Yoga Sutra 54

Sutra 54

 

Withdrawing the senses, mind, and consciousness from contact with external objects, and then drawing them inwards toward the seer, is pratyahara.

The Bible says nothing about pratyahara. However, it does speak about nonattachment to the flesh and flesh serving things. Jesus tells us not to worry about anything, that God will provide. He teaches us to sell everything and seek God. The only way to God is through Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, which lives within each of his children. I think this sutra and pratyahara is a practice that the Bible and Patanjali agree on.

Matthew 6:25

“For this reason, I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert for all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Hebrews 5 New American Standard Bible

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. 11 Concerning him, we have much to say, and it is hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.