My undying gratitude, love, respect and admiration for the teacher who’s influenced my understanding of the science and philosophy of Raja Yoga the most: Edwyn F. Bryant, Rutgers University Professor, Religions of India.
For the past 14 years my personal practice has centered on the first half of The Yoga Sutras: the practice, and the science behind it; specifically, the attitude, conduct and exercises that facilitate meditation and produce a healthy body/mind.
It’s only recently – now that I am convinced beyond doubt that consciousness is NOT a mental function – that I’m drawn back to what attracted me to the practice in the first place: a search for answers.
The realization that consciousness is indeed “of a different dimension” begs ALL SORTS of other – literally unanswerable – questions.
The only way to verify the existence of consciousness is to realize that without it, you wouldn’t know that you were alive, let alone reading this! Beyond that – and the MANY inferences readily drawn therefrom! – we are each left to decide for ourselves – on faith – answers about the purpose, origin and end of this life, including the wicked-awesome intangible part without which we wouldn’t be aware of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch for starters!
Frankly, realizing the existence of consciousness begs the more pertinent question: What happens AFTER our heart stops beating?
Here’s the gist of Raja Yoga’s perspective:
For all intents and purposes – as far as our body/mind is concerned – consciousness, the awareness OF our thoughts, is immutable and eternal; it never changes – though obviously, what we’re aware of changes constantly.
Yogis believe that:
• Consciousness remains unaffected by anything – including the passing of our body/mind (i.e., consciousness IS eternal – period). It’s the only “thing” that’s truly intangible, or of a different dimension, and thus not subject to karma;
• The subtlest energetic aspect of our body/mind – the aspect of each of us that’s closest to consciousness itself (think, “unfilled memories” or “karmic triggers”, intuitively the least changeable aspect of our “tangible” selves) somehow survives the passing of our body/mind;
• Further, that somehow our über-subtle, energetic “bag-o-memories” a) remains intact; b) is absorbed back into the swirling energetic ether around us; and c) is reanimated in another life-form – simultaneously with its coming to life and becoming in-filled with consciousness. The time, place and circumstances of that happening is determined by the energetic nature of each unique “bag-o-memories”. [Remember the natural law of karma: EVERY cause has an effect; these “unfilled memories” represent the “cause” side of the equation!]
That’s a bit of a stretch for me; not that it makes ANY difference to THIS body/mind – but it seems logical if not inspiring and hopeful, and would explain the existence of child prodigies!
I will say that IF you truly begin to believe that there IS a part of you that survives the death of your body/mind, time takes on an entirely different perspective, and stress virtually fades away. 😉
Fortunately, each of us gets to decide what our purpose is while we’re here and what, if anything, happens to us after our heart stops beating. Raja Yoga (meditation) provides answers to YOUR questions. Practicing calms your mind and deepens your intuitive understanding of the world around you.
Namaste, AAD
