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TOXIC MASCULINITY

[Written in response to a 5/19/19 solicitation from Yoga Journal: how yoga helped me reconnect with others and myself].

Yoga has positively affected my emotions, thoughts and behavior; through it I’ve found confidence, faith, purpose and a sense of connectedness with others.

I was raised in a house devoid of love. Where there should have been joy and happiness, there was resentment, judgment and condescension.

I grew up feeling unlovable. Nothing I did, no matter how hard I tried, was ever good enough. Nothing elicited verbal, let alone physical demonstrations of affection from either of my parents.

A sense of dread, worthlessness, and emptiness followed me everywhere – and only fueled a desperation to please my parents. Not being particularly physically fit, I excelled in art and academics – and later at work – all to no avail.

I lived a life of virtual solitude. I built emotional walls to block out the pain, and developed obsessive behaviors in hopes of winning approval and masking my perpetual angst. I typically had one or no male friends, and only seemed to have slightly better luck with the fairer, more intuitive sex because of an undying desire to please and win affection.

But sex was always a double-edged sword: while it temporarily satisfied a need for intimacy, I remained emotionally withdrawn, defensive, and rarely emotionally satisfied. Sex was often passive-aggressive and almost always a selfish endeavor.

I developed coping habits. I lived a life fraught with obsession and addiction. I discovered the numbing affects of alcohol at 15, and drugs a few years later – until that means of escape culminated in a nervous breakdown during my sophomore year of college.

Work and sex largely distracted me thereafter from a deep sense of depression, though few people, other than immediate family, noticed anything outwardly other than economic success – a consequence of working seven days a week.

I dragged on, largely sustaining but emotionally failing in my few personal relationships until I was in my mid-forties when I discovered yoga – ostensibly for the exercise, but subconsciously seeking answers, a solution or remedy for my mental hell.

My first yoga instructor, Jessica, gave me her own rather dog-eared copy of Bouanchaud’s “The Essence of Yoga” (which is hard to find now, though a good starter book), and while I’d been sober for almost 30 years, she said “A lot of people in AA find this helpful.” No wonder: Patanjali’s Kriya Yoga, from the beginning of chapter two of the Yoga Sutras, is the source of the Serenity Prayer.

Jessica and subsequent teachers taught me the physical aspects of Patanjali’s discipline. Over the next ten years I was introduced to scholars who have devoted their lives to sharing insights into Patanjali’s work, which became a personal obsession (go figure).

Slowly, steadily, I developed physical and emotional strength, and learned acceptance, courage and wisdom, becoming more comfortable in my own skin. And then three years ago, while sitting on the floor of our living room half watching TV, I had an epiphany: a simple insight into Patanjali’s science of human nature.

After years of trying to decipher the concept of our multiple mental layers surrounding our “atman” (our essence or consciousness), it ‘clicked’: there’s literally a world of difference between our ever-changing thoughts (evidence of our mind), and our never-changing awareness OF them (evidence of our consciousness).

Consciousness is unlike anything else on earth; that’s the premise (Sankhya) upon which Patanjali based the discipline of Raja Yoga, incorporating Kryia and Ashtanga Yoga practices. Sankya is the observation that consciousness (our awareness) is unlike anything else in the known universe; it’s the only “thing” that doesn’t function, age or fade away; it’s the only thing unaffected by time and space. Biological science can’t explain it, yet it’s very much a part of each of us.

While the origin and scope of consciousness are literally beyond human comprehension, we can readily verify its existence, since without it, we wouldn’t realize we’re alive!

That realization (the existence of something within ourselves that science can’t explain) gives rise to faith, not just in oneself but also in the unknowable, intangible source of consciousness – and faith in the latter is the most powerful, motivational, purposeful power there is (“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death….” – that level of confidence is life altering).

Faith shines light where previously there was only darkness and despair; it brings out confidence where there was none; it makes empathy and sympathy for oneself and others possible.

Yoga (“union”) provides a sense of community, belonging, love, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, courage and wisdom that nullify the demons within that otherwise affect our emotions, thoughts and behavior; specifically, our perceptions and interactions with others. We learn to truly put the needs of others before our own.

Yoga has made me a better husband, father and friend. I wish it for everyone.

