guru. The disciplines of Yam and Nyam make a person's individual life, family life and social life, pure and peaceful. The disciplines of Asan and Pranayam leads to extraordinary development and enhancement of a person's physical strength. Pratyahar and Dharna leads to person's intellectual and mental development. The realization achieved through the disciplines of Dhyan and Samadhi leads to spiritual development of a person. In view of that very thoughtful person ought to make a through study and gain a deep comprehension of Ashtang Yog, for the betterment of self, of family, of society, of country and of the entire world. This science of Yog must be fully understood and applied in life.
63