Patanjalis Yoga and Modern Science Towar

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S.R. Joye Patajali's Yoga and Modern Science

Patajali'sYoga and Modern Science:Towards An

Integral Modelof Consciousness

"Science is the Yoga of the West."

Thomas Berry

December 2!!

By Shelli Renee Joye" B.S.#.#." M.$.

P$R$ %2&& ! Yoga S(tras o) Patajali

Pro)essor Jim Ryan

December 2!!

2011 by S.R. Joye/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_/!210!2#.$oc%

!


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Abstract

*hile re)lecting on ho+ ,ery m(ch +e as a s-ecies are seeing an (nderstanding o)

conscio(sness" +e yet )ind minimal interest among the comm(nities o) 2!st cent(ry scientists to

e/-lore areas o) congr(ence bet+een their ma-s o) -hysical science and the ma-s o)

conscio(sness laid do+n by contem-lati,e saints and mystics o,er many cent(ries.

$lmost t+o tho(sand years ago" the 0ndian sage Patajali" an inheritor o) se,eral o) these

ma-s" and a noted master na,igator o) conscio(sness" com-osed an integrated set o) a-horisms

that describe in great detail the str(ct(re and dynamics o) conscio(sness +ithin the h(man being.

More than sim-ly a descri-tion" ho+e,er" Patajali's Yoga S&tra-ro,ides a theory1-ractice

contin((m +hich incl(des ... e))ecti,e de)initions" e/-lanations and descri-tions o) ey

conce-ts and terms relating to theoriaandpra%isin Yoga.!

$mong +orld c(lt(res" Patajali's collected obser,ations o) e/-erience creates a set o)

charts )or na,igation +ithin the ocean o) conscio(sness" m(ch in the same +ay as the r(tters"

+ritten com-ilations o) collected sailing e/-eriences shared among Port(g(ese mariners" +ere

(sed to cross oceans to ne+ +orlds -rior to the de,elo-ment o) scienti)ically calibrated na(tical

charts in the !3th and !&th cent(ries. The r(tters contained not only setches" charts" and ma-s

)rom )irst hand acco(nts and direct obser,ation" and b(t also a +ealth o) sailing ti-s" s(ch as

dangers to a,oid" steering directions" and other -ractical instr(ction.

$s 4. 5e(rstein says" ... these models +ere originally and -rimarily ma-s )or meditati,e

intros-ection intended to g(ide theyoginin his e/-loration o) the terra incognita o) the mind. ...

! 0an *hicher" 'he (ntegrity of the Yoga )arsana* + Reconsi$eration of ,-assica- Yoga" 67e+Yor8 State 9ni,ersity o) 7e+ Yor Press" !::;


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These 'ma-s' are records o) internal e/-eriences rather than -(rely theoretical constr(ctions.

They are descri-ti,e rather than e/-lanatory.2

9n)ort(nately" contem-lati,es thro(gho(t the ages ha,e seldom had s())icient no+ledge

nor interest in science +ith +hich to model their e/-eriential disco,eries in the lang(ages o)

modern science" +hile rarely ha,e scientists )o(nd time" interest or the moti,ation 6(nder tacit

threat o) ridic(le or cens(re< to attem-t to lay o(t any model o) conscio(sness (sing scienti)ic

conce-ts and mathematical tools.

This -a-er is an attem-t to setch a -ragmatic ma- o) conscio(sness )or a modern techno1

digital c(lt(re by describing Patajali'smodel o) the str(ct(re and dynamics o) conscio(sness in

the lang(ages o) science. The model +ill be sho+n to be s(--orted by recently hy-othesi=ed

theories o) conscio(sness -(t )or+ard by the >ambridge molec(lar biologist Johnjoe Mc5adden ?"

the 7e+ @ealand ne(robiologist S(san Pocett"3and the Stan)ord -hysicist 5ran Aeile.&

The model -resents h(man conscio(sness as o-erating in t+o distinct modes8 !.< as a

)l(ct(ating -rocess o) time1based organic memory and symbolic reasoning +ithin the constraints o)

the -hysical ne(ronal systems" and 2.< as a ne/(s o) electromagnetic energy )l(/ aligned a/ially

2 4eorg 5e(rstein" 'he hi-osophy of ,-assica- Yoga" 6Manchester8 Manchester 9ni,ersityPress" !:;$" Ectober 2!" 2!!


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+ithin and radiating o(t+ard )rom resonant ca,ities +ithin the h(man body. 0 +ill describe ho+

this model -arallels and is s(--orted by Patajali's descri-tion o) !.< the h(man mindst()) 6cittaha(dh(ri s-oe o) the need )or a less academic" more integral a--roach to any

-artic(lar area o) no+ledge. Ae (rged a m(lti1disci-linary a--roach to any object o) st(dy"

beginning )rom se,eral starting -oints and a--roaching the heart o) the matter )rom di))erent

-ers-ecti,es" o)ten )rom seemingly (nconnected" dis-arate s-ecialties.

% Sal,atore @ambito" 'he 5na$orne$ 'hrea$ of Yoga* 'he Yoga3Stra of atan6a-i in 7ng-ish 3+ compi-ation of 7ng-ish 'rans-ations" 6*ashington8 The Yoga1S(tras 0nstit(te Press" !::2


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>ha(dh(ri's integral a--roach )oreshado+s the contem-orary em-hasis in data1mining" a

+ide1ranging search )or corres-ondences" correlations" and coincidences among +idely di,erse

data sets or areas o) no+ledge in an e))ort to connect the dots bet+een elements o) no+ledge

that ha,e been hereto)ore disconnected and o)ten ass(med to be m(t(ally e/cl(si,e. B(t the most

im-ortant element" he insisted" sho(ld be an element o) intros-ection" an e/-eriential dimension

o) in(iry incl(si,e o) the obser,er +ithin the obser,ation" )irst1hand intros-ection as cham-ioned

by *illiam James o,er a cent(ry ago.

This -a-er (ses >ha(dh(ri's integral a--roach in an attem-t to disco,er connections

bet+een ma-s o) science and the ama=ing ma-s o) conscio(sness handed do+n )rom -ast

generations o) contem-lati,e e/-lorers and com-iled by the 2nd cent(ry sage Patajali into the

Yoga S&tra. 0t incl(des rele,ant )irst1-erson e/-eriential sections as +ell as material )rom di,erse

scienti)ic disci-lines incl(ding -hysics" radio comm(nication theory" mathematics" and -hysiology.

otes8 Thro(gho(t this -a-er ita-ici8e$+ords +ill indicate transliteration o) the SansritKthe letters em) +ill be (sed as abbre,iations )or the #lectromagnetic 5ieldKtranslations o)s&trasin this -a-er are my o+n e/ce-t +here (oted and cited.


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Table of Contents

Abstract.......................................................................................2

Charts, Tables, and igures.....................................................................8

Experiential Precursors.................................................................9

Early Experience Leading to the Beach at Little Sur Creek..................................9Midnight Experience at Hamilton's Pool !ustin "exas......................................##Midnight Experience in the Lo$er East Side %e$ &ork City..............................#Conse(uences o) "hree Experiences................................................................#9

Patajali's Yoga Stra! A "ap of #u$an Consciousness.................2%

*. Sam9$hi39$a+"uning the Mind and Le,els o) Consciousness...............................--/0ecti,e o) &oga Practice+ 1uieting the Mind "o Bring !/out Samdhi.............--Nirodhah+ Ho$ to 1uiet the Mind.......................................................................-9Samprajata Samdhi+ Ecstasy or Consciousness 2ith Seed /0ect.................34

Asamprajata Samdhi+ Enstasis or Consciousness 2ithout !n /0ect.............34**. S9$hana39$a:"he Eight)old Path o) "uning Consciousness to !ttain Samdhi....3-***. Vibhti-Pda+ Dhran, Dhyna,andthe SiddhiPo$ers o) Consciousness......33*5.4aiva-ya39$a: Multimind Li/eration and !loneness 6neness7........................38

Patajali's Yoga an& "o&ern Science............................................(

Sym/olic ,ersus Primary Consciousness+ "$o Conscious Beings in "he Brain..... .3"he Electromagnetic ield "heory o) Consciousness.............................................8"he Science o) &oga+ "he Consciousness o) Energy ields....................................:Purua !nd Prakti+ "he "$o ;omains o) Pure Energy..........................................atholic )amily" 0 )irst attended a con,ent school in ondon"

de,elo-ing" early in my li)e" a )irm con,iction o) the -resence o) 4od in a ,astly mysterio(s (ni,erse.

