The Yoga of the Imperishable Absolute

Krishna describes the yogic practice: 'Sarva-dvarani samyamya'—restraining (samyamya) all (sarva) the gates (dvarani) of the body. This means closing all the sense doors—eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin. 'Mano hridi nirudhya cha'—confining (nirudhya) the mind (manah) within (hridi) the heart (cha). The mind is withdrawn from external objects and focused within. 'Murdhny adhayatmanah pranam'—fixing (adhaya) the life force (pranam) of the self (atmanah) in the head (murdhni). 'Asthito yoga-dharanam'—established (asthitah) in yogic concentration (yoga-dharanam). This is the complete practice: close all sense doors, withdraw the mind to the heart, fix the life force in the head, and establish yogic concentration. This is the practice for remembering Krishna at death—complete withdrawal and concentration.