Hi Kaya,
This is for your student who asked about fostering Faith.
According to Chinese self-mastery disciplines like Tai Chi and Qi Gong, winter is the best time of year to foster Faith [not coincidently, the time of year we tend to “go inside”].
I found Faith by practicing Patanjali’s Raja Yoga, the science of mind control or meditation.
Raja Yoga is experiential. When we put it to use in our life, we’re practicing. Until then it’s just information.
According to Patanjali, success (realizing the secret to life, or finding Faith and purpose) requires two things: consistency (i.e., never giving up) and non-attachment (i.e., always letting go).
HERE’S THE SHORT VERSION
Humans are multi-dimensional beings. Not sure? Do you think? Can you see your thoughts? Would your thoughts exist without you? Right. Our invisible thoughts are an integral part of who we are.
We have at least three invisible dimensions:
Our Conscious Mind functions; it’s always on; the conscious or “thinking” aspect of our mind functions like our heart and lungs: singly and sequentially – until our body no longer holds an electrical charge. 💔 Like our lungs, our Conscious Mind naturally functions involuntarily, but we can override those systems and breathe and think voluntarily!! This aspect of our invisible Mind is evidenced by words in our head.
Our Sub-Conscious Mind also functions perpetually but at a lower energetic frequency; we just don’t hear it! The multi-tasking, “doing” aspect of our mind runs the ship silently and seemingly on autopilot. It’s also where our memories are stored [not unlike the furnace and storage areas in our home: they’re generally “downstairs”]. Our Sub-Conscious Mind is evidenced by sensations, insights and intuition.
All you need to know about our Sub-Conscious Mind [aka our “reptilian brain”] is that anything an alligator can do, this Sub-Conscious aspect of our Mind is capable of: walking, chewing, stalking prey, mating; further, this aspect of our mind works flawlessly (at Olympian athletic levels!) as long as our Conscious Mind is thinking clearly and correctly!
Our Consciousness doesn’t function. It just “is”. Our Consciousness CAN NOT BE AFFECTED BY ANYTHING. Raja Yoga is a personal discipline that inevitably makes that Self-evident. 😉
Consciousness is evidenced by the awareness OF whichever of the two aspects of our Mind is most energized.
You can imagine the practical benefits of never having to listen to the nagging voice in your head again – but here’s the catch:
this Truth must be experienced between our own two ears to be of any use!
HERE’S HOW
The first step in learning mind-control is discerning between when and which aspect of your Mind is engaged.
- Do you hear words? You’re in your conscious “thinking” mind.
- If instead, you’re only aware of sensations, images, memories, insights and intuition – you’re in your generally Sub-Conscious Mind: your operating system and storage area.
The second step is to figure out how to “drive” your Conscious Mind. It’s simple, it just requires constant practice. The critical thing to realize is that while we CAN simultaneously multi-task, we CAN NOT simultaneously multi-think [try simultaneously counting and reciting the alphabet].
After that, it’s like driving a sports car with three forward gears, reverse and neutral, that runs on five types of fuel, has a steering mechanism, and volume and speed controls. Search my blog posts for “driving your mind”.
The third step is to figure out where your Conscious Mind’s “neutral” is – so you can comfortably let your Mind idle. You can’t turn it off but you CAN allow it to slow down!
BUT WHEN DOES FAITH BLOOM??
It’s the “what happens next” part that’s harder to describe – but there are both short and long term physical, mental and emotional benefits: initially, mind control or meditation is stress relieving (imagine being able to control the voice in your head). Longer term, it deepens our intuition.
When does faith emerge? It depends on you and your teacher. My teachers say our purpose is to grow up – not just old, and the sooner we begin the sooner we’ll bloom into our inborn potential. 😉
It took me 13 years, but if you start with a map and an experienced guide it’ll make your journey infinitely easier!!! [btw – if you know me, you KNOW I’m NOT fully Self Realized – YET!!!]
The awareness OF thought (Consciousness) is eternal, immutable, and more subtle than the very fabric of the known universe – completely unaffected by the vagaries of time & space – yet a CRITICAL aspect of our life experience – because without awareness we wouldn’t taste, smell, hear, see, or feel!!!!!
It will freak you out when you realize a) the distinction between thought and the awareness OF thought, b) the eternal nature of Consciousness, and c) that IT’S INSIDE YOU!!!
You DO have a ‘spirit’ or ‘soul’!! Those are modern religious synonyms for Consciousness!!!!!!!
That realization gives a whole new meaning to Faith.
Unfortunately, while the knowledge can be freely given (I’M TRYING!!) it must be personally experienced to be helpful to anyone. We each have to do the work. Until you use it, this is just information – like a treasure map – by itself, relatively valueless!!!
Self-discovery is like acquiring a shield in one of those electronic war games our son plays, though very real – just difficult to describe. It prompted someone to memorably declare “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me…!!”
Raja Yoga is simple but not easy. It takes discipline, tenacity and dedication (pigheadedness and being Irish help)!
As Patanjali said, when it “clicks” you know it. It’s indescribably liberating.
Love, Skip
#BringBackPatanjali!!!!!
For what seemed like 10-15 seconds she embraced me, leaning into me, repeatedly whispering the same thing. It sounded like “Medulla” (“inner”) or “Madura” (“mature”)? Whatever the message, she chose it for me.