Allan (Skip) Dowds

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A HANDBOOK FOR HUMANITY

I think of the Yoga Sutras as sort of a handbook for humanity: an experiential discipline intended to reduce human suffering – and if we’re lucky, to find the most powerful, purposeful force on earth: faith.

Patanjali outlines the nature of the environment we exist in, the science of how the human mind functions, and most importantly, the distinction between mind and consciousness – all of which we can readily verify.

Behind the empirical “here’s how it works, and here’s a path to mitigate your suffering”, there’s an implied hypothesis and proof. The hypothesis is that there’s a part of each of us that’s essentially divine. The proof is in the physical and mental practices he lays out (kriya & ashtanga yoga practices).

In short, he challenges us to accept that there’s an aspect of ourselves (consciousness) that:

  • is completely intangible, timeless, immutable, and unalterable;
  • doesn’t function or age;
  • can’t be explained by science the way our tangible, functioning body and mind can be;
  • is not subject to the vagaries of time and space;
  • is utterly, infallibly, eternally perfect.

There’s literally a world of difference between the awareness OF our thoughts (evidence of consciousness), and our thoughts themselves (evidence of our conscious, thinking mind).

Patanjali implies: Skeptical? Fine. Prove it to yourself; here’s how: tie your body and mind in knots for as long as it takes; eventually, you’ll recognize that your consciousness can not be affected by anything; that it’s literally indestructible (yet without it, we wouldn’t even realize we’re alive).

Patanjali says “When that realization ‘clicks’, you’ll know it – and your life will forever change.” Life changes because that realization gives birth to complete faith in the existence of something else “unearthly”: the source of consciousness, or what I refer to as “God”.

To me, Patanjali’s Yoga isn’t a philosophy as much as it is a path to salvation from suffering. Unfortunately, that perspective can’t be taught, gifted or in any way transferred from one of us to another. As one of my teachers says, trying to do so is akin to literally trying to get someone else to see through my eyes. But faith won’t let me stop trying!

God bless, Allan 🙏❤️🕉

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PATANJALI’S RECIPE FOR A HAPPIER LIFE

I. Introduction

In 2016, I stepped away from a 30-year accounting career to teach meditation to people suffering from depression, anxiety, stress and addiction. This blog post introduces the source, science and methodology behind meditation.

To reduce mental angst, it helps to understand human nature and how our mind works.

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras offers insights into:

  • our physical, mental and spiritual constitution;
  • the distinction between mind and consciousness;
  • the difference between conscious and sub-conscious mind;
  • the natural states of mind which color our thoughts;
  • the types of thought we think;
  • the cyclical codependency of our thoughts and behavior; and
  • physical and mental exercises to promote lasting peace of mind.

II. Five things that affect our thoughts

There are five natural states of mind or “emotions” that color our thoughts; the first is the most impactful, and gives rise to the other four:

  • Conflating our thoughts with our awareness OF them – the essence of who we are is not our tangible, functioning mind; rather, it’s our much more subtle, intangible awareness of what our mind is thinking or doing.

Thoughts are evidence of our mind; the awareness OF our thoughts is evidence of our consciousness.

Consciousness is the only thing known to man that science can’t explain. While what we’re aware of changes constantly, our awareness never does. Our awareness isn’t born, doesn’t function, age or die in a tangible sense the way everything else in life does. Our consciousness is constant, perpetual, timeless; it’s unaffected by the vagaries of time and space; it’s still, quiet, and benign. Meditation draws us closer to this deep unalterable aspect of ourselves.

  • Ego – herein ego is the belief that we are only our body and mind (the parts we see in the mirror and hear in our head); specifically, not realizing that without the most miraculous part of us – our awareness of everything we think, say and do; which never gets hungry, bored, tired, sick, old, and isn’t affected by temptation or fear – we wouldn’t even realize we’re alive! Our consciousness is literally, utterly, always, and infallibly perfect.
  • Desire and dread – these polar opposite states of mind are fueled by our bipolar (yin/yang or positive/negative) energetic constitution; to varying degrees, we’re either attracted to or repelled by literally everything tangible (people, places, things) around us.
  • Fear – herein fear is stronger than dread, and specifically refers to our natural fear of dying.

