OPEN LETTER TO DAN HARRIS

Dear Dan,

Thank you. We need more well-informed, respected public figures advocating and promoting meditation. God bless you.

Please forgive my complete lack of humility, but if you’ll indulge me:

Only 10%? Keep practicing!!😊

The science of mind control or meditation is prehistoric.

Long before the advent of written language and modern religion, the original discipline was memorialized in an epic 200-line poem: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Patanjalian or Raja Yoga was developed in India at a time in human history when it was becoming apparent that sacrificing THINGS (God forbid live ones) only worked about 50% of the time.

Patanjali and his predecessors turned the practice of trying to influence that which can’t be influenced into a practice of trying to better understand and serve it. These ancient sages effectively reverse-engineered the human experience from our outer gross physical body to the essence of our being: consciousness…

…for the purpose of reducing human suffering FOR ALL MANKIND FOREVER.

 

Over the millennia, the practice of meditation (trying to tap into our divine essence) morphed into the modern practice of prayer.

That said, you are absolutely correct that meditation can be practiced in a entirely “secular” fashion….

…(i.e., without a sense of sacrifice and devotion to the Source) but that’s like walking along a beach on a beautiful day with a paper bag over your head!! Sorry – but how did none of those experts make this point?!

Here’s the “non-secular” science in a nutshell:

It’s based on Sankhya, the realization that consciousness (the awareness OF our thoughts) is not a mental function; rather, it’s as distinct from our mind and thoughts as our thoughts are from our bodies!

Consciousness alone in the entire universe is not subject to the vagaries of time and space (i.e., it’s the ONLY thing not subject to karma).

AND IT’S IN EACH OF US! Oooops, you can see how the “non-secular” aspect of the practice creeps in: life changes when we realize our own essentially divine nature.

Back to the “secular” science…

Humans exist in at least three distinguishable spatial dimensions: physical, mental and consciousness – the latter being the awareness OF the former.

Here’s the thing about consciousness that makes it unique in the universe: IT NEVER CHANGES – NEVER.

How do we know that something that’s literally intangible and never changes even exists?! And why should we care?!

Without consciousness we wouldn’t know we’re alive – let alone reading this!!

Try to imagine the nature of something that’s aware yet NEVER changes.

This aspect of OURSELVES – our intangible, essential awareness – has been described by people a lot smarter than me as eternally and infinitely compassionate and curious.

When we meditate we eventually settle through four energetically distinct states of mind before encountering our essence. The good news is there’s no wrong way to do it and the benefits are almost immediate and cumulative.

However if we practice with the original intent – as scripted by Patanjali to deepen our connection with the Source – THAT Sir, is an entirely different, much deeper, fulfilling, life-affirming and holistically healing experience.

Physiologically

Over time as we lovingly expose otherwise sub-conscious fears and desires to the light of our own self-compassion – those very tangible fears and desires dissipate, providing a physiological sense of lightness, relief and restoration lasting long after our time on the mat!

But to turbo-charge those physical and mental benefits – to experience something that will literally blow your tangible mind away – meditate with love, devotion and heartfelt gratitude as you ponder the nature of the Source of our very essence.

Thank you again for spreading the word – and your indulgence!

Blessings, Allan

 

Patanjali❤️😊🕉

https://www.rajamarblehead.com/2017/05/21/patanjalis-yoga-sutras-chapter-1-loosely-translated/

https://www.rajamarblehead.com/2017/05/21/patanjalis-yoga-sutras-chapter-2-loosely-translated/

Me

https://www.rajamarblehead.com/2018/01/06/battling-addiction-insights-60-year-old-addict/

ISHVARA PRANIDHANA

According to SIVA REA:

“Many of us have only experienced surrendering to a higher source [Ishvara Pranidhana] as a last resort, when we’ve confronted seemingly insurmountable problems or in some other way hit the edge of our individual will and abilities.

But in the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali transforms “surrender” from this sort of last-resort, emergency response into an essential ongoing practice.

 

Patanjali repeatedly highlights Ishvara pranidhana as one of the five niyamas, or inner practices, of the ashta-anga (eight-limbed) path and, along with discipline (tapas) and self-study (svadhyaya), as part of kriya yoga, the threefold yoga of action.”

