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PATANJALI’S FRIENDS – PART II

Why make such a big deal about consciousness? Because it IS a BFD!!

First of all, life would be pointless without consciousness since we’d all be biological robots unaware of our own thoughts and actions! Right; so be thankful you have it!

Second, consider its nature: what it is and what it isn’t.

It’s the awareness OF your mind’s functioning.

It’s not a mental function per se. Consciousness or awareness OF what you’re thinking is immutable and universal. While your thoughts change constantly like your heartbeats and breaths, your awareness OF them never does. Your awareness OF your thoughts is exactly the same today as it was the day you were born; and yours, your neighbors’, and mine are all identical, though obviously our thoughts are unique to each of us.

According to Sankhya, the science upon which the practice of Raja Yoga is based, consciousness is the one thing that isn’t subject to the vagaries of time and space (karma). Consider the nature of something that isn’t affected by time and space – and that it’s an aspect of YOU!

Your consciousness OF your thoughts is clearly subtler than your thoughts themselves.

According to the Bhagavad Gita (“God’s Song”) which predates Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, consciousness is “autonomous, a spotless lotus, eternal, infinite, pure, unblemished, immovable, existent, indivisible, beyond decay and death, everlasting, immutable, and imperishable.”

The ancient texts say consciousness is the aspect of you that can’t be burned or drowned; today they’d say it was bulletproof.

By controlling and quieting your body and mind, you draw inward, closer to your essence, your true self: your consciousness.

But resolute faith in the existence of God?

When you realize that an aspect of you is literally bulletproof, THAT recognition begs ALL kinds of questions, starting with “What’s the source of THAT part of me – which btw isn’t described in any anatomy book ever published?!” Raja Yoga is a universal practice literally intended to end human suffering, yet it’s an entirely individual practice since only you have access to your mind!

Over time, the practice engenders absolute faith in the existence of something we literally aren’t capable of experiencing directly: God.

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FRIENDS OF PATANJALI

Friends of Patanjali

For awhile my daily prayers have included some version of the following:

Thank you for:

  • Consciousness – without which I wouldn’t realize I was even here!
  • Patanjali – who codified the practice of Raja Yoga: a path to experiencing consciousness
  • Vyasa – the first of the six traditional commentators or “un-packers” of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
  • Practitioners – all who preserved the practice over the millennia
  • Satchidananda – a notable modern day devotee and teacher of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (the author of the textbook we use)
  • All yoga teachers past and present

But I was reminded this morning that the list above is missing a BIG piece: the anonymous yogis who a) DISCOVERED that consciousness is NOT a mental function and b) how to prove it!

Patanjali was a successful practitioner and brilliant academic who codified the practice and science in a poem or outline – thus preserving the experiences and knowledge of countless yogis who preceded him.

The Bhagavad Gita, the other universally recognized authoritative text on Raja Yoga, was composed before Patanjali produced the Yoga Sutras. The Gita is a conversation between a sage and his king. The following is largely excerpted from Edwin Bryant’s “the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”:

The sage is describing what’s become known as Raja Yoga to the king:

I have spoken to you about the knowledge of Sankhya [Allan: the understanding that energetic matter and consciousness are distinct]; now hear from me the knowledge of yoga as I have heard and seen it.

There is no knowledge equal to Sankhya; there is no power like that of yoga. Both of these are the same path; both are said to lead to immortality. Only people lacking wisdom say that they are different, but we see them as one without any doubt. That which the yogis perceive, the followers of Sankhya experience. One who sees that Sankhya and yoga are one, is a seer of Truth.

[Allan: here the text attributes mystical powers to yogis.]

In the Vedic scriptures, the wise speak of yoga as having eight equalities, and bestowing eight subtle powers.

They say that the topmost practice of yoga is of two kinds, according to what is revealed in the scriptures: yoga with “qualities” and yoga without “qualities”. [Allan: here it’s likely the text refers to meditating with and without “seed”, the latter referring to the highest state of consciousness or meditation.]

Practices involve concentrating the mind, and controlling the breath. [Allan: the text advises caution with respect to certain breathing practices.]

