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

February 28, 2019

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

November 14, 2018

A REBEL NOTION IN REDRESSING ADDICTION

I’m enthusiastic about drug prevention because I’ve been an addict my entire adult life.

Personal discipline is what keeps me alive.

Here’s a rebel proposal: maybe it’s time to raise the level of our national (global?) consciousness – for everyone’s sake.

Spirituality vs. Religion

There’s a difference between spirituality (the science of self-discovery) and religion.

Religion tends to be cultural and naturally divisive to the extent different groups of people hold different views of an external divinity.

Spirituality is universally applicable yet individually practiced; it’s a deeply personal, internal quest for true self-acceptance and bliss.

Getting the message out

Like Rotary with its broad, flexible local footprint, our national school system is ideally positioned to efficiently get the word out. Perhaps some version of the notes below could be included in school curriculums nationally.

How and by whom the information is communicated isn’t important. The important part is constant practice – which both requires and fosters personal discipline.

There’s no prohibition on government support of Yoga, QiGong and/or Tai Chi, as there is with religion. These Asian disciplines are experiential: arguing we’re not aware of our own thoughts would be pretty silly.

The Message

This is the short version of the science behind the ancient practice of meditation or mind-control. This is “Classical”, “Raja”, or “Patanjalian” yoga.

In spiritual terms, humans have the capacity to virtually experience our own essence. To do that, yogis meditate or train our minds. Obviously, there are practical physical and mental benefits achieved en route! As we’re fond of saying, “It’s about the journey.”

We’re each born with three invisible parts: our conscious mind, sub-conscious mind, and consciousness.

1. Conscious mind:

Our conscious mind is evidenced by our thoughts, including the voice in our head; thus, it’s the aspect of our mind we’re most familiar with.

Understanding how we think is critical to balancing or adjusting our thoughts.

Unlike our sub-conscious “doing” mind that naturally multitasks; our conscious “thinking” mind can only perform one task at a time. Skeptical? Try simultaneously counting and reciting the alphabet.

Our conscious mind thinks a perpetual stream of individual thoughts (e.g., the alphabet is a string of 26 sequential thoughts). While this aspect of our mind never stops thinking or recalling thoughts, we can pause it like putting a running car engine in neutral (i.e., to de-stress it)!

There are three types of original thought: correct, incorrect, and imaginary (i.e., we see something as it is, we see but misinterpret it, or we make it up).

There are five things that affect our thoughts. The most significant in terms of de-stressing is not realizing the distinction between our conscious mind and consciousness. Once the nature of the latter dawns, SO many then-seemingly irrelevant thoughts, fears, and desires fade away.

The other four things that directly affect our thoughts are ego, attachments, aversions, and fears.

2. Sub-conscious mind:

Our sub-conscious mind is evidenced by the things our body does without conscious input: primarily sense perception and physical movement. Anything an alligator can do, this aspect of our mind can orchestrate flawlessly – as long as our conscious mind doesn’t get in the way!

Our sub-conscious mind is task-oriented, trainable, and habitual. It “runs the ship”, and it’s where our memories are stored (“below decks”).

3. Consciousness:

Consciousness is the awareness OF what we’re thinking. The awareness OF our thoughts is as distinct from those thoughts, as our toes are from toothpaste. [If you’re holding a hammer, you’re not the hammer!]

Consciousness is a very real (yet entirely immutable and intangible) aspect of each of us. What we’re aware of changes constantly, but our awareness OF those constantly changing mental images remains static: it’s essentially eternal.

Balancing body, mind and energy

Ancient Asian disciplines like India’s yoga (where the above science comes from) and China’s medical qigong, and tai chi are personal practices which develop the body and mind in harmony with our energetic, temporal nature and universe – while recognizing and honoring our immutable, intangible essence.

Traditional Chinese martial disciplines (including qigong and tai chi) were developed and used to sustain the health and readiness of battle-weary field troops. How wonderfully ironic it would be if the same practices were used to prepare for peace rather than war thousands of years later! 😉

Spirituality

With steady practice over an extended period, the nature of one’s own consciousness dawns – fostering faith in the existence of God.

While faith doesn’t change us psychologically or physiologically, it emboldens us, providing strength, tenacity, and determination – arguably, prerequisites for success in any endeavor.