*aling to school one s(nny morning at the age o) se,en" as 0 +as crossing a +ooden

bridge o,er a small co(ntry cree" 0 had my )irst intensely1remembered n(mino(s e/-erience.

The s(nlight re)lecting o)) o) the ri--ling +aters" the so(nd o) the bree=e among the lea,es o) the

oas" and the dee- bl(e sy abo,e" all seemed to )oc(s thro(gh my senses into my heart" igniting

a bla=e o) intensity accom-anied by a sense o) +onder" a+e" and an immensity o) lo,e so all

cons(ming that 0 had to sto- +aling in my astonishment" only too soon -(lled bac into the

+orld o) my schoolmates as +e contin(ed on o(r +ay.


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$t the age o) t+el,e" 0 obtained a -am-hlet +ith the title Ao+ to Ay-noti=e Yo(r

5riends. Ene cha-ter ad,ised the hy-notist1in1training to sit in a darened room at night +hile

ga=ing steadily at a single candle )lame in order to de,elo- an em-ty mind" an im-ortant -o+er

o) the -syche re(ired 6or so said the boo< on the +ay to becoming a com-etent hy-notist. 5or

many months 0 -(rs(ed this e/erciseK in retros-ect" it +as the beginning o) a li)etime o)

contem-lati,e -ractice and e/-loration o) conscio(sness.

Se,eral years later" 0 entered college on a -hysics scholarshi-" s+itched to a mathematics

-rogram d(ring the second year" and in !:F: earned a Bachelor o) Science in electrical

engineering" s-eciali=ing in comm(nication technology and signal synthesis and detection.

T+o years earlier" ho+e,er" 0 )o(nd mysel) on a >ali)ornia beach so(th o) Big S(r" +here

ittle S(r >ree meets the Paci)ic Ecean" (nder a clear" starry" moonless sy" ha,ing taen )or

the )irst time a strong dose o) SD. That night o) ocean" star" and energy e/-eriences o-ened my

eyes to the ,astness o) regions )ar beyond my recently )orged scienti)ic -ers-ecti,es. This led

directly to a li)elong yearning to re1enter those +orlds and to e/-lore those ranges o)

conscio(sness and high -eas o) sheer e/-erience into +hich 0 had been brie)ly thr(st by

-sychedelics.

$lmost all that 0 co(ld remember a)ter+ards o) this intense e-isode +ere the -hysical

e))ects that had occ(rred at onset o) r(-t(re o) -lane" a )eeling o) electrical c(rrents )lo+ing in

the area o) my teeth and electrical sna--ing some+here on a hori=ontal -lane inside my head and

thro(gh the bac o) my nec. Trying to remember the ens(ing e/-eriences +as as im-ossible as

recalling a ,astly com-le/ dream se(ence" b(t 0 too a+ay a dee- con,iction that there"

+here,er 0 had been" and ho+e,er 0 had arri,ed there" be it some+here or -erha-s some+hen"


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+as an ocean o) e/-erience that co(ld be t(ned into" b(t that normally +as so )iltered o(t )rom

a+areness as to be com-letely concealed )rom e,eryday +aing conscio(sness.

"i&nig)t Experience at #a$ilton's Pool+ Austin+ Texas

The ne/t s(mmer" my +orld,ie+ again e/-erienced a major -aradigm shi)t. 0t came +ith

the a--earance o) a strange light that 0 sa+ in the Te/as hill co(ntry near $(stin. This occ(rred

near Aamilton's Pool" a small grotto )ed by a cree along an ancient crac in the earth called the

Balcones 5a(lt. 5ed by a small +ater)all" and abo(t ? yards across" the -ool +as dee- and

dar" almost a -er)ect circle. 0t +as aro(nd midnight" and +e had come to rest and s+im a)ter a

+ee o) )inal e/ams. The night +as (iet e/ce-t )or the chir-ing o) insects and b(ll)rogs. $ thic

-ale co,ering o) moon1baclit clo(ds concealed the stars. *e arri,ed aro(nd !!8 -m )rom

$(stin" ha,ing s(cc(mbed to a late e,ening (rge to go s+imming in the co(ntryside to celebrate

the end o) the semester. 5or more than an ho(r +e sat at the edge o) the -ool" leaning against a

large s(n1+armed bo(lder" taling (ietly" o)ten la-sing into silence.

The )irst sign o) something o(t o) the ordinary came +ith an abr(-t cessation o) the

cricets' chir-ing" re-laced by the (ieter so(nd o) a small +ater)all" s-lashing into the -ool )rom

an o,erhanging rim directly across )rom +here +e sat. Soon e,en the intermittent b(ll)rog

croaing sto--ed" am-li)ying the night silence broen only by the reg(lar so(nd o) the +ater)all.

$)ter an interminable time e,en o(r tho(ghts )aded a+ay. $ barely -erce-tible glo+

seemed to )licer )ar do+n the cree +hich drained Aamilton's Pool into the Pedernales Ri,er.

The light seemed to be gro+ing and )ading in a slo+ -(lsating rhythm. The glo+ing mo,ed

closer" sometimes )ading" b(t then gro+ing brighter in a slo+ -(lsating rhythm" contin(ally

mo,ing to+ard (s" into o(r ,ie+" yet obsc(red in the distance by the inter,ening trees o) the

)orest. The glo+ing light at last mo,ed o(t )rom the greater darness o) the night )oliage"


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)ollo+ing the bed o) the stream )rom the -ool. Slo+ly" almost majestically" the )licering s-here

circled the rim o) the o,erhanging cli)) +hich s(rro(nded t+o1thirds o) the grotto. *hen the

glo+ing s-here reached the )alls" it slo+ly di--ed to+ard the )alls" bobbing and +ea,ing in a

strange" almost rhythmical -attern near the )alling +ater" as i) it +ere some gigantic moth in the

night. #,ent(ally it res(med its circ(ito(s -ath along the sheltering rim" mo,ing along the shore

to+ard o(r side o) the -ool.

$t last it came to the roc by the shore" against +hich +e rested in s(s-ended j(dgment.

0t -a(sed in it's mo,ement" and" ho,ering t+enty to thirty )eet o,er the roc" abo,e o(r heads" it

a--eared as i) a gala/y o) stars had coalesced +ithin a s-herical s-ace the si=e o) a beach ball"

+ith tho(sands o) -oints o) light tracing straight1line -aths in seemingly random -atterns"

circ(mscribed +ithin a s-herical bo(ndary abo(t a meter in diameter.

5or +hat seemed an eternity it remained abo,e (s" (ntil at last it res(med its

circ(mna,igation o) the grotto" mo,ing once again to+ard the cree draining the -ool" then

)ollo+ing the cree" bobbing and +ea,ing on its +ay bac into the )orest and the s+am-s )rom

+hich it had a--arently come.