Realizing the world of difference between our mind and consciousness, and the essentially divine nature of the latter, lessens the affects of the other four natural states of mind on our thoughts.

How do we overcome ego, desire, dread and fear? Patanjali suggests that we strive to constantly a) identify with the intangible, timeless, immutable aspect of ourselves (consciousness), and b) adhere to the Serenity Prayer, practicing Faith, Acceptance, Courage, and Wisdom.

III. Our thoughts affect our actions

Most of what causes our stress and anxiety are our own (in)actions; though ironically, most of our life experiences, starting with the time, place and circumstances of our birth, are consequences of actions beyond our control: those of other people and mother nature!

When learning to distinguish between thoughts and consciousness (we can affect the former; nothing affects the latter), keep the following in mind about your incessant thoughts:

  • We effectively have two minds: our conscious ‘thinking’ mind, and our sub-conscious ‘doing’ mind; the former is home to the voice in our head while the latter silently runs-the-ship so-to-speak without our having to think about it (e.g., our sub-conscious ‘doing’ mind is responsible for breathing, walking, talking, internal organ and system functioning). Guess which one’s the troublemaker? Right.
  • Here’s the key to controlling the troublemaker, our conscious, ‘thinking’ mind (evidenced by words or the voice in our head): it functions singularly like our heart and lungs: one beat, breath, and conscious thought at a time. It’s the aspect of our mind we use throughout the day to make decisions, analyze, and solve problems.

Skeptical that we can’t multi-think? Try simultaneously solving two math problems, or simultaneously counting and reciting the alphabet. Right. At best, we jump back and forth between tasks requiring conscious mental input.

  • On the other hand, we’re typically unaware of our sub-conscious ‘doing’ mind; it runs in the background, and is perfectly capable of multi-tasking (this is the aspect of our mind responsible for walking and chewing gum at the same time). If we’re aware of it at all, this aspect of our mind is typically evidenced by actions, images and insights, rather than words.
  • Every original thought is correct, incorrect, or imagined. Obviously, we can also recall previous thoughts as memories. The object is distinguish between these broad categories of thought in order to think correctly when its advantageous to do so.

The way to reduce depression, stress and anxiety, and relieve temptation is to think clearly and correctly, which requires that we practice a) distinguishing between our thoughts and our awareness of them, b) determining when we’re using our conscious versus sub-conscious mind (often simultaneously), c) recognizing whether our conscious mind is remembering, thinking correctly, incorrectly or imagining, and d) realizing to what extent our conscious thoughts are being influenced by ego, desire, dread and/or fear.

How do we calm our thoughts?

Practice. Practice. Practice. Calming our thoughts begins with learning to concentrate: focusing our attention. Once we can hold our attention still, we can begin to meditate: to refine our focus and hold our attention longer on whatever we chose to.

Personal opinion: the key to developing better thinking habits is to make it fun: begin by focusing on your senses individually (e.g., how many things can you hear or smell? How many physical sensations are you simultaneously aware of? Focus on the flavors of what you eat and drink – these are ways to “be present”, to hold your mind on the here and now – dampening fears of the future and regrets of the past).

IV. Our actions affect our thoughts

While our thoughts precipitate our actions, our behavior has profound, lasting affects on our state of mind.

How should we behave in order to positively influence our thoughts; specifically, to quiet our emotions, thereby calming and clarifying our thoughts? Patanjali prescribes a code of conduct and a regimen of self-care; the most impactful of which to sustained mental wellbeing is a list of ten “do’s and don’ts”:

Don’t (i.e., abstain from):

  • Harm
  • Deceit
  • Theft
  • Lust
  • Greed

Do (i.e., observe):

  • Cleanliness
  • Serenity
  • Courage
  • Wisdom
  • Faith

Additionally, Patanjali prescribes physical posture and breathing exercises to balance the muscular skeletal, and internal organ, systems of our body. It’s difficult to calm and settle one’s thoughts – to think clearly and correctly – with an agitated, aggravated, or energetically out of balance body. Patanjali’s physical exercises are the parts of the practice most commonly recognized as yoga.

V. Patanjali’s advice

 Alternatively, Patanjali suggests that we can skip right to the chase and find the same degree of lasting peace of mind that eventually results from this physical/mental discipline – by turning our life over to God. Frankly, that happens naturally upon realization of the eternal nature of one’s own consciousness.