May you find something herein helpful in the battle against abusive, destructive, addictive behaviors, including drug addiction.

God bless, Allan Skip Dowds

October 7, 2018October 11, 2018

Show the Universe what Ya got!!

[Sorry Jack; it’s another bait-n-switch, a holdover from my days working for the man.]

My grandfather used to say a man only needs two pairs of pants. It’s probably how he saved enough money to put his great-grandchildren through college.

How did I hear it (over & over) as a kid?

“Real men don’t own more than two pairs of pants.”

Part of me will always believe it.

Pops spoke the same way Patanjali wrote: in mathematical extremes. While it’s literally impossible to be perfect, that was their mutual advice:

“BE YOUR BEST.”

The ultimate goal (they agreed) is to do so willingly & lovingly in service of something other than oneself. My first yoga teacher told me that about 15 years ago; it took 13 years more suffering to ‘click’ – and I was desperately trying to ‘get it’ the entire time! Yeah; it doesn’t come easy – and it can’t be gifted.

‘Getting it’ takes a combination of:

A.) a lot of beatings (mostly to the ego in my case; it’s taken me awhile just to see myself as the human equivalent of a rooster according to Traditional Chinese Medicine: a strutting, fancy-boy chicken with a big mouth! The EXACT opposite of what I want to be!! DAMN! I SOOOO want to be a hero: a dragon, maybe a black panther…

….and/or…..

B.) a leap of faith that no one can entice you into making – the odds are ludicrous. You make the bet because you HAVE to believe there’s something more – having no clue as to the reality of some mystical post-apocalyptic payoff.

Here’s the bet:

If you ALWAYS act as if you were setting the bar… to literally be the best, toughest, smartest – at whatever you do given whatever uniqueness God blessed you with – in honor of something other than yourself….

….at the end of the day you’ll be rewarded in a way you can’t currently comprehend.

Wanna roll the dice?

Be the person you were born to be: it’s the essence of who YOU are – uniquely, EVER. There will never be another you!!

Show the universe what ya got!!

Me, for one thing, I’m apparently a friggin’ rooster, so I crow a lot!

Shine a light for others – act in accordance with your own truth. Close your eyes. The answers are closer than you think.

Here’s today’s tip:

Remain aware of your three aspects:

the physical part the rest of the world literally sees (your chassis/hardware – pick your analogy);
the invisible, incredibly twisted, creative and clever part [or however yours functions] that ONLY you ‘see’ from the inside [which the rest of the world sees reflected in your words and actions](your engine/software); and
the energetic system that sustains and animates them (the gasoline/jet fuel/electricity).

And then there’s the Source of all this craziness:

YOU!

Want to meet yourself?

Close your eyes and contemplate the concept of infinity. Every day. Like your life depends on it.

God bless you, Skip

Happy to be of help if I may. Yoga & QiGong lessons. 😉

September 23, 2018

ARE YOU A ROOSTER OR A DRAGON?

You know those Chinese restaurant menus with the animal-years? There are 12 of them:

Cat
Dog
Dragon
Goat
Horse
Monkey
Ox
Pig
Rat
Rooster
Snake
Tiger

Here’s the totally bananas–crazy thing for this old white guy who was raised in Vermont:

it’s friggin’ REAL!

Does it change my life to “know” that?! Kinda – at least on one level: the fact that I am a readily identifiable “type” makes it easier/possible for traditional Chinese medical (TCM) doctors to help me – and more importantly, if I become a TCM “doctor” or Master, I can more readily and effectively help others. 😊

That’s a LOT more information than Patanjali’s outline of Raja Yoga covers. [I suspect much of the ancient Indian science has been lost over the millennia given TCM’s recognition of the significance of the contribution made by early Indian Masters.] 🙏

Almost three years ago I devoted whatever time I have left here to promoting and teaching Patanjali’s simple message: “part of you is divine – and you can prove it to yourself”.

It WILL change you.

While Patanjali documented a mental practice to achieve awareness of the world beyond the mundane, TCM took it to a place I can’t even see from where I am.

I’m truly humbled and awe-struck.

I will fulfill my commitment to Patanjali, but TCM, WOW.