Living in solitude, tranquil, and controlled, one could without doubt experience one’s consciousness by practicing yoga with one’s mind, delighting in the union and living in solitude.

One should cast off the senses: sound, form, touch, taste, and smell. One should restrain sensual desire by concentrating the mind; [specifically, the conscious mind should be used to a) restrain senses, memories and ego, and b) distinguish between matter and consciousness].

After taking this progression, one should meditate on consciousness, which is autonomous, a spotless lotus, eternal, infinite, pure, unblemished, immovable, existent, indivisible, beyond decay and death, everlasting, immutable, and imperishable.

Consider the characteristics of the yogi. The character of the yogi is tranquil, like that of a contented person sleeping blissfully.

The wise speak of the yogi as like the upward motionless flame of a lamp full of oil burning in a windless place.

The character of a yogi is like a rock, which is incapable of being moved even when pummeled by torrents of rain pouring down from clouds.

The demeanor of a yogi is not moved by the noise of assorted conches and drums being played together, nor the outbursts of song. [Allan: think Braveheart, Gibson’s movie]

Just as a person of composed nature might ascend a staircase while holding a container full of oil, and yet, despite being alarmed upon being attacked by assailants armed with swords, does not spill a drop out of fear of them, so, in the same way, the mind of one who is absorbed in the supreme, is fully concentrated.

These are the characteristics of the experienced yogi, which are displayed due to resolve and to controlling the activities of the senses.

Absorbed in consciousness, the yogi beholds the supreme and imperishable, resembling a lamp blazing forth in dense darkness.

It is in this way that, after the passage of much time in practice, the yogi enters the state of liberation from the body/mind. This is revealed in the eternal scriptures.

This is indeed the yoga of the yogis. What else is the character of yoga? The wise consider that yogis have accomplished the goal of life.

God bless, Allan

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Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – chapter 2 loosely translated

Patanjali takes a two-pronged approach to living peacefully, giving equal weight to attitude (kriya) and behavior (astanga).

Chapter two (25%) of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is 55 lines long and entitled “Prepare” to meditate; section headings below are inserted for reference:

EMOTIONS

What is Kriya Yoga and what’s its purpose?

1.     Kriya Yoga is a practice in serenity, courage, and wisdom

2.     Practicing reduces the cause of self-inflicted suffering (“emotions”)

What are the causes of self-inflicted suffering?

3.     Ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion and fear

4.     Ignorance causes the other four, which are dormant, feeble, intermittent or sustained natural impulses

5.     Ignorance is mistaking the impermanent [body/mind] for the permanent [Consciousness]

6.     Ego is mistaking mind for awareness

7.     Attachment stems from pleasant experiences

8.     Aversion stems from unpleasant experiences

9.     Fear, specifically of loss and death is natural

How are emotions subdued?

10. Effects of emotions may be subdued via concentration,

11. And may be eliminated altogether via meditation

KARMA

Why is it important to subdue emotions?

12. Emotions influence thoughts which precede actions; every action precipitates an endless cycle of cause & effect: karma

13. Karma set in motion before we were born is largely responsible for the quality, duration and circumstances of our lives

What is Karma and why is it important?

14. Karma refers to the perpetual cycle of cause and effect initiated by every action

15. Karma is the natural consequence of two energetically charged, oppositional states of matter [Yin and Yang]; this energetic, oppositional nature is the cause of our constant mental conflict

16.  Only when the energetic, oppositional states of matter constituting our body and mind are in balance can peace be found

CONSCIOUSNESS vs. COGNITION

Consciousness vs. cognition is the key; avoid pain by remaining aware of the difference!

17. Avoiding future pain is a matter of remaining aware of the distinction between matter and Consciousness

18. The latter witnesses life through the former

19. The oppositional states of matter are infinite

20. Consciousness is just that; it’s perceived as, but isn’t, a mental function

21. Matter is the instrument of Consciousness…

22. ….although its not our nature to see it that way

23. The union of Consciousness with our body/mind makes us miraculous

24. Confusing Consciousness with cognition is the source of ignorance

IGNORANCE

How to eliminate ignorance

25. Eliminate ignorance by remaining aware of the distinction between thought and awareness of thought

26. Constant, discriminative awareness of our dual nature is how to do so

27. This ultimate self-recognition is liberating in every sense

What is Astanga Yoga?

