In Ashtanga Yoga the fifth element is “Pratyahara” – Pratyaya (Means objects) Ahar (means Food/inputs), so literally it is controlling what you choose to take in as input through your tools of body (food/drinks/air) and mind (desires, thoughts, ideas, emotions)
This is considered to be a bridge between Bahiya Yoga(attention drawn outwards) – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama and Antar Mukhi Yoga (Senses drawn Inwards) – Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi Yoga. Regulating to the extent possible the inputs that you choose not only in terms of food/drinks but also in terms of thoughts/ideas received is very important since the objective is to make the body and mind calm to move towards deeper states of meditation which won’t be possible by agitating them by consuming excitable inputs. This is a very difficult control especially in recent times since we live in an agitated society and yet it is an essential control to progress in Yoga, hence Shanti Mantras are recited as a prayer to bring peace to all sentient beings since only then can we ourselves be in peace to pursue higher states of Dhyana and ultimately attain Samadhi which is the goal of Yoga.
Pratyahara has to be so deeply established that urges(thoughts/ideas)are stopped from arising at Source itself which is what Maharshi Patanjali termed as – “Chitta Vritti Nirodha” which when sustained for a long time is Samadhi
Explorer, Philanthropist, Mentor:
Exploring and researching on practices of Self Realisation
Philanthropist: engaged in projects with social and environmental impact
Mentor: guiding people crystallise and achieve their material and spiritual goals
Background:
Former CEO of Mahindra Integrated Business Solutions- an Advisory and Business Process Management Arm of the Diversified US$ 17 Billion Mahindra Group. Ajit was responsible for transforming a Shared Services Centre of the Mahindra Group into a full-fledged Advisory and Business Process Management Company with products/services spanning Strategy & Enterprise Risk Management Advisory to Digitization and Transactional Outsourcing.
He has over 23 years of experience in the industry as an Entrepreneur. He has built businesses in Music Publishing, Media (Compact Discs/DVD’s) Manufacturing, Logistics and Financial Services and is currently nurturing his own initiative called FREE (Forests, Renewable Energy and Environment) & associated with NPO Trusts/ Organizations and mentoring select people and a few start-ups in his personal capacity.
A Chartered Accountant by Qualification with extensive continuing education in Executive Management Programs @ Harvard Business School, Michigan- Ross Business School, IIM-A
He has pursued spiritual interests since an early age exploring inner facets of self through Vipassana, Isha Yoga, Kriya Yoga, other yogic approaches / meditation techniques An Avid Marathoner, trekker/mountaineer, scuba diver, writer and motorbike traveller, is passionate about exploring the outer world as much as the inner.
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Bodhisattva 