Harmony at Work

by Haridas Blake, excerpted from “Live More Superconsciously”, from the proceedings of the 40th National Convention of the Indian Society for Training and Development, 11-13 February 2010, Bangalore. Haridas also lead a pre-conference workshop, “Energizing the Trainer: Tools to Increase Your Magnetism and Impact”.)

Everyday, we experience living on many levels of our being. Our energy lifts up and drops down. Our awareness brightens and dims. Most people consider these experiences their lot in life! They may reason that some are born happy while others less so—there’s not much one can do but squeeze the most out of life and forget the rest. The art and science of yoga takes a more energetic approach to the challenges of life’s constant ups and downs.

The formula is simple and straightforward: practice inner stillness and you will know your center. A naturalist studies nature by patient observation. In time, with continued effort, he becomes an expert in his field by watching and learning nature’s extraordinary ways. We too, like the seasoned naturalist, can gain immeasurably by taking the time to watch and study ourselves. To make steady progress in this important life assignment, and ultimately to succeed, requires a lot of energy and a true spirit of adventure!

The Superconscious Mind

Every day we find ourselves influenced by three aspects of our mind:

• Subconscious: stores all past habits, thoughts, actions, etc., and also acts as the agent for the state of sleep
• Conscious: engages in problem solving, and directs us through reason and common sense
• Superconscious (see endnote): acts as the calm, wise, intuitive counselor

The key is to live more superconsciously. With encouragement, the superconscious, intuitive mind trains us to stay alert and in the moment. Daily the superconscious mind can act as the “traffic controller”, drawing as needed upon the subconscious mind for important past experience and the conscious mind for creative reason. This results in our being more centered and well equipped at all of life’s turns.

One invaluable way to become more aware of how the superconscious mind works is to practice regular daily meditation. Through the vehicle of meditation we began to experience the benefits of stilling our restless mind, feelings, and breath. This creates a bridge to lead us to our higher self.

Many people are confused and unhappy only because they haven’t taken the needed time to know themselves. Every problem has a solution. And every solution can be found in our center—once we have discovered where it is!

With the unreasonable pace of life, and with its unending complexities, it’s no small wonder that people are dusting off the practical, time-tested techniques of meditation, to reclaim the grand prize: peace of mind. The challenge of living a happy, balanced life is not so daunting as we may think, provided we have some simple instruction and the right tools for the job!

Harmony at Work teaches Yogananda’s techniques of meditation as part of our corporate training programmes. We also offer for download a free slideshow, Recharge Yourself at Your Desk.

Endnote
French professors were the first in the West to be willing to scientifically investigate the possibilities of the superconscious mind. Professor Jules-Bois, member of the L’Ecole de Psychologie of the Sorbonne, lectured in America in 1928; he told his audiences that French scientists have accorded recognition to the superconsciousness, “which is the exact opposite of Freud’s subconscious mind and is the faculty which makes man really man and not just a super-animal.” M. Jules-Bois explained that the awakening of the higher consciousness “was not to be confused with Coueism or hypnotism. The existence of a superconscious mind has long been recognized philosophically, being in reality the Oversoul spoken of by Emerson, but only recently has it been recognized scientifically.” The French scientist pointed out that from the superconsciousness come inspiration, genius, moral values. “Belief in this is not mysticism though it recognized and valued the qualities which mystics preached.” (Excerpted from Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi, 1946 edition, Chapter 7, p. 59. Read online.) (back to article)

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Tags: consciousness, creativity, intuition, meditation, peace, stress management, subconscious, yoga

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