28. The eight limbed practice leads to discriminative awareness

29. Abstentions, observations, outer bodily control, inner bodily control, conscious mind control, and three successively subtle stages of subconscious meditation

Abstentions & Observances

30. Abstentions: harming, lying, stealing, lust and greed

31. There are no exceptions to this most important limb

32. Observances: cleanliness, serenity, courage, wisdom and faith

33. Foster positive thoughts

34. Reflect on the source and strength of emotions behind your thoughts

Abstentions:

35. Hostilities cease in the presence of one who abstains from harm

36. To abstain from lying, focus on your thoughts since words are preceded by thoughts

37. One who abstains from stealing becomes rich in more meaningful ways

38. Restraining lust produces vigor

39. One who abstains from greed attains ultimate knowledge

Observances:

40. Take care of your self; recognize your frailties

41. Cleanliness and self-care foster self-awareness and self control, engendering peace of mind

42. Serenity is the source of bliss

43. Courage brings out the best in us

44. Wisdom deepens one’s faith

45. Faith, surrendering to something greater than yourself, makes bliss possible

Outer bodily control [posture]

46. Posture should be steady and comfortable

47. Overcome restlessness in your posture by concentrating on the infinite

48. That’s how to attain balance; tranquility conquers the outer body

Inner bodily control [breath/energy control]

49. Now you’re ready to control your inhalations and exhalations

50. Learn to control the duration, separation, and rate of your breath

51. There’s a fourth, non-physical aspect to breathing [i.e., in addition to inhalation, retention, and exhalation] which occurs during concentration

52. As a consequence of this fourth state of breath, the veil of ignorance is lifted

Conscious mind control [concentration]

53. Now you’re ready to concentrate [i.e., to control your conscious mind]

54. Concentration is focusing to the point that you’re not aware of your sensory (sub-conscious) perception

55. Practice concentrating until you have complete mastery of your sensory mind

 

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I’m a yogi

I’m a spiritual guide like a priest or rabbi, though my faith comes from Patanjali, father of Raja Yoga. I teach Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, a 3,000 year old, 200 line poem outlining the science of transcending the mind to experience consciousness (i.e., to become “enlightened”).

Patanjali’s poem has four parts. About halfway through the first part (sutra 1.20), he lists a sequence of energetic experiences you’re likely to have along the journey. Here’s what Edwyn F. Bryant*, says about this line of Patanjali’s poem [paraphrasing]:

FAITH – Vyasa [universally recognized as the original authoritative commentator on Patanjali’s work] states that faith sustains like a benevolent mother; it supports the yogi until the very end.

VIGOR – comes from deep faith, which the commentators take to be the pursuit of the eight limbs of yoga described in the second part of the poem; in other words, faith inspires an energetic pursuit of enlightenment.

MEMORY – vigor produces memory, which is understood by Vyasa to mean an undisturbed mind.

MEDITATION – a focused state of mind facilitates un-deviated concentration on an object.

DISCERNMENT – as a result of the complete absence of distraction in the final stage of meditation, discernment, the ability to see things as they really are, manifests. The ultimate act of discrimination is to realize the distinction between mind and consciousness: the latter [the Holy Grail of Patanjali’s poem] witnesses the former.

God bless, Allan

 

*source: Edwin F. Bryant’s “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: a new edition, translation, and commentary with insights from the traditional commentators”

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Energy

Intuitively, you know that your body is energetic since it requires energy to move, but it also requires energy (albeit subtler) to think; specifically, to change your mind and go in a different direction!