Patanjali’s most-cited, practical advice:

  • Never give up – success herein depends on constant practice over an extended period of time
  • Always let go – attachments, including regret and resentment, are impediments to reducing suffering and lasting peace of mind

In short, Patanjali offers a recipe to lessen distress by identifying – and providing remedies to address – the three aspects of the natural cycle of our behavior that result in consequences that either increase or decrease our level of distress:

Emotions > Thoughts > Actions > Consequences

Address the first three and the fourth will fall into place.

Blessings, Allan 🙏❤️🕉

Offering meditation lessons in Beverly and Marblehead, MA and online; call or text 617-599-8644 to schedule an appointment

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SUNDAY REFLECTIONS FROM A YOGI

She asked, “How much does it cost? $20?” – after I explained that I teach the ‘other’ type of yoga: how our minds work. I didn’t answer.

I used to tell my teacher that yoga lessons should be free, like going to church or school. Yes, we all have bills to pay, but as my QiGong teacher reminded me yesterday, sometimes our purpose and the way we provide for ourselves are different.

One evening in the Fall of 2015, my life changed. I was blessed with insights into Patanjali’s science of human nature, relieving suffering, and finding faith that I remain convinced were not meant for me alone, yet teaching or sharing it is not a viable way to make a living – at least it hasn’t been for me.

So I write these posts and maintain a blog to share versions of the realization I was blessed with in hopes it may help someone else suffering from the degree of mental anguish I lived with for 58 years. Unfortunately, it’s only in the throes of despair that we are open to faith: absolute trust in something that science can’t explain.

There’s literally nothing in this world or the next that I’d rather do than share Patanjali’s paradigm with you – in hopes of relieving yours or someone else’s suffering – unfortunately, we each have to put in the effort to get there, to see life for what it is. All I can do is offer guidance.

Read these posts but more importantly, practice between your own ears discerning between your functioning mind (evidenced by your thoughts) and your unalterable consciousness (evidenced by the awareness OF your thoughts).

As I shared with someone yesterday, worry and anxiety (desires and fears) are very much part of our human condition.

I’ve suffered from both my entire life – and still do though to a much lesser extent.

What helped me tremendously was finally realizing something Patanjali said. It’s so simple yet profoundly impactful; it’s the science behind mind control or meditation: that there’s literally a world of difference between our thoughts, and our awareness OF them.

Our consciousness, the awareness OF our thoughts, is immutable. While our thoughts change constantly, our awareness of them never does; nothing affects it. It’s the only thing we can readily verify the existence of (without awareness we wouldn’t even realize we’re alive!) but which science can’t explain.

When it ‘clicks’ that the most miraculous aspect of yourself is eternal – that it isn’t born and doesn’t age, function or die in a tangible sense the way your body/mind does – it will change your perspective of life completely. You’ll see life from the inside out – upside down. The worldly things that might have otherwise consumed you (e.g., everything: money, health, relationships, desires and fears) – your energetic attachment to them will begin to fade away and all of life will become more precious.

My advice: contemplate, concentrate and meditate on the distinction between your thoughts and your awareness of them until the distinction ‘clicks’.

Once it does, forever afterwards you’ll feel freer and lighter. I wish this for everyone.

God bless, Skip 🙏❤️🕉

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SHE STOOD HER GROUND AS HER DAUGHTER DROVE STRAIGHT AT HER

That was one of a myriad of real-life horror stories shared at the second in a series of presentations on living with addiction, held last night at the Marblehead library. The series is free to the public, sponsored by a local charity, the 3 Voices. The next presentation will be held on June 4.

Her daughter was frantic – consumed and fueled physically, mentally and emotionally by her disease. Her mother was willing to sacrifice her own life to prevent her from using again. At the last second she swerved and the car ended up on the sidewalk.

What causes someone to purposefully almost kill a parent? Drug addiction.

 

[The statistics are staggering. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) – that’s 6% of us! – battled a substance use disorder in 2017.]

What causes someone to literally defy death? Love and faith.

 

Which is more powerful? Right. Addiction can’t be overcome with serenity, courage and wisdom alone; it takes love and faith.

