Pratyahara

Pratyahara is the fifth limb of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, commonly translated as withdrawal of the senses. It describes turning attention away from externally generated stimuli and toward the inner field of awareness. The term is usually interpreted from the Sanskrit pratyahara (prati- against, away) and ahara (food or sustenance), as the senses being deprived of their usual “nourishment” from sense objects.

In practice, pratyahara entails the senses operating in principle but not feeding the mind with sensory data. The practitioner learns to observe impressions without becoming entangled in them, creating a bridge between the outward practices (yama, niyama, asana, pranayama) and the inner disciplines (dharana, dhyana, samadhi). It is often described as a skillful disengagement that reduces distraction and cultivates mental steadiness.

There are two common readings of pratyahara. One emphasizes physiological and sensory gating—reducing responsiveness of the senses to external objects. The other emphasizes cognitive withdrawal—directing the mind away from sensory objects even while a person remains aware of the surrounding environment. In many traditions, pratyahara is developed through practices such as breath regulation and sustained attention that promote interiorization.

Role and outcome: pratyahara stabilizes the mind, enabling deeper concentration and smoother progression into dharana, then dhyana, and ultimately samadhi. It is treated as a transitional stage that fosters detachment from sensory input while maintaining conscious awareness, thus supporting higher meditative states.