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The Spiritual Path

What we’re seeking remains elusive…

It’s one of those things that once we see it, we can’t un-see it, but after a while the realization fades from our mind’s eye, to be recalled either when something triggers it, or willfully.

It’s counter-intuitive to look inside ourselves to find what’s “missing” from our lives. Rather, it’s natural to search elsewhere for love, satisfaction, affirmation; to calm one’s fears and abate one’s desires; to ease stress, anxiety; to find purpose and fulfillment.

According to ancient Hindu legend, the gods agreed to hide the secret to everlasting peace (i.e., the realization of one’s own divine essence) from mankind because we were abusing it. After some debate, the gods agreed not to hide it deep in the earth, or in the deepest ocean, or on top of the tallest mountain – but rather within our own being, knowing that would be the last place we’d look for it.

…and demands dogged pursuit.

Realizing the immutable, eternal nature of our own consciousness is only half the battle. Once discovered, it’s a matter of keeping it in mind, that we don’t lose sight of it and slip back into our historical, natural patterns of perception and behavior, as beautifully described in this excerpt from “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,” by Sogyal Rinpoche:

“In the Sufi Master Rumi’s “Table Talk,” there is this fierce and pointed passage:

The master said there is one thing in this world which must never be forgotten. If you were to forget everything else, but were not to forget this, there would be no cause to worry, while if you remembered, performed and attended to everything else, but forgot that one thing, you would in fact have done nothing whatsoever.

It is as if a king had sent you to a country to carry out one special, specific task. You go to the country and you perform a hundred other tasks, but if you have not performed the task you were sent for, it is as if you have performed nothing at all. So man has come into the world for a particular task, and that is his purpose. If he doesn’t perform it, he will have done nothing.

 

All the spiritual teachers of humanity have told us the same thing, that the purpose of life on earth is to achieve union with our fundamental, enlightened nature. The “task” for which the “king” has sent us into this strange, dark country is to realize and embody our true being. There is only one way to do this, and that is to undertake the spiritual journey, with all the ardor and intelligence, courage and resolve for transformation that we can muster.”

An illustrative tale

Click on the link below to hear Danny Kaye tell “The Tale of the Name of the Tree.” As only he could, Kaye shares a childhood story, the moral of which is that unrelenting determination doesn’t just lead to success, it can literally unlock the key to life.

Danny Kaye – “The Tale of the Name of the Tree”

God bless, Allan

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Now all fear of death is over and done

Here’s an excerpt from The “Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,” the international bestseller by Buddhist master, Sogyal Rinpoche in which he describes realizing the nature of Consciousness: the holy grail of Patanjali’s classical yoga. Christians and Jews refer to it as “being reborn”; yogis refer to it as becoming “enlightened”; Sogyal refers to it as a “resurrection”. I’ve changed none of Sogyal’s words, except to clarify in three places that what some Buddhists refer to as “nature of mind,” yogis refer to as “consciousness”. – Allan

THE CHANGELESS

Impermanence has already revealed to us many truths, but it has a final treasure still in its keeping, one that lies largely hidden from us, unsuspected and unrecognized, yet most intimately our own.

The Western poet Rainer Maria Rilke has said that our deepest fears are like dragons guarding our deepest treasure. The fear that impermanence awakens in us, that nothing is real and nothing lasts, is, we come to discover, our greatest friend because it drives us to ask: If everything dies and changes, then what is really true? Is there something behind the appearances, something boundless and infinitely spacious, something in which the dance of change and impermanence takes place? Is there something in fact we can depend on, that does survive what we call death?

Allowing these questions to occupy us urgently, and reflecting on them, we slowly find ourselves making a profound shift in the way we view everything. With continued contemplation and practice in letting go, we come to uncover in ourselves “something” we cannot name or describe or conceptualize, “something” that we begin to realize lies behind all the changes and deaths of the world. The narrow desires and distractions to which our obsessive grasping onto permanence has condemned us begin to dissolve and fall away.

As this happens we catch repeated and glowing glimpses of the vast implications behind the truth of impermanence. It is as if all our lives we have been flying in an airplane through dark clouds and turbulence, when suddenly the plane soars above these into the clear, boundless sky. Inspired and exhilarated by this emergence into a new dimension of freedom, we come to uncover a depth of peace, joy, and confidence in ourselves that fills us with wonder, and breeds in us gradually a certainty that there is in us “something” that nothing destroys, that nothing alters, and that cannot die. Milarepa* wrote:

In horror of death, I took to the mountains –

Again and again I meditated on the uncertainty of the hour of death,

Capturing the fortress of the deathless unending nature of mind [aka “consciousness”].

