The Marblehead School of Raja Yoga

05/16/2025

It’s widely believed that a meteor led to the extinction of dinosaurs . Ironically, mankind’s hubris may have precipitated our own demise. I say “may have” because I pray for our children that it’s not too late to reverse course. Global warming alone would have done the job over time: a less habitable planet, diminishing natural resources, plus human ego isn’t a recipe for collective peace and prosperity....

It’s widely believed that a meteor led to the extinction of dinosaurs [apologies to fundamentalist Christians]. Ironically, mankind’s hubris may have precipitated our own demise.  I say “may have” because … Continue reading "Are we too late?"

04/21/2025

What’s the difference between a therapist, a life coach, and a guru? While they all provide similar counsel (i.e., how to be the best version of yourself), a guru acts and speaks from the heart, guided by something greater than him or her self. Milena is my guru. I’ve lost track of the number of therapists I’ve spoken to over fifty years of addiction, angst, self-destructive behavior and regret....

What’s the difference between a therapist, a life coach, and a guru? While they all provide similar counsel (i.e., how to be the best version of yourself), a guru acts … Continue reading "Milena Origgi, a testimonial"

04/10/2025

SELF-AWARENESS (An Example) Dearest Milena, This isn’t a Dear John letter; rather, it’s my Susan Collins speech. I’ve already made a decision; I just desperately want you to understand why. This feels right. Posting this isn’t so much a public declaration of love (as was my last post to my brother John) as it is me accelerating on the way down - kamikaze-style - while grinning!...

SELF-AWARENESS (An Example) [Caveat: high levels of ego contained herein! That’s actually the point: this is me slaying what’s left of mine.] Dearest Milena, This isn’t a Dear John letter; … Continue reading "To my guru Milena"

11/07/2021

11/06/2020

Still anxious?

Still open minded?

Here’s another exercise:

Contemplate the essence of what you’re made of: matter, energy, and consciousness.

One of these things is not like the others.

While matter and energy (your body & mind) are constantly changing, your awareness of them never does.

Close your eyes as if to meditate, and contemplate the nature of your own consciousness.

First, distinguish between your thoughts and your awareness of them (the latter is evidence of your consciousness).

Then contemplate the nature of that awareness.

Although it never changes, without consciousness you wouldn’t be aware of what you’re thinking or doing!!

Consider the ultimate quiet and stillness of the one thing known to man that is universal and never changes. Yours hasn’t changed since you were born (and is exactly like mine!) Imagine the affect that stillness might have on your emotions, thoughts and actions.

That’s the intent of prayer and meditation: to “see” that part of ourselves (as a connection to something greater) more clearly - and to contemplate its Source.

Contemplation of the intangible within you (which begs questions about its origin) will take your mind off what’s bothering you.

Knowing there’s a part of you that nothing can harm, that isn’t “born” and doesn’t “die” in any tangible sense, will leave you feeling somehow more connected, comforted and empowered. This is how we find serenity, courage and wisdom. 🙏

Within you is something that science can’t explain, that’s immutable, that’s essentially omnipotent, omniscient and eternal. Realizing that and seeing it as evidence of something greater than yourself will have a profound affect on how you see and live your life - and will bring you lasting peace.

Namaste 🙏❤️

06/14/2020

Conversation between me and Daughter:

Me: Your consciousness (awareness) never dies. While what you’re aware of changes constantly, your awareness itself never does. This is the basis of yoga.

Sarah: So when I die, I’ll know I’m dead?

Me: 🤦‍♂️ No; your consciousness effectively leaves your body at that point - and eventually inhabits a newborn body.

Sarah: So my awareness is recycled?!?!

Me: Yes; our consciousness and affiliated unfulfilled karma live on; it’s as if we change clothes - or like crabs change shells.

Sarah: How long does it take to be reborn?

Me: I have no idea, but in between lives, you’re essentially asleep.

Sarah: So we dream while we’re dead?

Me: 🤦‍♂️ No. Consciousness “sleeps in rocks, dreams in trees, stirs in animals and awakens in man.”

When you die, your body becomes like a stone (it returns to a mineral versus an animate state); sorry - no dreams.

Sarah: Are you just making this s**t up?

Me: No. Yogis believe in reincarnation (or recycling). Our awareness is literally intangible; it doesn’t change during our lifetime; it’s neither born nor dies in a physical sense. Reincarnation goes a long way towards explaining childhood prodigies who are born with highly developed skills. Besides - knowing you’ll be back takes a lot of the stress off during this life!

Sarah: So why don’t we remember our prior life experiences?

Me: Some yogis attribute it to a natural “veil” that falls away upon enlightenment; others contend that memories don’t survive along with consciousness and karma from life to life.

Sarah: So how do I come back as a trust fund baby - or a legit princess?

Me: The circumstances of one’s birth are a cumulative consequence of our behavior in past lives. The unfulfilled consequences of your prior life actions (good or bad) will manifest in your next life - so be good in this life!!

Most of yoga is about conducting ourselves in such a way as to minimize or eliminate negative karma - basically, follow your heart and the Golden Rule and you’ll improve your chances of being born a princess in your next life!

Love you!

❤️🕉☯️🙏

02/09/2020

Here’s an excerpt from The “Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,” the international bestseller by Buddhist master, Sogyal Rinpoche in which he describes realizing the nature of Consciousness: the holy grail of Patanjali’s classical yoga. Christians and Jews refer to it as “being reborn”; yo...

01/18/2020

The horse-drawn chariot is a metaphor for you: The chariot is your body. The horses are your senses – drawn toward the objects of desire. The reins are your sub-conscious mind – the part of you responsible for acting. The driver is your conscious mind – the part of you responsible for thinking...

11/23/2019

Happy Thanksgiving! 🙏❤️🕉

Mindfulness (observing without judgement what’s happening in the present moment) is a good first step. We all know that life is fleeting, and if we’re paying attention to the past or future, we’re not really living. But true bliss comes from a deeper place – it comes from recognizing the mir...

10/05/2019

Here’s how: Identify your conscious ‘thinking’ mind: try simultaneously solving 2 simple math problems – or simultaneously counting and reciting the alphabet. Right – your conscious mind (the part you hear and use all day long to make decisions and solve problems) can only do one thing at ...

07/21/2019

“Enlightenment” is akin to being “born again”: finding an unshakeable belief in the existence of a Higher Power. There’s a reason “Faith” comes first in “1 Corinthians 13:13”: unwavering faith in the existence of God gives rise to boundless hope and love. Are you suffering? Do you ...