Having learned to withdraw one’s senses, to allow the dust in one’s minds to settle, it is time to practice dharana.  In pratyahara one becomes entirely passive, allowing thoughts and feelings to simply pass through without becoming attached to these sensations; rather, one acknowledges them and allows them to leave.  The goal is not to block out sensations and thought but, rather, to not initiate them in the first place.  This allows one to achieve a stillness and single-mindedness.  Such single-mindedness is needed to practice dharana.  In dharana, one focuses all one’s thoughts and senses upon a single object.  This may be a mantra or the breath or a visual object or a thought.  The intent is to focus soley upon whatever object has been chosen to the exclusion of all other thoughts and senses.

Namasté