Now all fear of death is over and done.

 

Gradually, then, we become aware in ourselves of the calm and sky-like presence of what Milarepa calls the deathless and unending nature of mind [aka “consciousness”]. And as this new awareness begins to become vivid and almost unbroken, there occurs what the Upanishads call “a turning about in the seat of consciousness,” a personal, utterly non-conceptual revelation of what we are, why we are here, and how we should act, which amounts in the end to nothing less than a new life, a new birth, almost, you could say, a resurrection.

What a beautiful and what a healing mystery it is that from contemplating, continually and fearlessly, the truth of change and impermanence, we come slowly to find ourselves face to face, in gratitude and joy, with the truth of the changeless, with the truth of the deathless, unending nature of mind [aka “consciousness”]!

– The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche

* one of the most widely known Tibetan Saints

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A self-guided meditation

Want to take your chattering mind offline for a few minutes? Want to take a break from dwelling on the death of democracy and the spread of the corona virus?

Here’s an easy-to-follow recipe:

Record yourself reading this post aloud – slowly and in a calm, loving, reassuring voice [or listen to the recording inserted at the bottom of this post].

 

Preparation:

  • Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit.
  • Sit upright.
  • Practice anulom vilom breathing for a few minutes [refer to the January 12 post on this page].
  • [Here’s where you might start your recording].
  • Close your eyes almost all the way.
  • Draw your attention to your relaxed, rhythmic breathing: note the sensation and duration of each inhalation and exhalation.

You’re about to take a journey deep inside yourself, through six “energetic layers” of your being to the essence of who and what you are – moving from the densest to subtlest aspect of yourself: from the outside in.

 Your outer body

Starting with key aspects of your outer body, draw your attention from one to the next – pausing briefly to feel each, to exhale, releasing any tension or stress:

  • Begin by drawing your attention to your toes.
  • Then to the soles of your feet.
  • Then to your calves.
  • Then to your knees.
  • Then to your thighs.
  • Then to your hips.
  • Then to your waist.
  • Then to your lower back.
  • Then to your mid-back.
  • Then to your upper back.
  • Then to your neck.
  • Then to your head.
  • Then to your shoulders
  • Then to your upper arms.
  • Then to your elbows.
  • Then to your forearms.
  • Then to your wrists.
  • Then to your palms.
  • And then to your fingers.

These are the energetically densest parts of you. These are the parts that protect and propel you throughout each day. In whatever way makes sense to you, express appreciation for these aspects of yourself. Thank them for doing their job and let them know that for the next several minutes they may rest.

 Your energy body

Now, leave your outer body behind and turn your attention inward to your softer, more subtle energy body – and do the same thing: draw your attention from one key internal organ system to the next – pausing briefly to “feel” each of them, and exhale, releasing any tension or stress from each:

  • Begin by drawing your attention to the area below your waist, to your reproductive and elimination organs and systems.
  • Then draw your attention upward to the area behind your navel, to your stomach and other digestive organs and systems.
  • Then draw your attention upward to your heart. Pause here and see if you can literally feel your heart beating – as it pumps blood through every cell of your body.
  • Then draw your attention upward to your throat, the source of your voice and the passageway that connects your brain with the rest of your body.
  • And then draw your attention upward to the area behind your eyes and between your ears to your brain.

These are the energetically subtler physical parts of your body that sustain you, that keep you alive. In whatever way makes sense to you, express appreciation for these aspects of yourself. Thank them for ceaselessly doing their job and let them know that for the next several minutes they needn’t work so hard.

 Your conscious mind

Now, leave your physical body behind and turn your attention to your non-physical mind – specifically, to your thoughts and the voice in your head. These are evidence of your conscious or “thinking” mind.

Pause here to contemplate the following about this miraculous, critical aspect of yourself – which you can control:

  • This is the aspect of your mind you’re most aware of; you “hear” it functioning; you use it throughout each day to judge, analyze and make decisions.

 

  • This aspect of your mind functions like your heart and lungs: single, consecutive, constant beats, breaths, and thoughts. [Skeptical? Try simultaneously solving two simple math problems – or simultaneously counting and reciting the alphabet. Similarly, you can no more stop your thoughts than you can stop your heart or lungs!]

 

  • You can control the direction and duration of your thoughts (as you were just doing when you brought your attention to the various parts of your physical body).

 

  • While you can’t stop this part of your mind from functioning, you can pause the judging, analyzing and deciding to quietly, consciously, mindfully observe your sensations and actions.