Love is natural; we don’t need to “do” anything to be affected by it – though as my teacher said yesterday, it’s often easier to do the right thing for someone we love than ourselves. [Keep reading; thankfully, faith engenders love for oneself.]

Faith, or complete trust in something that can’t be proven, isn’t natural; it’s typically inspired in moments of utter despair and hopelessness when we are forced to admit that without it we can’t go on.

But there is an alternative, easier, more mundane path to finding faith; ironically, it’s a science.

It’s an ancient practice of self-awareness; specifically, understanding how our minds function, and more importantly, recognizing the distinction between our functioning mind (evidenced by our thoughts), and our consciousness (evidenced by the awareness OF our thoughts).

Consciousness – your awareness – is eternal. It literally never changes. Nothing affects it. While what you’re aware of changes constantly, your awareness itself never does. Science can’t explain it, yet you KNOW it’s real since without it, you wouldn’t realize you’re alive!

The realization that an aspect of you is unaffected by anything – and that it isn’t “born” and doesn’t “die” in the same sense that our body and mind eventually will – sparks faith in the existence of something beyond human comprehension, something that can’t be proven, something essentially divine: the source of our consciousness.

Practice self-awareness. Learn to distinguish between your perpetually changing thoughts, and your immutable awareness OF them.

 

The spark of faith will come as an “Aha moment”. Once ignited, faith can’t be extinguished – and you will forever be blessed with the most powerful force on earth!

God bless all of us; especially the families of those suffering from the scourge of addiction.

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TEN COMMANDMENTS

About the time Moses received the Ten Commandments (~1,300 BC), yogis were practicing their own version, which Patanjali eventually outlined in the Yoga Sutras.

The overlap is remarkable: half of the commands are exactly the same.

Where they differ, it’s not surprising that as a religious text, the first four of the Bible’s commands pertain to religious observances; nor is it surprising that as a secular or spiritual text, the Yoga Sutras’ other commands are more mundane or practical in nature.

Sanskrit (the language of the Yoga Sutras), is scientific or mathematical; specifically, in any Sanskrit list, the last item is always the second most important – highlighting the yogis emphasis on the importance of faith in relieving human suffering and finding lasting peace.

Wishing you deep peace of mind, heart and soul this holiday regardless of your non-secular beliefs.

🙏❤️🕉

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The Science Behind Mind Control

Bifurcated Mind

Interestingly, the ancient yogis didn’t ascribe mental function solely to our brain. They noted the bifurcated nature of our mental functions: those we’re generally aware of (i.e., our conscious mind, evidenced by our thoughts and the voice in our head), and those we’re generally not aware of (i.e., our sub-conscious mind which silently “runs the ship”, typically evidenced by our actions).

Conscious Mind

We use our conscious mind to analyze and make decisions throughout each day (e.g., to decide what to wear, what to eat, how to do our job).

Our conscious mind functions the same way our heart and lungs do: single, consecutive, hopefully constant beats, breaths, and thoughts. Skeptical? Try simultaneously solving two simple math problems in your head – or simultaneously reciting the alphabet and counting. Right; it’s either one or the other. [This is the key to concentrating and meditating; it’s why mantra works: as long as we purposefully focus our conscious mind on something, we won’t hear the voice in our head or become distracted by other thoughts].

Five Types of Thought

Our conscious mind has five “gears”, capable of as many distinct types of thought, each of which may be affected by up to five “emotions” to varying degrees:

  • Three of our conscious mental “gears” are evidenced by the three types of original thought: we either perceive something correctly, incorrectly, or we imagine it. Classic examples are we see a stick and recognize it as such; we see the same stick but mistake it for a snake – the classic example of an imaginary thought is a rabbit with horns, since it doesn’t exist outside one’s mind.

 

  • Our fourth conscious mental gear is associated with memories – recalling a thought we’ve had previously.

 

  • Our fifth gear is “neutral” (a relatively still conscious mental state in which we don’t hear words in our head). The easiest way to find neutral is to focus your attention on something you’re doing (a physical action or sensation – e.g., breathing, smelling, tasting, etc.). Admittedly, this is a state of observation rather than a thought per se – mechanically, it’s like a car idling in neutral.

