A fourteenth century Advaita classic by Vidyaranya Swami, on the metaphysics of Vedanta and the methods which lead to the realization of the Supreme Truth. Sanskrit text, English translation and notes based on the Tika of the eighteenth century philosopher Ramakrishna. Introduction by the noted Advaitic scholar T.M.P. Mahadevan.
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