How does it work? The three-horse chariot is a classic Raja Yoga metaphor of your energetic self:

3 HORSES – represent the three functions of your subconscious mind: 1) sensory receipt & processing (i.e., bodily functioning), 2) memory storage, and 3) your sense of “I-am”

REINS – represent the subtle subconscious mental energy that powers your three subconscious mental functions; this subconscious mental energy or mind can be controlled by your conscious mind

CHARIOTEER – represents the conscious mental energy that you’re aware of: your thoughts! This is the part of your mind that you make decisions with and that you hear. Your conscious mind should remain vigilant (THAT is the real practice of Raja Yoga!) and direct your subconscious mind regarding what to pursue and avoid – rather than letting it run amuck!

CHARIOT – represents your body; the energetically dense part that sustains, propels and protects you; its up to you to keep your chariot in good working order to more effectively fulfill your responsibilities. Obviously, the physical demands on a soldier are different than a grade school teacher – but a broken chariot is going to distract any charioteer!

In short, we are literally pulled about by the natural functioning of our subconscious mind: an energetic mix of sensations, memories and need, BUT thankfully we can use our conscious mind to reign in and direct our subconscious mind’s natural tendencies.

Raja Yoga is a dual practice in self-awareness and self-control for which I thank God and the divinely inspired Patanjali, every day.

Allan

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Raja Yoga group classes – June

Consciousness = awareness OF your mind’s thoughts

Meditation = quest to transcend one’s mind to experience consciousness

Raja Yoga = science of meditation or mind control

RAJA YOGA group classes:

211 Essex Street, Swampscott – across from the high school

  • Increase – strength, flexibility, balance, stability, energy, endurance, stamina, concentration and focus
  • Decrease – stress, destructive desires and anxiety

www.rajamarblehead.com

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Desire

Desire binds you and makes you restless. Even by desiring enlightenment, you bind yourself. To know Truth, you must be without desire.

Ironically, you’d die without desire! Your subconscious mind by its very nature desires to keep you alive! So what does it mean to be “without desire” practically speaking? To desire and act selflessly.

Selfless action or serving others doesn’t trigger in you another infinite cycle of merciless cause and effect (karma) – because pure, selfless desire and action have no expectation whatsoever – thus you can’t be disappointed, regardless of the result. But even better, you ARE rewarded: when you make someone happy, you see it in their face and you feel happy too.

“The more you serve, the more happiness you enjoy. Such a person knows the secret of life.” – Sri Swami Satchidananda

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Classes start again this week

Patanjali said that peace comes when we think and act:

WISELY – understanding the nature and distinction between mind (the source of our thoughts), and consciousness (the awareness of our thoughts);

COURAGEOUSLY – never giving up; practicing selflessness; being physically disciplined; and

SERENELY – always letting go; practicing non-attachment and mindfulness; being mentally disciplined.

Peace and blessings, Allan (“Skip”)

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WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT KARMA?

Karma is unavoidable; it’s the natural law of cause & effect: every action has consequences. A few things to remember about actions:

  • Actions are simply expended energy, which can neither be created nor destroyed.
  • When we act selflessly, or expend energy on behalf of others without expectation of anything in return – we gain because we aren’t expecting to; our expended energy is naturally replenished, if only as an internal sense of fulfillment.
  • When we act selfishly, or expend energy with the expectation of personal reward – we lose because of our expectations; at best we’re energetically treading water since energy spent = energy replaced.

Raja Yoga is an effort to control our minds, and to the limited extent we can, our karma through thought and action, according to time and circumstance:

  • PAST ACTIONS – we can’t control past acts; we can’t somehow “undo” them; all we can do is control how we re-act to their consequences; practicing physical self-control/restraint (postures, breathing) is particularly helpful in this regard.
  • PRESENT ACTIONS – we have some control over how we act in the present moment, though it’s difficult to think correctly and without emotion in the heat of battle; practicing mental self-control (concentration) is particularly helpful in this regard.
  • FUTURE ACTIONS – we have the most control over our future actions, and thus our lives (the sum of our karmic-generating actions), when we take time to contemplate our actions (or inactions). In this regard, introspection or meditation can be tremendously helpful.