Source: yogajournal.com/yoga-101/the-practice-of-surrender

Patanjali: 

  • divine awareness eliminates desire;
  • self-control eliminates fear; 
  • self-awareness eliminates sorrow.

Sound familiar?

GOD GRANT ME THE:

  • SERENITY to accept the things I can not change;
  • COURAGE to change the things I can; and
  • WISDOM to know the difference.

😊❤️🕉

Tap into the power within. Meditate.

$15 – scheduled group “meditation prep” classes

Current class schedule

  • Skype lessons
  • seminars
  • lectures
  • private lessons

Proud sponsor of Yoga Instructors Association (MA)

#BringBackPatanjali

WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

Learn the oldest form of Yoga for the oldest reason:

to REDUCE SUFFERING

find FAITH, SERENITY, COURAGE & WISDOM within yourself!

 _________

 HOW?

Consciousness 😊❤️🕉

WHY?

 Allan’s Why

WHAT?

 Patanjali’s Poem

 

Raja Yoga is the ancient science of mind control (aka meditation) a discipline that fosters faith in self, life and God.

The prehistoric practice was memorialized by Patanjali in a 200-line poem, the Yoga Sutras, a treasure map to nothing less than eternal bliss!

The allure and promise of Raja Yoga is that with constant practice you WILL smile (contentedly!) more often than you frown.

Meditation will take you to a place that transcends earthly experience – and THAT will change your life!!

 _________

Raja yogi’s tip o’ the day (says the Irishman in me): faith comes before enlightenment. I only say that because it took me 13 years to find faith that God exists – but I haven’t figured out to levitate yet!!

I can help you get there in less time; however,…

… YOU have to put in the time and effort. For better or worse, I can only guide you!

God bless, Allan

$15 – scheduled group “meditation prep” classes

Current class schedule

  • Skype lessons
  • seminars
  • lectures
  • private lessons

Proud sponsor of Yoga Instructors Association (MA)

DO YOU HAVE A PATRON SAINT?

Joan of Arc was raised on a farm.

At the age of 18 she became divinely-inspired to persist and ultimately succeed in leading the French to victory IN BATTLE against the English [think about THAT the next time you’re at the gym]!

A year later, again IN BATTLE while serving the same king whom she’d help liberate France, she was captured by the English.

The French king turned his back on her, making no effort to rescue the young French heroine.

After publicly besting and embarrassing her captors, at the age of 19 Joan was burned at the stake…

…FOR DRESSING LIKE A MAN!!

 

That was the only public charge made against her.

Faith engenders a sense of purpose and “CAN’T TOUCH THIS!” attitude that Joan of Arc embodied – that and a lot of love and a bit of craziness!

Joan of Arc is my patron saint. Who’s your’s?

January meditation class schedule

Inquire about Skype lessons:

Joan of Arc post source

FIND THE REAL YOU. MEDITATE.

Here’s Patanjali’s message in a nutshell:

We are OF God.

 

Without consciousness we wouldn’t realize we’re alive!

Yes. Consciousness is a HUGE deal. It’s essentially divine – and we ALL have it!!

Consciousness is awareness OF thought. If you’re aware of your thoughts You aren’t those thoughts, nor your body. You are the awareness OF those things.

What does that make You?

 

Things like immortal, eternal, immutable. Let’s just say the common cold, flat tires and spoiled milk…

 

…CAN’T TOUCH THIS!

 

The prehistoric yoga texts say no amount of water or fire (covering the entire spectrum between them) can touch this part of us; today the ancients would say this part of each of us is bulletproof!

AND YOU KNOW IT’S REAL BECAUSE YOU’RE AWARE YOU’RE READING THIS!!

Find the real You. Meditate.❤️🕉

January meditation class schedule

Inquire about Skype lessons:

 

SPIRITUAL GUIDE FOR HIRE

I highly suspect my daughter, who has an advanced degree in marketing, was being facetious, but it’s the truth of what I do:

I’m a spiritual guide.

 

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras illuminate the path to nothing less than immortality – not of your body/mind obviously – but of YOU!

From an earlier FB post today:

If you’re aware of your body, you’re not your body.

If you’re aware of your thoughts, you’re not your thoughts.

What’s left?

The truly intangible, eternal and immutable consciousness without which your body/mind wouldn’t realize it was alive!!