Apparently, it takes about ten years (fewer with more devotion and commitment) to accumulate the experience to be a first degree “black belt” or Medical QiGong Master. I have a running start because I’ve devoted the last 15 years to Patanjali’s similar yet much simpler discipline.

Here’s one thing Patanjali didn’t tell me: according to TCM, which also looks at life on three levels (form, energy, mind):

I’m the human equivalent of a rooster: in form, energetically, and sub-consciously.

[Never mind the fact that I’ve always thought of myself as a dragon! Shucks!]

Getting our three discernable “parts” to act in unison – to resonate in harmony with our unique “inborn voice” – not only reduces suffering, it helps us become what we were always naturally meant to be!

Can you guess which of the three pictures above represents:

my physical form, and…
the energy that naturally links it to…
….my non-physical, sub-conscious mind

It gets better: there are at least five distinct sub-types of rooster [I’m a fire-rooster]!

[Which means – relative to other farm animal types – I’m relatively trustworthy, especially at work. And here I’ve always attributed that to my small business owner, grandfather beating it into me!! Love you Pops!!]

The supporting data comes from thousands of years of astrological charting. It’s scientific; mathematical – like Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras! <3 <3 <3

Intuitively, it makes sense: certain types of trees, fruits and flowers bloom at different times each year – there’s a natural cyclicality to life. Measure it closely enough, long enough and it turns out that the regular rotation of our planet, and it’s routine movement through our universe causes it/us to be exposed to a dozen different types of energy.

How do I “know” I’m channeling some serious natural “rooster” energy – simply based on the time and place I was born?

First of all, I’ve lived between these two ears for over 60 years, and right off the top of my head these jump to mind:

My ego is the size of this planet – always has been. I’ve always felt like “the cock of the walk”. I shrunk from it for most of my life, but a couple months ago, I offered to pose virtually naked in class so the teacher could draw the 12 TCM meridiens on my body! [Frankly, I just wanted to know where they are in me – damn the consequences!!] Ironically, on some deep sub-conscious level, I’ve also always known I’m a big chicken with an over-inflated ego. Can’t tell you how many real fights I’ve run away from, though it never seems to deminish that rooster energy!

I “cock-a-doodle-do” a LOT (almost daily). I’ve been posting insights into Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras for almost 16 years – and my job for over 20 years was generating quarterly reports for investors. Yeah; hard to get the damned rooster to shut up!

Speaking of which, crowing and strutting tend to alienate people – especially other guys, though thankfully it seems to have the opposite effect on the fairer sex. For my entire adult life I’ve blamed my inability to bond in any meaningful way with another male on my father. Guess what dad – you’re still a prick, but I forgive you a little. Apparently, part of that inability is literally in-born.

Oh yeah, and I “preen” a lot. Sue will tell you that for a guy I spend an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom [little does she know I’m in there doing yoga or qigong the entire time!]

Blessings & hugs, Skipper-doodle-do!

❤️😊🕉

September 9, 2018

KNOCKED OUT

Pats fans just saw the immediate results of a concussion: a wobbly head and “woozy“ unsteady walk.

A commentator said, “[after a few minutes, you] get a little of your awareness back”.

Apparently, when you get a concussion from a whack on the noggin, the “outer”, “energetically densest”, “thinking”, conscious aspect of your invisible mind gets “knocked out of gear” or interrupted – knocking your otherwise sub-conscious mind into full awareness.

I’ve not had a concussion (might explain a lot), but it sounds like getting the wind knocked out of your lungs.

In that moment of instantaneous internal shock – an instant that feels suspended and more and more protracted – all you’re aware of is your inability to draw breath.

You slowly regain a clearer sense or state of awareness (i.e., your conscious, thinking mind “catches again”, or comes back into awareness) as the distress is either relieved – or literally renders you unconscious.

Tough way to experience your sub-conscious mind up close and personal. I prefer meditation.

August 24, 2018

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

Here’s a link to a post about our three invisible parts:

“Find your three invisible parts”

This is NOT theoretical. That’s the problem: people teach it as if it were!!

Witness it for yourself. You can distinguish between your invisible parts the same way you distinguish between your elbows & knees!

Practice. Practice. Practice.