Five Types of “Emotion”

Every thought can be affected by varying degrees by up to five “emotions”. The first emotion or influence gives rise to the other four. The first is not distinguishing between our perpetually functioning mind and our still, immutable consciousness (see below). When we identify with our thoughts rather than our awareness OF them, our thoughts are subject to four other influences: attraction, aversion, ego and fear.

Based on the bifurcated energetic nature of the world we live in (think yin/yang or positive/negative) we’re either drawn toward or away from something. When ego manifests consciously, we perceive ourselves in contrast to others, while fear, specifically of loss and dying, is natural.

Karma

The purpose of mind control is to mitigate the influence of these five “emotions” on our thoughts, so that the actions they trigger perpetuate balanced consequences. [Keep in mind the eternal nature of karma: every act gives rise to an endless sequence of consequences that beget others; the fact that you’re reading this is one consequence of literally everything that has happened since the beginning of time!]

Granted, we only have the ability to affect one of three types of karma (those generated by our own actions – as opposed to those generated by the actions of others, or the vagaries of nature), but it’s typically our own behavior including our reactions to the other two types that give rise to most of our personal mental distress.

Sub-Conscious Mind

The aspect of our mind that we’re generally unaware of has three progressively subtle functions: bodily tasks, memory storage, and individuality. Bodily function includes sensory perception, internal organ and system processing, and external mobility. Individuality refers to the root of our ego – the generally sub-conscious awareness that we are a unique being with needs (the “I am” part of “I am am tall, handsome, hungry, cold, etc.”)

Unlike our single-processing conscious, thinking mind, our sub-conscious “doing” mind multi-“tasks” wonderfully!

Consciousness

Distinguishing between our functioning mind and our immutable consciousness or awareness is the Holy Grail of Patanjali’s Yoga.

Here are a few things to keep in mind about what’s arguably the most significant aspect of each of us – ironically, the aspect we naturally pay the least amount of attention to.

In theory, without consciousness, our tangible physical body and invisible functioning mind would still work – we just wouldn’t know it!

The ancient yogis pointed out that this aspect of each of us is:

  • Universal – yours is exactly like mine, though obviously what we’re each aware of is completely different;
  • Omnipotent – this aspect of each of us is indestructible; it’s completely unaffected by the vagaries of time, space, hunger, temperature, you-name-it; the ancients used to say neither fire nor water (polar opposites) could destroy it;
  • Omniscient – collectively, consciousness encompasses all knowledge;
  • Eternal – your awareness hasn’t changed since the day you first opened your eyes, though obviously what you’re aware of changes every minute.

In short, realizing the distinction between our functioning mind, and our immutable consciousness – and recognizing the nature of the latter – gives rise to faith in the source of the latter; that which can’t be explained by science. The recognition that it’s inside you can literally change how you perceive and live your life.

Blessings, Skip

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CLARIFICATION ABOUT YOGA’S TEN COMMANDMENTS

In response to a Yoga Journal post about the yamas and niyamas (classical yoga’s code of personal conduct, or “ten commandments”), I indicated that they are found in second half of Chapter 2 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – the chapter that stresses the importance of preparation when it comes to meditation.

In trying to make the point that they are critical to the preparation process, I indicated that the yamas and niyamas account for the bulk of the second half of Chapter 2 [specifically, they account for ~60% of Patanjali’s eight-limbed discipline; posture, breathing, concentration, and meditation each account for ~10%].

But in making the point, I gave short shrift to the first half of Chapter 2 by saying it focuses on the importance of the attitude we bring to our practice – indicating it’s hard to affect change in our behavior without motivation or intent.

The first half of Chapter 2 is arguably more important than the eight limbs themselves. [Clearly, Patanjali thought so!] It addresses the significance, causes and cure of our own self-inflicted distress; it’s 1.5x longer than the section on the yamas and niyamas; thus, 9x longer than the section on posture!

Chapter 2 begins with The Serenity Prayer. Patanjali prioritizes the importance of mental discipline, advising us to exercise a combination of acceptance, courage and wisdom to keep the five causes of our own self-inflicted distress at bay.

The primary source of self-inflicted distress, which gives rise to the other four, is failure to distinguish between our thoughts (evidence of our mind) and our awareness OF our thoughts (evidence of our consciousness). The latter NEVER changes.

