Knowledge is Structured in Consciousness

Greetings from India,

The hot weather has now arrived, with temperatures of 42 C / 108 F - and this is not summer. The heat will climb to 45C / 113F and above. I wonder if I will be able to hold out until my departure on 21/June.

In the meantime I am continuing my work here at Jiva Ayurveda until my departure. After work, I go to my room/cave and practice various forms of meditation. There is one known as ‘fatigue’ meditation, another called ‘too hot’ meditation. I have come to a place where I am able to observe my mind. Sometimes it feels a bit spooky, while at the same time quite fascinating.

I am reading a book by Dr. David Frawley, called ‘Ayurveda and the Mind, which I find very helpful. It also seems to me to be rather futile to seek knowledge, for this is what I have been doing all my life. The more I learn, the more that I realize I do not know. And, yet is that true? Do I not know it? Does anyone not know anything?

Maharishi once said to us, “Knowledge is structured in consciousness.” I, therefore wonder whether it is better to seek higher states of consciousness, which will then provide you with the knowledge and wisdom that is already in place. We, on the other hand are adept at putting ourselves ‘out of place’ or ‘out of sync’ with that which is already there. I feel that we, the human race may be doing it all back to front, the cart before the horse. If you have any ideas on this let me know.

The concept I am talking of is the “art of knowing.” Just knowing what is required at any given moment. In reality, when one goes for a degree, the truth is that if the individual has a good memory and remembers what is offered then the degree is assured, like even being a doctor. Does the degree indicate any level of competency? Not really, but we insist this is the way to go. Where is our knowing, our intuition?

I was discussing something similar with Steve the American Education Director here at Jiva school (1,000 students), and he recounted a story: A teacher approached him saying that she has a student who gives all the right answers but cannot arrive at the answers the way the text book demands. She wanted to know what to do with him. The discussion was about multiple intelligences. Steve’s advice was to leave the student alone. The importance here is that the student arrives at the correct answers, not how he /she does it.

Each of us perceives differently. Why do we all have to conform to someone else’s idea of what and how we are to act? Does this not destroy our individual expression of creativity? It seems to me we are due for a really good shake up in the way we perceive a ourselves and how we relate to the world around us. (Forgive me, but I do now recall that I have already mentioned this story on multiple intelligences).

So this is how I am spending my alone time. Seeking a way to my knowing. This is a great place to do that. The extreme paradoxes of India seem to create (in me anyway) an overload of my senses and everything freezes (like the computer). In this space I can witness everything without being emotionally involved.
Some years ago, I came across the concept of change in this context. If I do not like the results of my action, what do I do?

Most of us continue with the same action and PRAY for different results. Really, all we have to do is change our action and the results will change by themselves. This is a main reason why I came to India. I wanted different results in my life, and I felt it a good idea to do something quite radical, like step out of my comfort zone. I believe I did this quite thoroughly by coming to India. You see, India has this ability to take us in its arms, turn you upside down, and then shake the living daylights out of you. Compared to others I have had it very easy.

I am grateful to Dr. Partap Chauhan and his family at Jiva, who have welcomed me with open arms and kept me quite safe, even though I contracted dysentery in Agra, food poisoning by eating food outside of Jiva’s kitchen, which was explained to me that as it is now very hot, food can be contaminated very quickly. In the final analysis, my digestion is normalizing, and I am now observing my mind. What will emerge when I finally leave and return to the USA, only God knows.

On a lighter note, I wish to tell you about the wildlife again. The lizards are plentiful and quite aggressive, although they do not bother us people. They are slightly different colors/shades of stone, and they range from about 12 -14 inches, head to tail. I have now seen two green parrots flying free and wild. They have a red beak, and they look so very beautiful out of a cage. There is a plethora of chipmunk type creatures, with black and white stripes down their backs. They stay in pairs and play all the time. I saw one this morning looking very hot, pressed flat against the bough of a tree. The cockroaches are very large, but they seem slower than the ones I have known before. Probably, the heat slows then down. I have not seen them fly. That would be too much for me. The last time I saw flying cockroaches was in South Africa, many years ago. And that was a freak-out.

I think of you and trust all is well with you and those around you, family, friends.
With much love and many blessings
Tony