THE MECHANICS OF MEDITATING

The box is your mind.

The four spinning wheels represent its different energetic densities and corresponding functions according to the science underlying Patanjali’s Raja Yoga:

1. Conscious mind – the most evident, only thinks five types of thought: three original (“correct”, “incorrect” and “imagined”) plus it can “remember” previous thoughts, and wait for it……it has a “pause” or “neutral” function – although you can’t shut off your mind any more than you can stop your heart from beating or your lungs from breathing.

Thoughts are colored by emotions stemming from our sub-consciousness mind, which coordinates bodily function, stores memories and houses our vital ego: the recognition that we are unique and have needs.

2. Sub-conscious mind (third floor – 3rd because it’s the least subtle energetically, and when we meditate we experience a deepening over time) – the only evidence of this aspect of mind – since we can’t “hear” it the way we hear our conscious thoughts – are our five inbound senses and bodily functioning. This aspect of mind multi-tasks big-time!

3. Sub-conscious mind (second floor) – memory storage; memories are less energetically dense than sensations, but denser than ego.

4. Sub-conscious mind (bottom floor) – root or vital ego: the most subtle aspect of our tangible, temporal body/mind.

The flashlight is consciousness.

When it’s on, it represents the eternal immutable awareness OF our thoughts, and thus by definition, is NOT itself a mental function!!

Patanjali’s eight-limbed practice proves that beyond doubt. As Amma says, consciousness is essentially divine. Without it, you don’t realize you’re alive!!

Meditating…

… (i.e., simply observing without emotion, analyzing or judging) indirectly exposes your otherwise sub-conscious fears and desires to the soothing effects of consciousness – diminishing their potential to influence future thoughts and actions.

…with intent…

The self-induced holistically [physically, energetically & mentally] calming and restorative effects lasts LONG after your time on the mat – and becomes turbocharged when practiced as it was originally intended: as a form of self-sacrifice, an expression of gratitude and humility directed toward the Source of everything, whatever that means to you!

Meditating is about trying to connect with God via consciousness, the intangible aspect of each of us without which we don’t know we’re alive – the aspect of us that’s not subject to time and space!

But you don’t have to adapt an old-school devotional mindset to benefit from meditating. Meditation is a free and holistic practice!! Patanjali memorialized the Yoga Sutras for all mankind forever. ❤

All you have to do to get started is close your eyes and smile!

…as outlined by Patanjali…

Once you’ve progressed in the second and third limbs of Patanjali’s eight-limbed Raja Yoga, the science of mind control or meditation (i.e., having developed some degree of physical self-control over your body internally and externally), the last four limbs are mental exercises in which we a) learn to focus our conscious mind correctly without emotion – a prerequisite for holding it in neutral, and b) eventually settle through three VERY deep sub-conscious mental states – beneath which lies the awareness of life itself: consciousness. ❤

…proves it to yourself.

The next time you have five minutes, sit still. While you’re sitting there, just watch your body breathe. Relax. And just watch. You CAN’T do it wrong! When you become distracted bring your attention back to your breath. Eventually, the distractions become less frequent.

The longer you can hold your conscious mind in neutral – just observing – mimicking consciousness – the deeper your experience will be.

It’s sort of like holding the door open to a butterfly garden: eventually, all the butterflies (the beautiful and butt-ugly) find their way out energetically – because when fears and desires are exposed to divine consciousness they lose their potential to influence thoughts and actions.

The trick to smiling more often is realizing there’s a LOT more to you than you see in the mirror!

Practice self-awareness and self-control. Read Patanjali’s prehistoric, 200-line poem and meditate! 😉

Hugs, Skip
January class schedule