*hat 0 )elt and -ercei,ed d(ring that time in the -resence o)" and then beneath" this

a--arition 0 can only attrib(te as being angelic" 0 can scarcely remember" let alone begin to

describe. 0 heard -ec(liar so(nds" and )eelings arose that 0 had ne,er be)ore imagined" all

o,ershado+ed +ith astonishment" a+e" ama=ement" and )ear. 0 ne+ it had radically changed my

,ie+ o) o(r -lanet and my li)e. Aere" thirty miles or more )rom the nearest ci,ili=ation" in the

silence o) a sim-le Te/as co(ntryside" the (nno+n had re,ealed itsel) in all innocence. That this

a--arition" this light being" +as a+are" that it sa+ (s and -a(sed a+hile abo,e (s" there +as no

do(bt.


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5or days +e disc(ssed the a--arition at length. *e +ondered i) it sho(ld be re-orted" and

i) so" to +hom. 0 reali=ed" in the light o) this e/-erience" my entire ,ie+ o) the +orld had gone

thro(gh an (-hea,al. Aa,ing been )reshly trained as a scientist and engineer" an em-irical

materialist o) the age o) -hysics and machine theories" my -aradigms o) the +orld +ere too

ne+ly molded to ha,e settled into in)le/ibility. 0 remember my most ,i,id im-ressions o) -hysics

centered aro(nd a boo by 5eynman:" in +hich he challenged his st(dents to ,is(ali=e the

electromagnetic energies -assing thro(gh the ,ery lect(re hall" the colors and )orms s+irling"

merging and -atterning one another as the -assed thro(gh o(r bodies and minds" lining (s to

other gala/ies and to each other. $s remarable as this boo +as" it still maintained the sterile

,ision o) a dead (ni,erse" a matri/ o) bea(ti)(l yet non1li,ing energies. The light in the )orest had

indled my a+areness o) these energies as li,ing" a+are" conscio(s in +ays my -re,io(sly

limited" )iltered a+areness did not allo+.

0 ret(rned to my st(dies o) electricity" electronics and -hysics +ith a ne+ -ers-ecti,e and

)o(nd that 0 +as seeing things in +ays that 0 co(ld not easily share +ith my classmates +ho all

seemed to be mindlessly ado-ting the 9ni,erse is 6mostly< dead matter and random motion

-aradigm. 0 began to e/-erience a gro+ing a+areness that the ,ery electricity )lo+ing +ithin the

b(ilding +alls m(st be ali,e in some real +ay" that the light energy )lo+ing )rom light b(lbs" the

)re(encies carrying radio and tele,ision signals" the entire electromagnetic s-ectr(m

s(rro(nding all o) (s m(st consist o) li,ing )ields" in some dimension o) conscio(sness" and that

electro-hysics itsel) co(ld" and -erha-s sho(ld" be a s(b)ield o) biology. Most signi)icant o) all

+as the gro+ing a+areness o) the com-le/ centrated )lo+s o) radiant energy emanating )rom and

co(rsing thro(gho(t my -hysical body.

: Richard 5eynman" Robert eighton" and Matthe+ Sands" 'he ;eynman


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$s a res(lt o) my e/-eriences at ittle S(r >ree" 0 began -racticing silent meditation

+ith rene+ed )oc(s. ater that s(mmer 0 ac(ired a boo on contem-lation" 'he syche$e-ic

7%perience* + >ana- ?ase$ on the 'ibetan ?oo@ of the )ea$10com-iled by eary" Met=ner"

and $l-ert. 0 +as intrig(ed to learn o) the ,ario(s states o) e/-eriential states that co(ld be

reached d(ring death transition" or thro(gh taing -sychedelic dr(gs" or thro(gh ,ario(s )orms o)

contem-lati,e -ractices. 0t +as the idea o) contem-lati,e -ractice leading to altered states that

most intrig(ed me. 0 soon disco,ered a +ealth o) rele,ant no+ledge and instr(ction in the

+ritings o) S+ami Gi,eananda and Sri $(robindo" )(rther cataly=ed by -racticing hathayoga

and st(dying +ith S+ami Satchidananda" +ho had recently arri,ed )rom 0ndia.

"i&nig)t Experience in t)e o4er East Si&e+ 5e4 Yor3 Cit,

The e/-eriences o) ittle S(r >ree in !:F% and the enco(nter at Aamilton's Pool in !:F;

greatly s-(rred on my reg(lar -ractice o) meditation" hathayoga" and )asting e/ercises. 0 sto--ed

eating meat entirely" and +ent on )re(ent +ater )asts" losing ? -o(nds d(ring the s-ring o)

!:F:. 0nitially" 0 +o(ld )irst do -hysical e/ercises and hatha yoga" )ollo+ed by +hat seemed to

be a long ! min(tes trying to meditate" +atching my breathing and trying to (iet my mind" to

)ree it )rom memory im-(lses" interior ,erbali=ation" and other im-(lsi,e mental distractions.

*hile at the beginning the ! min(tes +as an ard(o(s e/ercise" o,er the ne/t )e+ months +as 0

able to increase the time +ell beyond this.

0n !:%! 0 +as li,ing in a t+o room )lat on the )i)th )loor o) a )i,e story +al1(- in the

o+er #ast Side in 7e+ Yor 6$,en(e '$' and #. Fth Street


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city e-t my en,ironment (iet at night. Ene late e,ening in my )lat" d(ring a sho(lder stand

-ost(re 6sarv9 g9sana < as -art o) my hathayogameditation " 0 heard a sing(lar lo(d" high

-itched so(nd in my head. To my s(r-rised" 0 )o(nd that as 0 )oc(sed conscio(s attention on this

so(nd it s(bstantially increased in ,ol(meN $ma=ingly" 0 )o(nd 0 +as able to re-eat this

se(ence" maing the so(nd gro+ lo(der or so)t+are sim-ly by choosing to )oc(s (-on or to

ignore the so(nd1-oint" +hich seemed to be located in the (--er le)t1hand region o) my brain.

$)ter the initial bright so(nd disco,ery" additional -oints o) so(nd o) distinctly

di))erent -itch began to arise in other locations in my crani(m. That entire night 0 co(ld not

slee-K +hile listening to the so(nds they +o(ld ,ario(sly increase in ,ol(me according to the

degree that 0 +o(ld be able to direct my attention to+ard them. 0 noticed" ho+e,er" that as soon

as 0 +o(ld begin conscio(sly thining abo(t them or thining in +ords or let my attention

stray they +o(ld s(bside" ,anish" or be obsc(red and 0 +o(ld lose to(ch +ith these so(nds.

B(t by (icly searching )or them again 60 noticed mysel) str(ggling to regain an inner silence


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)ields o) energy dynamics. $ll that night 0 lay a+ae in the dar" mo,ing )rom so(nd to so(nd

+ithin my head" as they rose and )ell almost +ith a ,olition o) their o+n. 0 e/-erienced strong

emotional oscillations bet+een e/altation ,erging on disbelie)" and terror at ,isions o) creating a

brain damaging hemorrhage.

0n engineering school" 0 had come to (nderstand ,ibration as a single ,ibration or tone"

yet this +as not a single tone" a single )re(ency as 0 had come to (nderstand" b(t a myriad sea o)

tones )aintly maing (- the bacgro(nd o) the -ercei,ed" sensed a(dio range" lie those

a)orementioned -ee-ers in the )orest at night. $s 0 stated earlier" it +as at s-eci)ic -oints in

s-ace +ithin my crani(m" that )rom time to time a tone +o(ld arise +ith e/-onential shar-ness

high abo,e the bacgro(nd le,el" and become a bright tone o) -(re )re(ency" lie a beacon"

(-on +hich i) 0 +ere able to )oc(s )or any s(stained )e+ moments" +o(ld become maredly

lo(der +ith an accom-anying intense tactile sensation.

