Q: What is the subconscious? Some may call it the “Unconscious.”

The human being consists of many layers, but the three large divisions are the physical, astral and causal bodies or layers. The mind is also physical, astral and causal.

The physical brain is the seat and instrument of the conscious mind which includes the “upper” levels of the astral and causal minds. But since the human being is usually unaware of many of the levels of the astral and causal “brains” or minds, we call those levels “the subconscious.” In the subconscious are stored all the past life impressions (samskaras and vasanas) which greatly influence our personality and behavior, but reflexively, not consciously.

How does the subconscious help us? How does it burden us?

The subconscious is absolutely necessary for us to function, much less evolve. What really burdens us is our unawareness which confines us to acting instinctually when we should be acting rationally–intelligently and insightfully.

Sometimes it feels like a water buffalo smashing through the garden.

That is not its fault. What it disrupts is the result of our ignorance, the blindness of our consciousness.

Can we tame the subconscious? Need we do so?

What we need to do is bring into the light that which is presently in the dark because of the present limitations of our consciousness. To express it simply: we need to make conscious what is presently subconscious (unconscious).

We do this by delving into the depths of our minds and expanding our awareness of our total being through meditation. This is what Yoga is all about: becoming conscious. The yogi who applies himself does this quite naturally and virtually without effort.

Correct meditation practice

But of course, the practice must be effective, correct and complete.

It sounds too simple and too easy. Which is why those with tangled (they call it complex) minds:

1. never find it;
2. do not recognize it when they find it;
3. do not believe it is what is is when they find it;
   and therefore:
4. never really try it.

Further Reading about Meditation:

• Soham Yoga: An Introduction
• Dwelling in the Mirror: A Study of Illusions Produced by Delusive Meditation and How to Be Free from Them
• Soham Yoga in Paperback

This article on Sound and Breath in Meditation is taken from “Perspectives on Yoga,” a book by Abbot George Burke to be published later this year.

Although there is a great deal of interest in gimmicks and tricks in yoga and endless expositions of “shakti” and suchlike, the yogi really has one all-absorbing interest: sound (shabda).

He begins with sound and ends with sound, and his involvement in sound is what carries him along the path and ensures his success and prevents his going astray. Those who do not follow this path will almost surely go astray and wander afar.

Every element (bhuta) has a sensory experience that is common or “native” to it.

• Earth (prithvi) has smell;
• water (apa) has taste;
• fire (agni) has sight;
• air (vayu) has touch;
• and ether (akasha) has sound (shabda).

The power of sound alone has both an active and passive aspect. Akasha possesses the power to both generate sound and to hear it. Furthermore, Akasha alone is pure; all the other elements have admixtures of one another, including akasha.

Even more, the elements predominate in each one of our five bodies.

• Earth predominates in the annamaya kosha, the physical body.
• Water predominates in the pranamaya kosha, the pranic body.
• Fire predominates in the manomaya kosha, the body that is the sensory mind.
• Air predominates in the jnanamaya kosha, the body of the intellect.
• Ether predominates in the anandamaya kosha, the body of the will.

The two powers of the Ether

Since Ether is the ruler of the elements, and it has two powers, will and sound, yoga is based on sound produced by the yogi’s will and in which he becomes absorbed in meditation.

This is an important principle to keep in mind because many aspirants throughout the ages have wasted their lives practicing methods not based on these two powers of ether, and therefore became wanderers, and often self-distracters and self-deluders. [Read more…]