 

  • There are three types of original thought: you can perceive something correctly, incorrectly or you can imagine it. You can also use this aspect of your mind to call up memories from your sub-conscious mind.

 

  • There are five internal influences that affect your thoughts. [The key to addressing them is recognizing that you have more power over them than the external factors that trigger them.] The depth or absence of your faith in the existence of a higher power has a huge impact on your thoughts as it affects how you perceive life generally. Thereafter, the other influences on your thoughts are ego, desire, aversion, and fear.

This is the most observable aspect of your nonphysical mind. You use this part of your mind throughout each day to decide what to wear, what to eat, what to do, and how to do it. In whatever way makes sense to you, express appreciation for this part of yourself. Thank it for ceaselessly doing its job and let it know that for the next several minutes it needn’t work so hard.

 Your sub-conscious mind (level 1)

Now, step beneath your relatively noisy conscious mind into the quiet of your sub-conscious mind (i.e., the aspect you’re typically unaware of). Your sub-conscious mind is always “on”; silently “running the ship”; it multi-tasks flawlessly as long as your conscious mind isn’t distracted. Your sub-conscious mind has three primary responsibilities, each corresponding with a distinct energetic density or layer.

This outer, most energetic layer is the “doing” aspect of your mind; it’s responsible for bodily functioning; specifically, sensory processing and bodily movement.

For the next few moments you’re going to draw your attention from one of your senses to the next – pausing briefly to fully experience and appreciate each of them:

  • Begin by drawing your attention to your sense of hearing. How many distinct sounds can you hear? What’s the loudest? What’s the quietest?

 

  • Draw your attention to your sense of smell. How many things can you smell? What’s the most obvious? What’s the most subtle?

 

  • Draw your attention to your sense of taste – to your pallet. Can you still taste whatever you last had to eat or drink?

 

  • Draw your attention to your sense of touch; specifically, to the sensation of sitting; of resting your hands in your lap; of your feet on the floor; and the feeling of the clothes against your skin.

 

  • Draw your attention to what you “see” in your mind’s eye (keep your eyes almost closed). Is whatever you “see” clearly defined? Does it have color?

This aspect or layer of your mind is responsible for keeping you alive, constantly receiving and processing external data and executing all your bodily functions.

In whatever way makes sense to you, express appreciation for this part of yourself. Thank it for ceaselessly doing its job and let it know that for the next several minutes it can relax.

 Your sub-conscious mind (level 2)

Now, step down beneath your senses to the next-to-the-last layer of your tangible being: the level of your mind where your memories are stored.

You’re going to spend the next few minutes using your conscious mind to reach down into this aspect of your typically sub-conscious mind to call up specific memories and examine them.

You can do this with any memories – but for this exercise, you’ll recall two hopefully pleasant ones:

  • First, recall your most recent meal. Consider it with each of your senses. Was there a sound associated with eating it (e.g., was something crisp or crunchy)? Can you remember what it smelled like? What it tasted like? Can you remember holding the fork or spoon – or the sensation of holding whatever it was? Can you see what it looked like, it’s texture, size, shape and color?

 

  • After holding those recalled sensations in your conscious mind for a moment, let go of that memory and recall the “happiest moment of your life”. Go with whatever first pops into your conscious mind. It doesn’t matter what it is – or if indeed it was the happiest; you can always do this with other memories later. Where were you? Who was there? Can you see the moment in detail? Were there particular sounds or smells (e.g., if it happened near the shore, can you hear the ocean and smell the salt air)? Do you recall any taste associated with it? Can you recall the physical sensations associated with the experience (e.g., were you sitting, standing, laying down – how did it feel)?

Imagine life without this quieter, less energetically demanding layer of your sub-conscious mind – without the ability to recall everything you’ve learned and experienced. It would certainly make life a lot harder!

In whatever way makes sense to you, express appreciation for this part of yourself. Thank it for tirelessly doing its job and let it know that for the next several minutes it can relax.

 Your sub-conscious mind (level 3)

Now step beneath your memories and experience the quietest, most subtle vestige of your mind: your mental “root”: the vantage point from which you witness life; your elemental sense of “I am”.

This is your instinctive awareness that you are alive and unique, distinct from everyone and everything else – the “I am” perspective from which your conscious mind may occasionally egotistically think “I am smart, tall, fast, lean, happy, etc.”

One way to access this prime aspect of your mind is to imagine losing something. Loss inherently evidences and exposes this vital aspect of you. While the sensation of loss is far more powerful than one’s innate sense of self, the former may be used as a trailhead to uncover the latter.