D(ring the co(rse o) +hat seemed a ,ery long night my body gre+ hot and s+eated

-ro)(sely" soaing the sheets in +hat m(st ha,e been a )e,er o) some ind. 0 +ent thro(gh +hat

seemed to be a long -eriod o) dee- )ear" s(s-ecting that 0 had someho+ damaged my ner,o(s

system" tho(gh since then 0 ne,er e/-erienced a headache or discom)ort o) any ind in +ithin my

crani(m. Sometime in the early morning ho(rs 0 )ell aslee- and +hen 0 a+oe" to my relie)" my

mind +as bac to normal in its inner cognition" thining" ,erbali=ing" chatting a+ay merrily

once more" tho(gh it no+ li,ed +ith a memory and reali=ation that something sing(larly strange

had occ(rred" something 0 had ne,er been -re-ared )or and +hich 0 had ne,er enco(ntered in

boos nor in li)e e/-eriences.

0 contin(ed to -ractice hatha yogab(t s-ent increasingly long -eriods in sim-le (iet

meditation" contacting these resonant inner so(nds in my dar room late at night" and o)ten +hile


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)alling aslee-. My earlier st(dies in -hysics and electrical engineering led me to notice ho+ these

-ercei,edO)elt so(nds seemed to be highly s-eci)ic sin(soidal tones" )oc(sed" it seemed" on

,ario(s single )re(encies" )(ndamental tones" and )e+ +eaer harmonic )re(encies.

5or a time" 0 conject(red that they +ere merely mechanical resonances +ithin the

-hysical str(ct(res o) my inner ear" and 0 did some research on tinnit(s. 0n my engineering o))ice

in the *orld Trade >enter 60 +ored on the F3th )loor as a lighting designer )or the Port

$(thority


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E,er se,eral years this -rocess" concentrating and ,is(ali=ing +ithin areas o) my body

and )oc(sing on the so(nd tones as they +o(ld arise" became a main so(rce o) meditati,e

-ractice )or me" and the inner so(nds tones gre+ e,er more richly com-le/ and sometimes lo(der

in ,ol(me" and began to -rod(ce distinct tactile sensations o) )lo+" (nlie the sensations )elt in

the e/ternal senses o) to(ch" ,ision and hearing.

En +eeends 0 +o(ld also search )or boos )or g(idance in silent meditation" and in the

-rocess disco,ered Patajali's Yoga Stras. My )irst co-y +as a translation +ith commentaries

by Pro)essor #rnest #. *ood 6b.!;;?


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7aam. 0 also )o(nd re)erences to these -henomena in the +ritings o) ,ario(s >hristian

mystics.

Conse6uences of T)ree Experiences

$s a direct conse(ence o) these three major direct e/-eriences" 0 +as led to a dee-er

st(dy o) -sychology" religion" and 0ndian -hiloso-hies o) meditation" in -artic(larly Patajali's

Yoga Stras.

0 le)t 7e+ Yor )or San 5rancisco to st(dy at the >ali)ornia 0nstit(te o) $sian St(dies"

+hich had the (ni(e re-(tation o) ,al(ing e/-eriential no+ledge e(ally +ith academic

no+ledge among both )ac(lty and st(dents. *hile there" 0 st(died Sansrit and Gedanta" as +ell

as ,ario(s contem-lati,e -ractices" and enco(ntered )or the )ist time the +ritings o) Sri

$(robindo" Aeidegger" and Pierre Teilhard de >hardin This allo+ed me to de,elo- a broader

(nderstanding o) the connections bet+een ,ario(s traditional -ractices o) contem-lati,e

techni(e and modern attem-ts to ma- the interior +orlds o) the e/-erience (sing meta-hysics

and lang(age o) science.

0 ha,e str(ggled )or decades to e/-lore and to (nderstand this ,ast ocean o) conscio(sness

that is o-en to contem-lati,es and -sychona(ts"!?and ha,e tried to ma- this (ni,erse o)

conscio(sness )rom the ,ie+ o) hard science" (sing the lang(age o) mathematics" -hysics" and

comm(nications engineering. 9sing +ords and lang(ages 6being" as they are" -oor tools )or

describing abstractions


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+e are all enmeshed and modeled in the )rame+or -resented by Patajali" (sing science and

mathematics to a--roach the -henomena o) a re1emergence o) an ocean o) cosmic conscio(sness

that is a--earing +ithin h(man beings on this -lanet.

Patajali's Yoga Stra! A "ap of #u$an

Consciousness

0n Patajali's Yoga S&tra" dating bac to the second1third cent(ry >#"!3+e )ind an

elaborate ma- o) h(man conscio(sness" as +ell as e/-licit methods )or tra,eling among the

,ario(s regions described in that ma-.

0n the Yoga Stra+e )ind the collecti,e e/-eriential +isdom distilled o,er the li)etimes o)

generations o) 0ndian sages" and that +hich has been com-iled +ith a stam- o) a(thenticity. That

there is a great deal o) real" end(ring" and -ractical ,alidity to Patajali's ma- can be in)erred by

the many translations and +ritten commentaries that ha,e s-r(ng (- beginning +ith =y9sa's" as

early as the se,enth cent(ry >#.

0n a series o) tersestras6mnemonic threads" )rom the rootsiv" to se+K similar to the

ste-s in the modern T+el,e1Ste- Program that began $$ in !:?:


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This +ord o)ten translated yoe" to lin" to (nite.!&The +ordyogais (nderstood in n(mero(s

+ays in the *est" ty-ically as a )orm o) e/ercise consisting o) e/treme body stretching -oses.

B(t a contem-orary yoga scholar says that +hen the +ord is (sed by itsel) +itho(t any

(ali)ication" it re)ers to the -ath o) meditation" -artic(larly as o(tlined in the Yoga S(tras 1 the

$-horisms on Yoga 1 and the term yogi" a -ractitioner o) this ty-e o) meditational yoga. !F

B(t the +ord yoga is also synonymo(s +ithsam9$hi in the Yoga S&tra" in +hich is gi,en

detailed instr(ction on an e/-eriential" intros-ecti,e a--roach to na,igating the )lo+ o) sentient

energy +ithin the h(man -sycho1cogniti,e mental s(bsystem" and n(mero(s +ays o) controlling"

redirecting" and modi)ying mental acti,ities to establish transcendent!%lins" (nions" and

comm(nions +ith alternate states o) conscio(s a+areness.

The Yoga S&trais di,ided into )o(r sets o) a-horisms" )o(r cha-ters" -arts" or P[da"

described by *hicher!;as8

!.Sam9$hi39$a" the cha-ter on ecstasyOenstasy com-rised o) &!s&trasK

2. S9$hana39$a" the cha-ter on the -ath or -ractice o) Yoga made (- o) &&s&trasK

!& @ambito." !.

!F #d+in 5. Bryant" 'he Yoga S&tras of ataD6a-i* + new e$ition: trans-ation: an$ commentarywith insights from the tra$itiona- commentators" 67e+ Yor8 7orth Point Press" 2:


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?. =ibh&ti39$a" the cha-ter on the -o+ers in Yoga" also totaling &&s&trasK and

3. 4aiva-ya39$a" the cha-ter on the liberated state o) aloneness consisting o) ?3 s&tras.

5o(nd +ithin these )o(r cha-ters is a com-rehensi,e yet sill)(lly -resented descri-tion o)

a str(ct(re o) conscio(sness and a teaching o) methods )or na,igating this ocean o)

conscio(sness. The short Sansrit ,erses con,ey in)ormation +hich not only b(ild methodically

(-on -re,io(ss&tras b(t o)ten -re)ig(re their a--earance in one or more )(t(re stras+hich

then recollect" am-li)y" and e/tend their meaning.

*. Sam9$hi39$a+"uning the Mind and Le,els o) Consciousness

$ chart o) this )irst cha-ter is gi,en on the ne/t -age sho+ing the relationshi-s o) some o) the

strasthat are )o(nd in Sam9$hi39$a

7bjectie of Yoga Practice! uieting t)e "in& To -ring About

Samdhi

$ model o) h(man conscio(sness is methodically described by Patajali" constr(cted

(sing many conce-ts also )o(nd to be basic com-onents )rom the older S9m@hya1E-hiloso-hy.