Consciousness is the only “thing” known to man that isn’t affected by the vagaries of time and space. It’s literally immutable and eternal – yet without it, we wouldn’t realize we’re alive!

Our thoughts on the other hand, like our impermanent bodies, are literally CONSTANTLY changing.

Identifying with our impermanent body/mind (i.e., failing to realize that there’s a LOT more to us than we see in the mirror and hear in our head) gives rise to the other four natural causes of self-inflicted angst: ego, attachment, hatred, and fear.

Learn to distinguish between your permanent and temporary bits and I promise you’ll smile a lot more often!

God bless, Skip

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MEMORY (and Louis) LANE

A haunting memory

When I was 5, I saw episode #89 of Twilight Zone, “To Serve Man”, in which aliens came to earth promising a much better life on their planet. People queued up to make the intergalactic trip. As the ship full of human passengers took off, one woman discovered the truth: the aliens meant to serve us alright – as dinner!

That TV show from over 50 years ago has remained in my sub-conscious memory until recently. Such memories – and all their attendant emotions – can be triggered a lifetime later. Sometimes it’s hard to argue which is more powerful, our conscious “thinking” mind, or our sub-conscious “doing” mind [one thing it “does” is store our memories].

What I see

With the same clarity that I see the words I’m typing, I see life as Patanjali suggested we see it: from the inside out: as consciousness embodied, rather than as a body with consciousness. But for the life of me, I can’t help another living soul see it as I do.

As my guru says, therein lies my problem: I should be trying to see life as others do – and acting compassionately – rather than trying to “help” everyone else see their lives differently regardless of the profound benefits.

The frustration

Abandoning the desire to help others see what I see is difficult. I feel like the woman in the Twilight Zone episode who figured out the aliens’ plan – too late to save herself or her fellow passengers. Not a terrific analogy – but the hopelessness and irony are real.

Imagine a world in which what we looked, sounded or smelled like was of little concern: the exact opposite of our current state in which our essence, our consciousness, is of virtually no concern to anyone. If everyone saw life from the inside out, we’d all be more concerned about our collective wellbeing than appearances.

The benefits

Millennia ago Patanjali outlined the simple science of a) how our perpetually-functioning, dual-aspect mind works (i.e., our conscious mind is generally evidenced by our thoughts, and our sub-conscious mind is generally evidenced by our actions), and b) the life-altering benefits of realizing the distinction between our ever-changing body/mind and our unalterable, eternal consciousness.

Identifying with one’s immutable consciousness rather than one’s relatively weak, withering body/mind has very practical benefits: you no longer sweat the little stuff! Things that happen to our shell or ‘casing’ have zero affect on who and what we truly are. When we identify with the outside, every little ding and dent feels as though we’ve been injured. If we identify instead with the aspect of each of us without which we don’t even know we’re alive, life’s inevitable bumps and bruises, slings and arrows are a LOT easier to contend with.

Our consciousness is immutable: unchanging; unaffected by time, space, drought, hunger, disease, bullets, fears and desires – you name it.

“So what?” someone asked me recently.

 

Aside from the benefit of realizing that part of you is more powerful than Superman [he had to worry about kryptonite] you have within yourself evidence that part of you is immortal, essentially divine. That realization gives rise to faith, the most powerful, motivational force on earth.

Two other haunting alien memories

As long as I’m confessing to being afraid of aliens for most of my life, at about the same age (5), I was also scarred by watching the “Mole Men” episode of the “Adventures of Superman” in which the world’s deepest oil well penetrated the underground home of aliens who climbed to the surface!

About the same age, I had to change the channel five minutes into the initial episode of “My Favorite Martian” when his spaceship crash-landed on earth!

Change your perspective and change your life

Every moment of life is awesome and fascinating – but ever more so when seen from the inside out. Want to change how you view life? Pick up an interpretation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and reach out with any questions. I’d be honored to help shed light on your path to discovering the secret to lasting peace of mind.

Blessings, Allan Dowds

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GOT SERENITY?

Relieve your own stress, sorrow, anxiety, desire and fear without a yoga mat!

