Gita 8.12
सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च।
मूर्ध्न्याधायात्मनः प्राणमास्थितो योगधारणाम्।।
sarva-dvārāṇi saṁyamya mano hṛdi nirudhya ca mūrdhny ādhāyātmanaḥ prāṇam āsthito yoga-dhāraṇām
"Controlling all the gates of the body, confining the mind in the heart, fixing one's life-breath in the head, established in yogic concentration..."
What This Means:
The yogic technique: close all sense-doors (eyes, ears, etc.), hold the mind in the heart center, raise the prana to the head. This is classical yoga preparation for leaving the body consciously.
Going Deeper:
This describes pratyahara (sense withdrawal) and dharana (concentration). It's not about suppressing life but about consciously directing life force. The body becomes a vehicle, not a prison.
How To Apply This:
You don't need to master this before death. The practice is about learning to direct attention inward, away from sense objects. Even small steps in this direction are valuable.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Sarva-dvārāṇi= All gates (of the senses)Saṁyamya= Controlling, restrainingYoga-dhāraṇā= Yogic concentration