Bring to mind one of your favorite things. It could be anything: an article of clothing, a musical instrument, a piece of jewelry, a car, your favorite ice cream. Contemplate it as you did before with each of your senses – and then imagine it’s suddenly taken away from you. Beneath any discomfort you may experience is your fundamental sense of “being”. Contemplate the distinction between the uncomfortable feeling of loss (the affect) – and the sense of “you”, who’s feeling it (the affected). The latter is evidence of this foundational aspect of your mind.

In whatever way makes sense to you, express appreciation for this primary aspect of yourself. Thank it for ceaselessly doing its job and let it know that for the next several minutes it can relax.

 Your consciousness

You can’t step down any further. Your mental “basis” is the subtlest, quietest level of your mind that you can experience; however, there is something within you that’s subtler than it: your awareness OF it – but because of its nature, you can’t literally experience that.

Your awareness or consciousness is unlike anything else known to man.

You know it exists, since without it you wouldn’t be aware of your body, sensations, thoughts and memories.

But your consciousness isn’t tangible. It doesn’t consist of atoms and energy like everything else. It can’t be measured. It has no shape or form. It can’t be altered. It can’t be destroyed. Unlike everything you’ve ever been aware OF, your awareness itself hasn’t changed since you first opened your eyes.

That said, spend a few moments consciously imagining the utter stillness and silence of the aspect of you that literally never changes. Consider its power: the indestructible, eternal, observing nature of the aspect of you that literally isn’t “born” and doesn’t “die” in an earthly sense.

In whatever way makes sense to you, express appreciation for this part of yourself – the aspect without which you wouldn’t even know you’re alive – and thank it for ceaselessly doing its job.

 

Now, whenever you’re ready, having spent some time getting to this tranquil state, take a few minutes to slowly bring yourself back to the present. Return your attention to your senses, to your breath, and then slowly open your eyes.

Namaste

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This is all you need to know about yourself

The horse-drawn chariot is a metaphor for you:

  • The chariot is your body.
  • The horses are your senses – drawn toward the objects of desire.
  • The reins are your sub-conscious mind – the part of you responsible for acting.
  • The driver is your conscious mind – the part of you responsible for thinking.
  • The passenger is your consciousness – your awareness, without which you wouldn’t be aware of the ride!

Here’s the reality:

  • Just like the chariot, the more fit your body is the more efficiently it will function, the more comfortable you’ll feel, and the longer you’ll live.
  • Just as the horses are drawn toward open pastures, your senses naturally draw you towards the objects of your desire; however, it’s your senses – not the objects – that energetically stimulate your body to act.
  • Just as the reins enable the driver to direct the horses, your sub-conscious mind links your conscious mind’s thoughts to your actions.
  • Just as the driver uses the reins to control the horses, your conscious mind can override your sub-conscious mind’s natural impulses.
  • Just as the passenger witnesses the ride without controlling the chariot, driver, reins or horses, your consciousness is aware of your every sensation, thought, word and deed – but doesn’t affect them.

Here’s the cure for what ails you (since most of what bothers us are consequences of our own behavior):

Don’t be driven by unfettered senses to pursue external desires; true serenity is found deep within you. Notice the distinction between these three invisible parts of you:

  • Your sub-conscious mind constantly multitasks silently; functionally, it’s responsible for sensory processing and bodily movement (i.e., you don’t have to consciously think “breathe”, “smell”, “feel”, “circulate my blood”, etc.).
  • Your conscious mind continuously thinks single, consecutive thoughts; it rationalizes and analyzes; it’s evidenced by the voice in your head; you listen to its running commentary throughout the day as it makes decisions and judges.
  • Your consciousness is the uber-subtle awareness OF whatever you’re experiencing or thinking.

Learn to distinguish between your ever-changing thoughts (evidence of your conscious mind), and your quiet, still, immutable awareness OF those thoughts (evidence of your consciousness). Your awareness is the only “thing” that exists that literally never changes – certainly not during your lifetime; thus, it’s virtually eternal and “unearthly” (i.e., essentially divine). This is the aspect of you that religion calls your soul or spirit. Yes – you have one. THAT is the crux of yoga.

Spend time focusing on your consciousness. When you realize its true nature, whatever the objects of your desire, they’ll begin to lose their hold and attraction over your senses.

“The undiscriminating can never rein in their mind; their senses are like the vicious horses of the charioteer. The discriminating ever control their mind; their senses are like disciplined horses. The undiscriminating …do not reach their goal.” (Bhagavad Gita, chapter III, versus 42-3).

 

God bless, Skip