Here’s a starting exercise:

Remember, Conscious Mind (the part you hear) – for all her power, can literally only “do” one thing at a time. She “thinks” thoughts the way your lungs and heart breathe and beat: singularly! Therein lies the key to bliss.

The next time you’re doing something you’ve done a thousand times (e.g., dishes, laundry, showering) occupy your Conscious Mind by reciting the alphabet (a string of 26 individual conscious “thoughts”) – relax and observe. EVERY thing else your body is doing (other than focusing on the alphabet) is evidence of your Sub-Conscious Mind at work.

When it “clicks” it’ll freak you out. Your body will seem to be moving all by itself!!

The answers to all your questions will come once you can discern between these invisible parts of yourself – and begin to identify with the subtlest aspect of yourself: your Inborn Voice*.

That’s Patanjali’s promise – and mine, as long as you adhere to his discipline!

Continue listening for and honoring your inborn voice; it’s lead you to teach yoga! You KNOW “she” has “your” best interest in mind!!

May you see life from your unique, essential vantage point always, and may you know the distinction between your mind and your essentially divine awareness.

Thank you for listening – and inspiring this post. Hugs, Skip

* my teacher, Milena Origgi’s expression for our “human fingerprint”: our subtlest, tangible personally-unique human essence

August 21, 2018

FIND YOUR THREE INVISIBLE PARTS

Meditate and experience these invisible parts of yourself!

Your Conscious Mind

is your noisy “thinking” mind;
is the part you’re aware of;
is the part you use to make decisions;
is home of the voice in your head;
is evidenced largely by words;
functions like a metronome: the same way our heart and lungs function: singular, sequential, hopefully constant: beats, breaths, and thoughts.

In terms of meditating,

This is the densest, outer or first “layer” to settle. To “meditate” in this tradition, you first need to learn how to “concentrate” or pause (to literally drop beneath) this naturally noisy, chaotic mental “layer”.

Your Sub-Conscious Mind

is your quiet “doing” mind;
is the part that ‘runs the ship’ silently in the background;
has three progressively-subtle energetic draws or responsibilities: (i) processing senses and movement, (ii) memory storage, and (iii) housing our most subtle human “function”: our unique sense of “being” or “I am”-ness;
is evidenced largely by images, sensations, insights, and intuition;
functions like a thousand simultaneously firing fully automatic machine guns. Be thankful you can’t hear it!!

In terms of meditating,

Descending through the three energetic layers of your sub-conscious mind requires patience and guidance. It’s like mindfully tiptoeing across a minefield – in this case, of memories and their corresponding emotive potential!

Your Awareness

Underlying your Sub-Conscious Mind is your Awareness, the aspect without which you could still read this – you just wouldn’t realize you were!!

THIS part of YOU is the holy grail of Patanjali’s personal discipline of Raja Yoga. You might think of it as “the land glimpsed by someone lost at sea for too long” – imagine the relief that might elicit!

See that part of yourself – meditate.

God bless, Skip

August 19, 2018August 19, 2018

CALLING FRIENDS OF THE BIBLE

Is meditation consistent with your understanding of God?

Judge for yourself:

Here’s how I “meditated” this glorious Sunday morning, I:

…sat in my favorite spot with purpose and humility [aside: my personal intent is to better understand and serve God]; I smiled and relaxed
…bowed my eyes (not closed) and allowed my outer body (arms/legs) to settle

…allowed my breathing settle into a soft, subtle rhythm, calming my internal bodily systems
…recited the Lord’s Prayer – mindfully – a dozen times, without “thinking”; rather, I simply “observed” the sensations and mental images that arose [ideally, the only words you want to hear in your mind are those of the prayer]. [fyi – this is a “concentration” exercise; at this point, I’ve left my physical body behind]❤️😊🕉

Up to this point, I’d been settling my physical body and conscious “busy” mind, preparing to witness to my unique and otherwise sub-conscious sensations, images, and insights – cultivating my intuition, and a deep sense of “connectedness” or “union”.