5or e/am-le" the se-aration o) the cosmic (ni,erse into pra@rti andprsa" +hich can be

translated in n(mero(s +ays b(t commonly as matter and s-irit" are one o) these com-onents.

B(t it is that (niti,e state o) conscio(sness termedsam9$hithat is the clear objecti,e

identi)ied as the goal o) -racticing this yoga" +herein h(man conscio(sness thro(gh mastery o)

the )l(ct(ations o) the mental vrttis" is able to ret(rn to a )(ll 6or )(ller< identity +ith the -(re

!: 0bid." F.


22


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s-irit" theprsa" also described as one's tr(e Sel)2" ,eri)iably reali=able thro(gh )ollo+ing the

e/ercises described +ithin the Yoga S&tra.

2 0bid." 23.


2?


24/66


Chart " # Yoga Sutra $oo% I


23


25/66


This conce-t o)sam9$hi:disc(ssed at length in the Yoga S&tra: )inds -arallels in the

e/-eriential meta-hysics o) other c(lt(res in s(ch terms as the (ncreated light 6Aesychasm


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ins(rrection needing to be -(t do+n +ith the )irm a(thoritati,e commands to s(--ress"

restrain" inhibit" and halt the mind.

Translation of YS I& Translator (ate

PublishedYoga is the control6niro$hah" reg(lation" channeling" mastery"integration" coordination" stilling" (ieting" setting aside< o) themodi)ications 6gross and s(btle tho(ght -atterns< o) the mind)ield.

Jnanesh,ara 23

The restrainto) the modi)ications o) the mind1st()) is Yoga. Satchidananda !::

Yoga is the restrictiono) the )l(ct(ations o) conscio(sness. 5e(erstein !:;:

Yoga is the cessationo) the +a,es 6arising in< 6or< acti,ities o)the mind1st()).

$rya !:%3

Yoga is the controlo) tho(ght1+a,es in the mind. Prabha,ananda !:F:

Yoga is the inhibitiono) the modi)ications o) the mind. Taimni !:F!

Yoga is restrainingthe mind1st()) 6,hitta< )rom taing,ario(s )orms 6vrittis


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mental -rocesses. Thining in +ords" remembering" conce-t(ali=ing" allo+ing ideas to arise and

de,elo-K all these normal acti,ities and sills o) +hat +e call mind m(st be atten(ated" t(rned

do+n" allo+ed to ta-er o))" so that a+areness is allo+ed to enter into a ne+ state.

The internal silence o-ened (- thro(gh the s(ccess)(l (ieting and detaching )rom the

normal o-erations o) mind allo+s a+areness to )lo+ into alternate con)ig(rations o-ening (-

ne+ modes o) sensory and cogniti,e -erce-tion. 0n )act the +ord (ieting might be a good

translation )or niro$hah" and it is not a coincidence that it also a--ears as a major conce-t in the

early >hristian contem-lati,e -ractice o) hesychia" \]V " stillness" (iet" silence )o(nd in the

+ritings o) #,agri(s Pontios

2?

and other eremites in #gy-t as early as the 3th cent(ry >#. 5or

e/am-le8 $ntony said" 'Ae +ho sits alone and is (iet has esca-ed )rom three +ars8 hearing"

s-eaing" and seeing.230n the !3th cent(ry ># a mon on Mt. $thos in the Mediterranean"

4regory Palamas" +rote e/tensi,ely on the -ractice o) inner silence and de)ended this

contem-lati,e -ractice against a >alabrian -riest +ho attaced hesychasts as na,el ga=ers" and

abandoners o) the material +orld and its res-onsibilities.

S&tra0.2 o) the Yoga S&tra" taen alone" +itho(t a--reciating its conte/t +ithin the entire

collection" has similarly led to criticism )or a--ealing to +hat seems to be an abandonment o) the

material +orld and its res-onsibilities" the -o-(lar esca-e )rom reality e-ithet. More recent

,ie+s ha,e resc(ed Patajali )rom this criticism in )a,or o) an objecti,e being seen as a

2? Jean1Y,es eo(-" ?eing Sti--* Ref-ections on an +ncient >ystica- 'ra$ition. 67e+ Jersey8Pa(list Press" 2?


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harmonio(s mi/ing" a synergy o)prsa andpra@rti" rather than as sim-ly an esca-e )rom

[email protected] more -ositi,e ,ie+ sees yoga as being a set o) -ractices leading to the direct

e/-erience o) a more highly and e))ecti,ely integratedprsa/pra@rti relationshi- than is )o(nd

in the +orings o) the ordinary e,eryday h(mdr(m h(man -syche. 5ig(re ! is a schematic chart

o) the )(ndamental teachings o) the Yoga S&tra" tho(gh greatly sim-li)ied. 0t describes the )irst

eighteenstras6a)ter the )ormal o-ening o) the )irst cha-ter< in )lo+ diagram )orm.

0n this yoga" the objecti,e is to train the mind 6or more -recisely to tame citta:+hich has

three com-onents8 b$$hi" aham@ara" and manasK that is" intelligence" 01ness" and other mental

cogniti,e o-erations< to enter into a great silence" to remain as dormant as -ossible" and to train

-hysical body systems to idle their lo+est le,els. *hat is the objecti,e in sh(tting do+n these

normal +aing1state acti,e cogniti,e mental systems^ 0n that (iescent state" the energy o)

conscio(sness th(s )reed +ill acti,ate and energi=e ne+ modes o) conscio(sness" to the -oint o)

crossing the threshold into the -rimary conscio(sness o) the prsao) S9m@hya. This leads (s to

the thirdstra" YS 0.?"

Tatra sthita( yatno1'bhy[sahL__!?__ or Then the Seer `Sel) abides in Ais o+n 7at(re.2&

$t this -oint Patajali tells (s that this Seer 6or Sel)< then +aes (- and abides in Ais

o+n 7at(re. *ith the additional energy a,ailable )rom the s(s-ension o) normal mental

2& S+ami Satchidananda" 'he Yoga Stras of ataD6a-i" 6Girginia8 0ntegral Yoga P(blications"!::


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acti,ities" a threshold is crossed into the -(re sel)1resonant" sel)1re)lecting Sel) " or as #liot says

in the closing stan=a o) The 5o(r (artets8

+n$ the en$ of a-- or e%p-oring

Wi-- be to arrive where we starte$

+n$ @now the p-ace for the first time.2#

Nirodhah! #o4 to uiet t)e "in&

0n s(bse(entstras" Patajali teaches ho+ -rogress can be made in controlling the mind

to reach niro$hah6cessation or atten(ation o) the )l(ct(ations o) the vrttisM+hich then o-ens (-

access to the sam[dhi states. 5or sh(tting do+n the mind" the st(dent is ad,ised to rely (-on

and to c(lti,ate t+o -rimary tools8practiceand detachment6YS 0.!2


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B(t sim-ly attaining an initialsam9$hie/-erience is not the )inal goal" as the -ractitioner

is ta(ght that there are t+o major categories o)sam9$hi" and there is a certain se(ence in +hich

thesesam9$his de,elo- and are ty-ically e/-erienced in the (n)olding o) contem-lati,e -rior to

)(ll no+ledge by identity o)prsabyprsais achie,ed. The initialsam9$hie/-erience is

ty-icallysampra6Data sam9$hi.

