I am a devout Raja Yogi (think, monk or “open-minded spiritualist”).

A dozen years ago I dis-believed virtually everything; it made me a good auditor but won me few friends.

But after 14 years of studying Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, I favor the Hindu concept that God (by whatever name you personally refer to God) is perfectly capable of walking among us in whatever guise God so chooses because – here’s the crazy part – God can simultaneously be everywhere; God isn’t “of this earth”; God isn’t subject to Karma (time & space); because God is of an ENTIRELY different dimension – as is consciousness!!

Here’s the bottom line: realizing that there’s an aspect of you that never changes – that’s not subject to time and space – THAT awareness will drive you to the nearest place of worship asking about the source of THAT part of you!! Hence, people refer to Raja Yoga as a spiritual practice.

Analogy: Bible & Mind

There’s an analogy to be drawn between the evolution of our awareness of consciousness and the Bible. Just as the Bible has two chronological parts, the Old and New Testaments, our non-physical mind also has two chronologically-developed parts, our sub-conscious and conscious mind.

Sub-conscious mind is the oldest in the sense that it’s the more well-established or developed aspect of our mind. This is our “alligator” mind: essentially, anything an alligator’s mind can do, this part of our mind can do.

For purposes of the Bible/Mind analogy, evolution is assumed to be a “Truth”: that time and space – and everything subject to them – evolve (i.e., that dinosaurs existed, rather than the earth as we know it came to exist in just a few days).

To my knowledge, humans have the most highly developed conscious mind on earth: the greatest ability of any known species to cognate uber-sophisticated concepts in our mind (at least we used to, before becoming reliant on machines).

And what, pray tell, does that mean? We alone on earth have the mental capacity to distinguish between consciousness (the eternal awareness OF our conscious thoughts) and our perpetually-changing thoughts themselves: to literally distinguish between who we are and what we are.

Beyond Mind?

Amma (the hugging nun – check her out!!) says that consciousness “infills everything, pervades everywhere, and impels all.” In other words, consciousness underlies life as we understand it.

If that resonates with you it’s not a long jump to believe, given the nature of evolution and consciousness, that through time and the confluence of an infinite events, humans have become the most evolved expression of consciousness on earth – SO FAR.

Between Mind and Consciousness?

I spoke with a Rabbi the other day, and after politely listening to me for an hour, he told me there’s an entire sect of the Jewish faith devoted to understanding and practicing what he referred to as “mysticism”. Who knew?! Raja Yoga was literally intended for all; specifically, to reduce suffering.

Witness the effects of the deepest, still aspect of yourself that Amma says is “essentially divine” through meditation: the original form of prayer.

Class Schedule

I don’t generally teach this because a) obviously, I’m still alive so what do I know about the hereafter, and b) it doesn’t matter. Raja Yoga is about reducing suffering now.

But here’s the theory: we have a super-subtle energetic aspect or dimension between our sub-conscious mind and consciousness which survives death along with consciousness!

Right – that’s why I don’t teach it. However, if you’ve read this far…….

The theory is that:

• Everything is a unique, perpetually-changing manifestation of two polarized energetic molecular states of matter (yin & yang);

• This, our subtlest dimension (other than consciousness) is where the really cool stuff happens: where intuition and insight come from, including for example, the sense that we’re being watched, or that something’s “not right”.

• When our material body stops functioning and returns to dust – and the energy that was sustaining it, and consciousness leave it – something remains: our “energetically imbalanced memories”; specifically, our countless sub-conscious, un-sated emotions which – as of the moment of death – still have the potential to trigger action. That uber-subtle, potential energy is transferred – along with its corresponding emotion-evoking capability or triggers – to another “host”.

• These energized (albeit super-low frequency) “samskara” obviously don’t remain with the material part of us that returns to dust upon death [i.e., just like the energy that sustains our body in the moments before death, these energetic “memories” or triggers somehow dissipate]; however, some fraction of the energy released upon the death of our physical body somehow remains attached to these samskara (i.e., they remain energized and thus survive indefinitely: life after life) because energy can neither be created nor destroyed – until the underlying emotions are sated and their potential energy is released.

• Our samskara’s unique net energetic polarity, strength and nature at the moment of death affects the time, place, and circumstances of our rebirth: literally, the next time – like consciousness – our “memories” are absorbed into another body.

• Like consciousness, our memories or “un-fructified seeds” aren’t subject to time and space – but unlike consciousness, they can be removed, “burnt up”, or drained energetically via meditation.

• Because of the eternal, immutable, serene, knowledgeable, curious and compassionate nature of consciousness, meditating or indirectly exposing our sub-conscious fears and desires to consciousness, quells their action-provoking potential [read: meditation lowers stress!]; especially, when done with love for our self (we are each a miracle – I sincerely hope that’s clear!!) and earnest devotion – and we accept whatever the consequences. NEVER GIVE UP – ALWAYS LET GO.

• The cycle of karma (of birth, death and rebirth) continues until a host [or the universe] intercedes to let us off the merry-go-round – and that only happens when we see ourselves NOT as the reflection in the mirror and the voice in our head – but as the observer of those things: the part of each of us that NEVER changes: our consciousness.

God bless.

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You know that sense you get when something just doesn’t feel right?

That’s evidence of your sub-conscious mind trying to communicate with your conscious mind in the only way it knows how: with images and sensations – not words.

Remember Lennie from Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”? Our sub-conscious mind is a lot like Lenny: big, strong, devoted, hard-working – but not a lot happening upstairs.

George, on the other hand, Lennie’s friend and guardian, was the brains of the outfit.

George and Lennie are a wonderful analogy of our conscious, and sub-conscious mind, respectively.

The trick to peace of mind is finding a practical balance between being George and being Lenny…

…and most importantly, realizing that without energy you wouldn’t be alive, and without awareness – even if you were, you wouldn’t realize it!!

I can help the people you love who seem out of touch, lost or disconnected. It’s amazing what a little help can do!

Thank you, Allan (“Skip”) Dowds

September class schedule

There’s a sign outside a church in Reading MA that says “God is Love.” I’ve always wanted to stop in and point out that means “Love is God”.

My youngest brother – generally, not my go-to source for healthy living tips (sorry Bud; love you!!) – taught me something years ago that I think of virtually every day: love is infinite.

Raja Yoga is a practice in genuinely learning to love our self and to truly and fully appreciate life – and in the process, learning to respect the body and mind which house our “essentially divine” consciousness, evidence of the existence of God within each of us!

We tap into our immutable, eternal essence, our awareness or consciousness thru meditation.

We sit patiently, attentively, holding our conscious mind in observation or mindful mode (without judgment; without analysis; without words) allowing consciousness to witness our sub-conscious thoughts, expressions of the fears and desires that affect our conscious thoughts, words, and thus behavior.

Consciousness reveals itself as curiosity, compassion, awareness, truth, and serenity. You know it intuitively when you’re in the neighborhood!

It’s inside you. Sense it; feel it; distinguish between it and your thoughts – and you WILL begin to see and act differently.

Raja Yoga (Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras) can help people suffering at their own hands: over eating, drinking, smoking, or otherwise overindulging (i.e., caught up in the material plane of our existence, which PALES in comparison to our sub-conscious planes!).

It’s difficult and takes time to develop new habits; hence, Patanjali’s most important rejoinder to “never give up; always let go”. With constant practice over time we see our self differently: we begin to realize that our body and mind are a vehicle through which we experience life rather than who we are.

THAT paradigm shift changes us forever. God bless our planet!!

Hugs, Allan