…let go and simply listened/observed (like fishing: patiently waiting) to what my otherwise sub-conscious mind wanted to bring up [fyi – this is a “meditation” exercise; at this point, I’ve left my “busy” conscious mind behind]❤️😊🕉

So what great insights arose? It strikes me that the Lord’s Prayer is comprised of three parts:

Invoking:

our Father,

Which art in heaven

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy will be done

in earth, as it is in heaven

[“Establishing the day by reaffirming that God is all-powerful, loving and caring.” – my most yogic friend ❤️]

Beseeching:

give us this day

our daily bread

and forgive us our debts

as we forgive our debtors

and lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil

[“Re-establishing our relationship to God and what we can rely on God for.” – my most yogic friend ❤️]

Venerating:

for Thine is the kingdom

and the power

and the glory

forever

[“Knowing this is true, not just for ourselves, but for all who seek to know God.” – my most yogic friend ❤️]

Take prayer to another level. Meditate!

God bless, Skip

August 16, 2018

THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN (a bedtime story)

Once upon a time…..

A Prince was born to the King and Queen of an ancient magical kingdom.

As a child, the Prince wanted for nothing – except love.

It was the one thing the magic kingdom was virtually devoid of.

The adorable, gifted Prince grew up believing he was an ugly duckling that didn’t fit-in. He was sad.

The Prince coped with his emptiness and dis-ease by burying his natural uniqueness (his “Inborn Voice”) in the deepest recesses of his sub-conscious mind where nothing could reach it…not even his own conscious mind!

After burying his natural, clever, artistic, creative, sensitive, giving essence (that of a “poet”), the Prince covered his tracks to keep his oldest sub-conscious secret: he became something he wasn’t naturally meant to be: strong, independent, and confident (a “samurai”!): a sheep in wolf’s clothing!

As a boy, the Prince hid his true nature behind an impenetrable energetic shield: he channeled his considerable talents and energy into being an indestructible champion of underdogs (sub-consciously protecting his Inborn Voice): Superman, the Green Hornet, Batman, Kung Fu (the guy could become invisible and walk thru a pit of snakes – and he had dragon and tiger tattoos!!), and the best guy with a gun, the Rifleman!

In addition to growing up cultivating some serious Green Hornet energy, the Prince was convinced that his first childhood hero, the Queen’s father, was correct: all he had to do was “Be the best at whatever you do, and you won’t go hungry.”

“Won’t go hungry” sub-consciously resonated with the young Prince as an end to his perpetual internal sense of emptiness and longing. He was committed.

How many things did the Prince undertake and become “the best” at? A lot. At what cost? Right: also a lot. Garbage in equals garbage out; the Prince’s motivations were fundamentally flawed: they were selfish.

Nothing provided the Prince with lasting relief until at the age of 58, after thirteen years of obsessing over Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, something occurred to him.

Something “stupid simple” yet so well hidden in plain sight it can’t readily be seen.

The Prince’s life changed in that moment.

But let’s back up a bit…….

From red capes and plastic guns to business suits, a wife and two children, the Prince remained unwavering in his quest for relief.

The beginning of the end of the Prince’s suffering came when he met an enchantress in 2003.

It’s no coincidence she appeared before him as a loving, caring, sensitive, attractive young mother.

She lit a fire in the Prince that fueled his initial enthusiasm for what became his faith: the one thing in which he’d found not just relief but meaningful peace.

The enchantress told the Prince fantastical stories about a great teacher, Patanjali, who’d written the Yoga Sutras, an ancient “magic” 200-line poem which contained the essence of humanity: the good, bad and ugly – and outlined a means to find faith within one’s self and live peacefully.

The Yoga What? Patanjali Who?

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are a precursor to the Ten Commandments and the source of the universal Serenity Prayer. Those two aspects make up most of the “Preparation” section of Patanjali’s poem; the rest of the poem sheds light on the science and discipline of mindfulness, and enumerates superhuman affects experienced by Patanjali’s predecessors.

So what’s the bottom line? How do YOU find mind-blowing, life-altering and lasting peace, and experience the incomprehensible?

Always let go.

Follow the Golden Rule.

Practice “cleanliness is next to godliness” and

“proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance”.

Never surrender.

Meditate. Meditate. Meditate.

NEVER stop being mindful and thankful for the ability to be so [for being alive!!] When that does happen naturally, ALWAYS pick the torch back up and carry on!

Faith fuels strength. Meditate; tap into yours.

And what became of the Prince? He lost his silver spoon but found something priceless: his “Inborn Voice”.