Samprajata Samdhi! Ecstas, or Consciousness :it) See& 7bject

The mo,ement )rom ordinary h(man conscio(sness to identity +ithprsa re(ires"

according to Patajali" a distinct range or contin((m o) states o)sam9$hithat are to be mastered"

categori=ed broadly in t+o ontological regions8 on the one hand" the contin((m o)sabi6a

sam9$his" translated as ecstasy" or +ith seed o) sampra6Data sam9$hi. D(ring these states"

the )l(ct(ations or cittavrttis 6,erbal cognation" arising trains o) memory" emotional im-(lse" etcross +hich (ses his ho(se as a meta-hor )or his mind +ith all o) its

rooms and acti,ities8

One dark night,

fired with love's urgent longings

- ah, the sheer grace! -

I went out unseen,

my house being now all stilled.33

$nd )inally" at the ,ery end o) the Yoga Stra" +e come to S(tra 0G.?3. +hich begins +ith

the +ordprsa" and indicates the attainment o) @aiva-ya" absol(te liberation o)prsa"

inde-endence" a state +hereprsais )inally established in its o+n nat(re.

YS 0G.?3. P(r(sLa1artha1ny[n[g(nL[n[1-rati-rasa,ahLai,alyas,ar-a1-ratisLtLh[ ,[ citiatiriti

'he gnas having been reverse$: the free$om of the pre consciosness power ofprsa is obtaine$ an$ this is ca--e$ 4aiva-ya.

B(t e,en here +ords )ail and the e/-erience itsel) can not easily be e/-ressed. 0n the +ords o)

the Pro)essor o) >hemistry and Yogascholar 0.H. Taimni8

0t sho(ld be noted that this is not a descri-tion o) the content o) >onscio(sness inthe state o)4aiva-ya. $s has been -ointed o(t be)ore" no one li,ing in the +orld

o) the (nreal can (nderstand or describe the Reality o) +hich the Yogi becomesa+are on attaining4aiva-ya.?3

??Hierran Ha,ana(gh" Trans." ,o--ecte$ Wor@s of St. John of the ,ross" 6*ashington" D.>.80nstit(te o) >armelite St(dies" !::!


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Patajali's Yoga an& "o&ern Science

Aa,ing described in brie) some o) the more im-ortantstrasand the most )(ndamental

teachings in the model o) contem-lati,eyogaandsam9$hi" it is no+ time to artic(late this model

in the lang(age o) modern science.

*e +ill not go )(rther in this -a-er into the +ealth o) additional details re,ealed by

Patajali concerning -ractice and -it)alls o) yogic techni(e" all leading to the ,ario(ssam9$his.

7or +ill +e disc(ss the elaborate str(ct(ral theories o) the @-eNas" those a))lictions or

im-ediments to -rogress that s-ring (- lie +eeds in o(r -ath" nor the sas@9ras" those le)to,er

easily s-ro(ted seed resid(es )rom -re,io(s str(ggle +ith @-eNas" nor c(lti,ation o) the ,ario(s

si$$his+ith descri-tions o) the many -sychic -o+ers. 0nstead +e +ill sim-ly )oc(s on the t+o

states o) conscio(sness th(s )ar -resented in the o-ening Straso) Sam9$hi39$a8

!.The state o) citta-vrttiin +hich all o) the -rocessing systems o) the mind are s+itched

on and -rocessing )(ll blast.

2. The state o) samdhi" +here as com-letely as -ossible all o) the mental -rocesses

ha,e been atten(ated" t(rned do+n" and the mind1in1the1brain com-(ter1lie

biomaterial system is s())iciently silent to allo+ the radiantprsa to begin to

glo+ increasingly into ,ario(s stages o) ecstasyOenstasy" the realms o) the

sam9$histate.


3?


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Sym/olic ,ersus Primary Consciousness+ "$o Conscious Beings in "he

Brain

The Stan)ord -hysicist 5ran Aeile?&has -ro-osed a theory that there are t+o streams o)

conscio(sness in o(r brain" one +hich he calls Primary conscio(sness and the other Symbolic

conscio(sness. Ae says that A(mans ha,e t+o di))erent internal re-resentations o) the +orld"

t+o conscio(s beings in the brain. E(r hy-othesis in this -a-er is that one o) these conscio(s

beings can be seen to corres-ond toprsa and the other topra@rti" in the )orm o) citta1vrttis.

Symbolic >onscio(sness is com-rised o) the ,erbal lang(age and se(ential time1based

-rocessing re-resentational systems 6memory" logic o) com-arison and choice" etc.< +hile the

Primary >onscio(sness o-erates in a massi,ely -arallel -rocessing mode -er-endic(lar to

time" the no+. ?F $ table o) his com-arisons is sho+n in Table 2 1 There)ore" T+o

>onscio(sness #ntities.

Pri-ar! Consciousness S!-bolic Consciousness

$ncient 6many millions o) years< 7e+ 6? to ! tho(sand years oldonscio(sness" and 5o(rier's )re(ency s-ectr(m may be

ma--ing the same domain. Jose-h >hilton Pearce 622< describes the electromagnetic toroidal

)ield 65ig(re ?< generated by the h(man heart8

$ll li,ing )orms -rod(ce an electrical )ield beca(se in some sense e,erything hasan electromagnetic element or basis" b(t a heart cells electrical o(t-(t ise/ce-tional. electromagnetic energy arcs o(t )rom and c(r,es bac to theheart to )orm a tor(s that e/tends as )ar as twe-ve to fifteen feet)rom thebody. The di-ole o) this heart tor(s e/tends thro(gh the length o) o(r body"more or less" )rom the -el,ic )loor to the to- o) the s(ll.33

33 Pearce" 'he ?io-ogy of 'ranscen$ence" 6Germont8 Par Street Press" 22


53/66


igure " 6 Co-)uter )rojection of electro-agnetic heart torus field78

0) there is a correlation bet+een the -syche and electro-hysiology" then the indi,id(al

h(man -syche sho(ld" )ollo+ing the range o) the electromagnetic toroidal energy )ield e/tending

o(t )rom the h(man heart" also e/tend in some sense t+el,e to )i)teen )eetC )rom the body.

0) o(r Primary conscio(sness orprsadoes ha,e an energy com-onent in the

electromagnetic s-ectr(m" then it m(st be a))ected" to some degree" by the electromagnetic

en,ironment o) the earth. Many animals -ossess a magnetic senseC and a--ear to be able to

trac the magnetic )ield o) the earth +hich is generated by the )lo+ o) molten material in the

earths core and the corres-onding )lo+ o) ions in the atmos-here.

Magnetorece-tion is an acce-ted -henomenon among a +ide range o) animals8 birds"

)r(it )lies" honeybees" t(rtles" lobsters" shars" stingrays" +hales and e,en bacteria.3F #,en

animals not normally no+n )or their migration habits ha,e been disco,ered to -ossess s(ch a

sense8

3& 0bid." &;.

3F Magnetoce-tion"C Wi@ipe$ia" last modi)ied December !2" 2!"htt-8OOen.+ii-edia.orgO+iiOMagnetoce-tion


&?


54/66


Recent -(blications )rom a 4erman research gro(- 6Begall et al" 2;


55/66


igure # 1orn antenna

The horn antenna at Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ that Penzias and Wilson used to

discover the 3 K cosmic microwave backround radiation in !"#$% The sim&lest

a&erture antenna is such a waveuide horn% 'adiation is uided b( a ta&ered

waveuide horn%http://www.cv.nrao.edu/course/astr534/RadioTelescopes.html

0n another o) my senior classes" the electro-hysiology o) the ner,o(s system" 0 noticed

the striing similarities bet+een the +a,eg(ide horn antennas in the ad,anced comm(nication

lab and the images o) the ,entric(lar ca,ities +ithin the h(man cranial ca,ity 65ig(re 3.