Guru Satchidananda used the analogy of an archer’s arrows:

  • Our past actions are like arrows we’ve just let fly: they’ll land and have consequences that we’ll have to contend with [God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…];
  • Our present actions are like arrows we’ve notched, drawn back and about to let fly: we still have some control over their trajectory and target [courage to change the things I can….];
  • Our future actions are like arrows still in our quiver: we decide if, when and how to let them lose […and wisdom to know the difference].

Aim carefully, and act wisely.

Patanjali said, “never give up; always let go”, but most importantly emphasized never forgetting that consciousness (the uber-subtle, never-changing, awareness OF our thoughts) is the only thing not affected by karma (or time and space). It’s the aspect of each of us that our ancestors said was impervious to fire and water! So in a practical sense, our consciousness IS eternal! Draw contentment and courage (oppositional aspects of energetic matter) from that knowledge.

And never forget: you are a miracle!! You are a consequence of L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y everything that’s ever happened since the inception of time and space – as are all the people and things in your life, so please act accordingly, starting by lovingly caring for the body and mind you are gifted with.

Namaste, Skip

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Courage

God grant me:

1)   Serenity – to accept the things I can not change,

2)   Courage – to change the things I can, and

3)   Wisdom – to know the difference.

The Serenity Prayer accounts for 50% of the practice of Raja Yoga.

Courage, “tapas” in Sanskrit, is described by Sri Swami Satchidananda in his 1978 “Integral Yoga: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” as follows:

_____

The direct meaning of “tapas” is “to burn”. By the physical tapas of fasting, we burn our excess fat away along with the toxins our bodies have accumulated. By mental tapas, we burn all our old impressions. By verbal tapas, observing silence, we control speech. When we burn, we feel some heat and pain. We undergo suffering. So, tapas [courage] also means to accept suffering. If someone suffers, he or she is blessed, because by that suffering some impurities are purged out.

In order to make our minds clean and steady we must accept suffering, pain and poverty. It is even more beneficial if, at the same time that we accept pain, we bring happiness to others. So, accept the pain of others. [This is why therapists counsel depressed patients to volunteer: helping others feels good.] We never lose by accepting pain. We should never run from it.

In our lives there are hundreds of opportunities for tapas [to be courageous – in attitude AND in action]. Even a cloth must undergo tapas to become clean. What will the laundryman do with my cloth? Will he fold it, put some sandalwood paste and a flower on it and give it back to me? No. First, he’ll soak it in boiling water with soap. Then he’ll beat it every which way. Then he’ll tumble and roll and squeeze it in the washing machine. After that, he’ll dry it in a hot chamber and iron it. Only then does the cloth lose all its dirt and grime. It undergoes tapas to become pure. The laundryman has no hatred for the cloth when he does all those things to it. He only wants to make it pure. It is out of his love that he inflicts pain.

The mind too must be washed, squeezed, tossed, dried and ironed. Don’t think that if someone causes us pain they hate us, but rather that they are helping us to purify ourselves. If we can think like this, we are real Yogis. If anybody hurts our feelings, we should just smile at them….If we understand this point and accept it, we’ll never find fault with anybody who abuses, scolds or insults us. If flowery words make us happy but insults upset us, we know our minds are not yet strong. My teacher said, “Adapt, adjust, accommodate. Bear insult. Bear injury. That is the highest spiritual practice.” To go to a corner and pray is easy…but to be insulted and keep a serene mind requires tapas.

The power to control the body and senses comes from tapas [courage].

Once a man tried to anger a saint. He began insulting him, “You dirty rogue. See how many people you have ruined with your teachings?”

The saint remained quiet, smiling at his tormentor.

“Don’t you understand my language?” the man asked.

“Yes. Sure.”

“You mean, you’ve understood my insults?” The man was incredulous.

“I did.”

“Then how can you keep quiet?”

The saint answered, “Son, suppose you brought me some fruit and I refused it. What would you do?”

“I would have to take it back.”

“Yes,” continued the saint. “In the same way, I don’t enjoy all these things you have brought me. So you can just take them back.”

Handling things this way takes real strength and courage. A person who can only strike back physically may be physically strong but mentally weak. Mental strength comes from tapas.

A link to Satchidananda’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Swami-Satchidananda/dp/1938477073