Yes, Patanjali’s prehistoric 200-line masterpiece outlines a path to eternal bliss, explaining how to witness your own divine essence: consciousness.

I can help you better understand Patanjali’s  poem – hopefully enabling you to surpass me in my own spiritual quest!

God bless❤️🕉

$60 an hour for private tours; $15 for regularly scheduled trips

January meditation schedule

WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE?

BKS Iyengar (my teacher’s teacher’s teacher) said yoga isn’t a religion; it’s the study of religion.

Once you realize that your consciousness literally isn’t “of this earth” – after freaking out – you naturally want to understand the source of THAT part of you which Western science accepts but can’t explain!

I attended a Buddhist “Sangha” last night (a gathering of devotees to collectively meditate). I met some of the truly kindest people I’ve bumped into in awhile. It was a wonderfully inclusive, loving celebration of life. Thank you to the host and hostess if you’re reading this.

I’ve posted about similar experiences with my Pentecostal and Bhakti Yoga friends: participating in group practices that evoke a collective state of semi-conscious mind, harmoniously tuned with loving and common intent to “dance with God” in some fashion. More powerful than sex, drugs and alcohol says this 60 year old addict. 🙏

A quick Googlenet search for similar devotional group practices turned up these two links. The articles are rather long but tremendously insightful, providing glimpses into the Hindu practice of “Puja”, and the Buddhist practice of Sangha; the latter is authored by Thich Nhat Hanh. ❤️

Hindu Puja
Buddhist Sangha

I shudder to wonder what our lives might be like without the insights and life-long devotion of LIVING saints like Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, and Amma. Who am I missing?

Who are the other great living spiritual leaders who promote UNIVERSAL love: blind to race, status, sexuality and religion? 

Hoping the universal pendulum of Yin/Yang swings back towards the Light Side of the Force SOON!!

#BringBackPatanjali ❤️🕉
January meditation class schedule

Mind Control – Step #1

In order to control your mind, you have to understand experientially how it functions!

Begin by verifying for yourself, that you can categorize each of your thoughts into one of five types:

1. Correct – these are verifiable by observation, inference or authentication

2. Incorrect – these are caused by misperception

3. Imagined – these have no basis in reality

4. Neutral – these are simply observations, or perceptions without judgment [your conscious mind is always on, but when its not interpreting, imagining or remembering, it idles like an engine in neutral: the state of mindfulness and meditation]

5. Remembered – these are impressions that remain of the other four.

August ’17 class schedule

Parkinson’s – WTF?!

meditation parkinsons

I had lunch with a dear friend whom I haven’t seen in eight years. He’s developed Parkinson’s – I suspect as a consequence of a severe concussion he got when he slipped and fell in his driveway.

When I last saw him, he was wearing an odd-looking pair of glasses to correct his double vision, and he had a mild tremor. I’m sure everyone thought at that point that he was on the mend and the worst of the accident was behind him.

An accident caused, as my personal-injury lawyer friend would say, “without contributory negligence!” – to frankly, one of the smartest, kindest people outside my immediate family that I’ve ever met.

We had lunch weekly for almost ten years. We didn’t agree much in those early years about politics. In my mind, he’s always been a staunch liberal – but not for his own sake! His interest has always been in leveling the playing field for people not able (for whatever reason!) to provide for and protect themselves.

Some would say that my friend is an earthy-crunchy kinda guy. THIS is the guy whom Mother Nature, Karma, or Whatever-you-call-it decides to saddle with Parkinson’s?! Yeah – there really seems to be no justice.

Buddy, you probably won’t, but I encourage you to tag yourself somehow herein so that anyone reading this can follow you online. I’m honored to call you a dear friend – and equally saddened for you Pal. May Whatever-YOU-call-it level your playing field before you pass-on from this realm.

Remember the Samurai who lived a lifetime in the last few minutes of his life – literally, as was he was walking through a garden on his way to the spot where he was about to formally commit Hari-kari. His senses came alive: he smelled the dampness in the air; everything appeared brighter, crisper; he heard his own soft footfalls; and felt the gentle wind against his skin.

Buddy – be the Samurai. I love you.

Here’s a link to a Parkinson’s blog about the benefits of meditating. May you know your own source of solace and comfort always.

Meditation, Yoga, and Exercise in Parkinson’s