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igure / # 9ateral iew of the entricular caities within the hu-an brain7

The c(rrently acce-ted e/-lanation o) the role o) the ,entric(lar ca,ities and the clear

cerebros-inal )l(id +ithin the ca,ities is as )ollo+s8 that tho(gh the system has some

thermodynamic stabili=ing -ro-erties its )(nction is -rimarily a hydra(lic one that the body (ses

to c(shion the brain d(ring tra(ma" and that it sim-ly -rotects the brain tiss(e )rom inj(ry +hen

jolted or hit.C&0t sho(ld be noted that -rior to the 2th cent(ry the acce-ted -hysiological

descri-tion o) the )(nctioning o) ner,e )ibers +ithin the ner,o(s system +as that ner,es +ere a

ty-e o) -l(mbing -i-e ,essel and that the ner,o(s system and brain o-erated in )act as a

hydra(lic system similar mo,ing )l(id according to Berno(llis la+ in a similar +ay as the

cardio,sc(lar system. $ better e/-lanation )or the ner,o(s system a+aited the (nderstanding o)

electro-hysiology in the 2thcent(ry" as does yet" -erha-s" a better e/-lanation o) the ,entric(lar

ca,ities and their clear cerebros-inal )l(id.

3: 7etter"+ ,ompi-ation of aintings of the orma- an$ atho-ogic +natomy of the ervosSystem" 3F.

& 0bid." 2!.


&F


57/66


igure 7 # ;entricular cait! 6 two iews&

$n e/cellent rotating image o) the h(man ,entric(lar ca,ities can be )o(nd at the

)ollo+ing hy-erlin8 htt-8OOen.+ii-edia.orgO+iiO5ile8ateral,entricle.gi)

0t is not (nreasonable to imagine that modern -hysiologists are as mistaen abo(t the role

and )(nction o) the ,entric(lar ca,ity horns and the clear cerebros-inal )l(id +ithin as they +ere

o,er the )(nction and role o) the ner,o(s system in -re,io(s cent(ries.

0) the -syche does indeed ha,e an electromagnetic )re(ency energy com-onent" then the

horn sha-ed ,entric(lar ca,ities +ithin the cranial ca,ity indicate the -ossibility that nat(re

might ,ery +ell ha,e already designed and im-lemented its o+n energy )re(ency signal

comm(nication system.

0s it not then liely that this comm(nication system is being (sed (nconscio(sly 6or

conscio(sly< by h(mans in ,ario(s -rocesses o) the -syche^ >o(ld this ca,eC be +here internal

,ision is -rojected d(ring dreaming states^

0) the -syche or -arts o) it does hold co(rt as some sort o) em) -lasma +ithin the

,entric(lar ca,ities" +hat abo(t the indi,id(al ne(rons and ner,e )ibers +hich are e/cl(si,ely


&%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lateral_ventricle.gifhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lateral_ventricle.gif


58/66


)oc(sed (-on by ne(ro-hysiologists^ $n M0T -hysicist concl(des that it is liely that the

ne(rons ha,e ass(med a more a(tomatic" instinct(al" com-(ter1lie role in h(man

electro-hysiological )(nction. Danah @ohar says8

0n the model o) conscio(sness 0 am s(ggesting" the brain has t+o interactingsystems the coherent Bose1#instein condensate associated +ith conscio(snessand the com-(ter1lie system o) indi,id(al ne(rones.&!

"raditional Contemplati,e /ser,ations+ ixing Spirit in its riginal

Ca,ity

>ontem-lati,e e/-eriences thro(gho(t many c(lt(res corroborate the e/istence o) a

-otential gathering and locali=ation o) -sychic energy +ithin the central region o) the crani(m.

Ao+e,er )e+ descri-tions are as rele,ant to o(r disc(ssion o) the -ossibilities o) )inding as-ects

o) -syche +ithin the ,entric(lar ca,ities as is e/hibited in this )ollo+ing -assage )rom a te/t on

Taoist yoga8

(estion8*ill yo( -lease gi,e me the e/act -osition o) the original ca,ity o)s-irit^C

$ns+er8 0t is 6in the centre o) the brain behind< the s-ot bet+een the

eyes. ao Ts( called it the gate+ay to hea,en and earthKhence he (rged -eo-le to concentrate on the centre in order torealise the oneness 6o) all things


59/66


igure 8 # .nce)halogra- fro- front, reealing horns of entricular cait!&

Su$$ar, an& 0$plications

;omains and =anges o) Human Consciousness

0n the ma- +e ha,e dra+n" Patajali'sprsa is a signi)icant energy con)ig(ration" Aeile's

Primary as contrasted +ith Symbolic conscio(sness" and e/-resses itsel) in the toroidal

electromagnetic energy )ield en,elo-ing o(r bodies. 0t is -ossible to detect a radiant )l(/ o) this

Primary conscio(sness glo+ing +ithin the ,entric(lar ca,ities o) the brain in the ,ery center o)

the crani(m" -ercei,able +ith the inner eye or third eye as described both in >hina and 0ndia8

The -ineal gland is a -ine cone sha-ed endocrine gland that sits bet+een the t+ohemis-heres o) the brain 1 a location +hich corres-onds to +hat in Taoist -racticeis no+n as the >rystal Palace. ao T=( called this little gland the gate+ay tohea,en and earth. 0n Aind( yoga" this same -lace is called the >a,e o)

Brahman" and corres-onds to the+6Da,ha@ra" or third eye.&?

&? #li=abeth Reninger" 'he +ma8ing inea- P-an$ dated March 2%" 2;. Retrie,ed )rom$bo(t.com site" +eb -age htt-8OOtaoism.abo(t.comObO2;O?O2%Othe1ama=ing1-ineal1gland.htm"7o,ember !:" 2!! k !!83! am PST.


&:


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E) this >a,e o) Brahman" S+ami Aariharananda 4iri 6!:%122< a Bengali g(r( and teacher

o) Patajali'sYogain the lineage o) Paramahamsa Yogananda +rote8

The >a,e o) BrahmanC is an etheric chamber +here Brahman" the creati,e

essence o) the (ni,ersal s-irit" mani)ests itsel) and radiatespranicli)e to thet+enty )o(r gross body elements ,ia the med(lla" cerebell(m and the s-inal chord.The -it(itary and -ineal glands" at o--osite ends o) the ca,e" are the -ositi,e andnegati,e -oles o) Sel)1no+ledge.&3

S(ch also co(ld be the -lace o) access to the a@ashicrecord described by $lice Bailey in

her commentaries on the Yoga S(tra8

The a@ashicrecord is lie an immense -hotogra-hic )ilm" registering all thedesires and earth e/-eriences o) o(r -lanet.

Those +ho -ercei,e it +ill see -ict(red thereon8The li)e e/-eriences o) e,ery h(man being since time began"

!. The reactions to e/-erience o) the entire animal ingdom"2. The aggregation o) the tho(ght1)orms o) a armic nat(re 6based on desire< o)

e,ery h(man (nit thro(gho(t time. ...?. The -lanetary D+eller on the Threshold +ith all that a--ertains to that term and

all the aggregations o) )orms +hich are to be )o(nd in its en,ironment.The trained seer has learnt to dissociate that +hich -ertains to his o+n a(ra andthe a(ra o) the -lanet 6+hich is in act(ality the a@ashicrecord


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Stra" or the synchronistic -henomena obser,ed by J(ng and others" and -ro,ide a solid basis )or

R(-ert Sheldrae's theory o) mor-hic resonance"&F+hich has as its central hy-othesis that

in)ormation can be transmitted instantaneo(sly 6or nearly so< among biological entities" +hether

-igeons" h(mans" or bacteria.

0n the )re(ency domain all )re(ency s-ectral -atterns coe/ist sim(ltaneo(sly 6no

tem-oral se-aration< and immediately connect a-ers-ecti,ally 6no s-atial se-arationarl

J(ngs most )amo(s st(dents" in her essay The Process o) 0ndi,id(ationC" describes the Sel) as

)ollo+s8

The Sel) can be de)ined as an inner g(iding )actor that is di))erent )rom theconscio(s -ersonality and that can be gras-ed only thro(gh the in,estigation o)ones o+n dreams. These sho+ it to be the reg(lating center that brings abo(t a

constant e/tension and mat(ring o) the -ersonality. B(t this larger" more nearlytotal as-ect o) the -syche a--ears )irst as merely an inborn -ossibility. 0t mayemerge ,ery slightly" or it may de,elo- relati,ely com-letely d(ring ones

&F R(-ert Sheldrae">orphic Resonance* 'he ypothesis of ;ormative ,asation" 6ondon8Blond Briggs" !:;!