The key is self-awareness. Learn to distinguish between YOUR three invisible parts:

Conscious mind:

  • This part of your mind functions; it’s the aspect that thinks, analyzes, calculates, determines, and judges.
  • It’s the part you use to make decisions throughout the day: what to wear, eat, how to do your job, etc.
  • It’s the aspect of your mind you’re most familiar with: it’s evidenced by your thoughts and the voice in our head.
  • Unlike your sub-conscious ‘doing’ mind which enables you to multi “task”, your conscious thinking mind can literally only think one thought at a time. Skeptical? Try doing two simple math problems in your head simultaneously – or reciting the alphabet and counting simultaneously. Right. It’s not going to happen. Unlike our sub-conscious multitasking ‘doing’ mind, this aspect of each of us functions like our heart and lungs: single, consecutive beats, breaths and thoughts.

Exercise: the next time you’re feeling anxious, impatient or stressed, recite the alphabet (preferably backwards) and experience what happens: the feeling of anxiousness dissipates!

Sub-conscious mind:

  • This part of your mind also functions; it has two primary jobs: it’s responsible for all bodily tasks (internal and external senses and movement), and it’s where all your memories are stored (imagine being conscious of all your memories all the time – yikes!)
  • Unlike our conscious mind, this aspect is generally silent; we’re typically unaware of it.
  • It’s evidenced by insight and intuition rather than less subtle conscious thoughts.

Exercise: the next time you’re doing a routine task like bathing, brushing your teeth, walking, folding laundry or washing the dishes, recite the alphabet (again, preferably backwards) in your head. EVERYTHING you’re doing other than reciting the alphabet is evidence of your sub-conscious mind at work. When it clicks, it’ll freak you out: it’s as if your body is acting ALL ON ITS OWN!

Guess which of these two invisible, functioning aspects of your mind is the troublemaker? Right, the noisy one! As long as your conscious, thinking mind is calm and undisturbed, your sub-conscious mind functions flawlessly (other than for influences beyond your control like disease or disability).

Consciousness:

  • This invisible part of each of us doesn’t function; it merely witnesses.
  • This is the awareness OF our conscious thoughts (if something is aware of something else, by definition the two are distinct from one another!)
  • Without our intangible awareness, our bodies and functioning mind would still work – WE JUST WOULDN’T KNOW IT!
  • This aspect of each of us NEVER changes; while our thoughts come and go throughout every day like breaths and heartbeats, the awareness OF our thoughts remains constant.
  • Imagine the still, quiet, calm, undisturbed nature of something that literally never changes – and it’s inside you! [Meditation draws us closer to this aspect of ourselves!]
  • Consciousness is the only “thing” known to mankind that isn’t affected by the passage of time; it’s literally eternal.
  • It’s also universal: the awareness of your thoughts is EXACTLY like mine (though obviously, our thoughts are unique to each of us).

Exercise: practice distinguishing between your tangible, ever-changing thoughts and the immutable awareness OF your thoughts. Practice until the nature of your own consciousness clicks; it’ll freak you out. Religion is right: there IS a part of each of us that never dies!

What are the practical, real-life benefits of learning to distinguish between our three invisible parts?

Perhaps the most practical benefit is learning to mute the voice in our head at will. Realizing the distinction between our conscious and sub-conscious mind (and recognizing the constant interaction between the two) enables and emboldens us to learn to control the bothersome one when we want or need to – making getting through each day easier and less stressful.

[Caveat: the voice in our head is a natural self defense mechanism: it acts like the release valve on a teapot: when too much emotional stress builds in our sub-conscious mind based on our unique fears and desires, those stressors percolate up and manifest in the voice in our head. While we can mute that voice at will, at some point we need to let it vent – preferably at a time and place of our own choosing – hence, we meditate!]

But the biggest, most life-altering and permanent changes come when we truly realize the distinction between our thoughts and our awareness of them.

Recognizing the immutable, permanent nature of our own consciousness is awakening in a whole new way. Science can’t explain it – but consciousness is “tangible” evidence – WITHIN OURSELVES – of the existence of something else, something MUCH greater: the existence of Something unearthly and divine. Realizing THAT gives birth to true faith, the most powerful force on earth.

This is Patanjali’s message. All the rest of the practice is about getting to this realization and maintaining it!

God bless, Allan Dowds