This book is based on the notes of weekly lectures given by Swami Yatiswarananda at Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore. The Swami, a Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Order, was an illustrious disciple of Swami Brahmananda. He was a well-known spiritual figure in the Neo-Vedanta movement and did 17 years of pioneering work (1933-1950) in spreading Vedanta in Europe and USA.
Those who have succeeded in attaching or detaching their minds at will have succeeded in Pratyahara, which means gathering towards, checking the outgoing powers of the mind, freeing it from the thralldom of the senses. When we can do this, we shall really possess character; then alone we shall have taken a long step towards freedom. Before that, we are mere machines.
-Swami Vivekananda