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li)etime. Ao+ )ar it de,elo-s de-ends on +hether or not the ego is +illing tolisten to the messages o) the Sel).&%

Dr. ,on 5ran= here s-eas o) comm(nication bet+een the conscio(s -ersonalityC and

the Sel)C" stating categorically that the conscio(s -ersonality can connect +ith the Sel) onl!

thro(gh the in,estigation o) ones o+n dreams.C `em-hasis added. 0t is my belie) that Dr. ,on

5ran= +as incorrect in stating that the conscio(s -ersonality can onl!connect +ith the Sel)

thro(gh dreams. >ontem-lati,e -ractices lead to s())icient (iescence o) the normal a+aened

state so as to allo+ the -erce-tion o) the Sel) resonating +ith the sel) to arise +ithin ,ario(s

ca,ities thro(gho(t the body +hen they are made objects o) s(stained contem-lati,e

concentration. 0t is my belie) that this resonance e/-erienced by contem-lati,es and ,ario(sly

termed 7ir,anaC" 4odC" the Di,ineC" the $bsol(teC is that sameprsadescribed in the

Yoga Straand in the S9m@hya-hiloso-hy.

7ote that she also describes the Sel) as this larger" more nearly total as-ect o) the

-sycheC" and as that +hich sends messages o) the Sel)C to the conscio(s -ersonality thro(gh

dreams. 0) +e e(ate this Sel) +ith the Symbolic sel)" then the Yoga Strais the instr(ction boo

)or establishing more l(cid and intense -erce-tion o) the Sel) than occ(rs d(ring the state o)

dreaming. This more l(cid contact is called in S9m@hya-hiloso-hy" the direct e/-erience o)

prsabyprsa" the state o)sama$hi.

&oga as =eunion $ith the Sel)

0) +e s-ec(late that the Sel) is indeed the largest Sel) -ossible then it +o(ld incl(de the

entire cosmic (ni,erse o) times-ace 6td< 6pra@rti< as +ell as the non1tem-oral" non1s-atial

eternalC )re(ency domain 6fd< 6prsaan an$ is Symbo-s" 67e+ Yor8 Random Ao(se" !:F3


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constant comm(nication +ith itsel) and all its s(bsel,es" or alternately thatrsa is in constant

comm(nication +ith itsel) and all o) theprsasin the cosmos 6here +e are acce-ting the theory

o) m(lti-leprsas: s(bsets o) the bigrsa


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descri-tion o) a s(ch an e/-erience o) $arshanin !:3;" bro(ght abo(t by entry into the

-ro/imity o) the li,ing -resence o) Sri $(robindo" as reco(nted in the dissertation o) Rhoda e

>oc" a doctoral st(dent o) Dr. >ha(dh(ri's at >0$S&;8

$s 0 ste--ed into a radi(s o) abo(t )o(r )eet" there +as the sensation o) mo,ing intosome ind o) a )orce )ield. 0nt(iti,ely" 0 ne+ it +as the )orce o) o,e" b(t not +hatordinary h(mans (s(ally mean by the term. These t+o +ere geared straight (-CK they+ere not -aying attention to me as ordinary -arents might ha,e doneK yet" this(nattachment seemed j(st the thing that healed. S(ddenly" 0 lo,ed them both" as s-irit(al-arents.C

Then" all tho(ght ceased" 0 +as -er)ectly a+are o) +here 0 +asK it +as not hy-notismCas one Stan)ord )riend later s(ggested. 0t +as sim-ly that d(ring those )e+ min(tes" mymind became (tterly still. 0t seemed that 0 stood there a ,ery long" an (nco(nted time" )orthere wasno time. Enly many years later did 0 describe this e/-erience as my ha,ing

e/-erienced the Timeless inTime. *hen there at the $arshan" there +as not the leastdo(bt in my mind that 0 had met t+o -eo-le +ho had e/-erienced +hat they claimed.They were4nostic Beings. They had reali=ed this ne+ conscio(sness +hich Sri$(robindo called the S(-ramental.&:

&; >0$S" The >ali)ornia 0nstit(te o) $sian St(dies" incor-orated in !:%3" +as renamed in !:;to the >ali)ornia 0nstit(te o) 0ntegral St(dies.

&: Rhoda e >oc" 'he Ra$ica- 'hin@ers* ei$egger an$ Sri +robin$o" 6Pondicherry8 Sri$(robindo $shram Press" !:F:


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-ibliograp),

ranya" S+ami A. Yoga hi-osophy of ataD6a-i. $lbany8 State 9ni,ersity o) 7e+ Yor Press" !:;?.

Baily" $.o." !:;;.

Bryant" #.5. 'he Yoga Stras of ataD6a-i* + new e$ition: trans-ation: an$ commentary withinsights from tra$itiona- commentators. 7e+ Yor8 7orth Point Press" 2:.

>ha(d(ri" A.hi-osophy of (ntegra-ism. Pondicherry8 Sri $(robindo Pathamandir" !:&3.

#liade" M. Yoga* (mmorta-ity an$ ;ree$om. Princeton8 Princeton 9ni,ersity" !:%.

#liot" T.S. 'he ;or Oartets* on)erence" San Ra)ael" >$" Ectober 2!!.

J(ng" >.4. The Str(ct(re and Dynamics o) the PsycheC" in 'he ,o--ecte$ Wor@s of ,.P. Jng" ,ol.;. Translated by R.5.>. A(ll. Princeton8 Princeton 9ni,ersity Press" !:F.

J(ng" >.4." ed. and a)ter his death 5ran=" M.1. >an an$ is Symbo-s. 7e+ Yor8 RandomAo(se" !:F3.

Ha,ana(gh" H." Trans. ,o--ecte$ Wor@s of St. John of the ,ross. *ashington" D.>.8 0nstit(te o)>armelite St(dies" !::!.

H(o" 5.etwor@ +na-ysis an$ Synthesis. 7e+ Jersey8 Bell Tele-hone abs" 0nc." !:F2.

e >oc" R.P. 'he Ra$ica- 'hin@ers* ei$egger an$ Sri +robin$o. Pondicherry8 Sri $(robindo

$shram Press" !:F:.

indor))" D.a-i an$ Jng* 'he >eeting of 'wo Preat >in$s. 0llinois8 (est Boos" 23.

( H(an Y(. 'aoist Yoga* +-chemy V (mmorta-ity. Boston8 *eiser Boos" !:%?.


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Mc5adden" J. Synchrono(s 5iring and 0ts 0n)l(ence on the Brain's #lectromagnetic 5ield8 #,idence)or an #lectromagnetic 5ield Theory o) >onscio(sness"CJorna- of ,onsciosness St$ies.,ol. :" no. 3 622.#. $ Mathematical Theory o) >omm(nication.C?e-- System 'echnica- Jorna-" no. 2%6J(ly !:3;achine.>ambridge8 M0T Press" !:3;.

*hicher" 0. 'he (ntegrity of the Yoga )arsana* + Reconsi$eration of ,-assica- Yoga. 7e+ Yor8State 9ni,ersity o) 7e+ Yor Press" !::;.

@ambito" S. 'he 5na$orne$ 'hrea$ of Yoga* 'he Yoga Stra of ataD6a-i in 7ng-ish 3 +,ompi-ation of 7ng-ish 'rans-ations of the Yoga Stra of ataD6a-i. Po(lsbo" *$8 TheYoga S(tras 0nstit(te Press" !::2.

@ohar" D. 'he Oantm Se-f. ondon8 5lamingo" !::!.

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