Pratyahara

"A person enters the facility and clearly, they are coming in to use the restrooms. As a five year old might say, they are doing the "pee-pee walk". They walk as fast as they can, headed for the alcove marked toilets, when all of a sudden they are greeted by a plethora of aromas. It's usually the smell of cinnamon from the bakery items that are as large as my head, or the buttery goodness of a soft pretzel. Their heads lift, their eyes open a bit wider, and their noses twitch and then, almost like a zombie in a horror movie, they move... seemingly not of their own will towards the pretzel or the pastry and the urgent need that got them out of the car is gone."

"While eating that pretzel or cinnamon bun may not be the most horrible thing in the world, (and maybe the sugar will keep you more alert on the road for a while at least) we can probably easily think of times when letting our senses get the better of us, might lead to disaster. It is said that one must master the senses, or else they will master you. And they make very bad masters!"

A rest-stop scenario recounts a person rushing to the restroom who is diverted by bakery aromas into impulsively buying oversized pastries or soft pretzels. Strong sensory stimuli, especially smell, can override urgent intentions and direct behavior. The Bhagavad Gita concept of pratyahara, or withdrawal of the senses, warns that a single roaming sense can sweep away a person's intelligence like a strong wind carrying a boat. Mastering the senses prevents them from becoming dominant. Failure to control the senses can enable addictions and harmful choices despite awareness of consequences.

Read at YogaRenew