Know yourself before you die! - the Brain Jockey Club motto
Q. What is a brain jockey?
A. A brain jockey is a yogi without all the unscientific beliefs and excess cultural baggage of Hinduism and Buddhism. A brain jockey utilizes intense self-observation to know himself before he dies. Brain jockeys practice authentic meditation techniques for years in order to rewire their brains to make them more conscious.
Q. What does a brain jockey believe?
A. A brain jockey does not cling to philosophical and religious beliefs. He observes that human beings have existence on two levels. On one level of observation he sees that we exist as temporary individuals, just infinitesimally small parts of the universe. Brain jockeys accept that the individual is mortal without trying to cover up our vulnerability and impermanence with religious myths. From the greater perspective, the brain jockey also factually observes that we are also the whole universe. The Big Bang Theory aside, the universe is basically immortal in terms of concepts of time that humans can comprehend.
Q. Who is the leader of the brain jockeys?
A. Brain jockeys have no leader, no heroes, and do not follow any individual or cult.
Q. How much does it cost to become a brain jockey?
A. It's free! A brain jockey only spends his own time and patient effort to meditate.
Q. Isn't "brain jockey" a silly name?
A. Yes! A brain jockey maintains a sense of humor because he knows that life is short and entertainment is the only purpose of life. If you are not being entertained, there is no point in being here.
Q. Will meditation make me wiser, healthier, and give me supernatural powers?
A. Meditation will not make you smarter and has little to do with intelligence. Phony gurus over-sell meditation in order to increase their profits. If you have no profit motive in meditation you can tell the truth about its limitations. Meditation will not solve all the world's problems, will not improve your health dramatically, and will not make you all-seeing and all-knowing. Meditation will not give you the power to walk on water, but it may make you feel as though you are walking in the clouds. Instead of taking illegal drugs to get high, meditation is cheaper, safer, and healthier.
Q. Should everyone meditate?
A. No. Meditation is not for everyone. If meditation does not spontaneously interest you, then do not force yourself. The stars will not fall out of the sky just because you decide to live a life without formal meditation practice. There are other positive things you can do to improve your life. For example, jogging and swimming are excellent physical exercises which will reduce stress, make you more relaxed, and improve your health. Meditation is only something you do because you want to gain the indescribable experiences it brings. Meditation is one of the few things that improves with age. Your looks and your sex life are not going to get better as you grow older. Your power of meditation will continually improve with age if you practice regularly with intensity. If you just give meditation lip service, without regular practice, you will gain nothing.
Our ultimate destiny as individuals is fixed no matter what we do. Death is just around the corner for all human animals, and there is nothing you can gain from meditation that will not be lost by your death. It's all in the brain, and when your brain dies your meditation will come to an abrupt and permanent end. There is no coming back. Meditation may make you more relaxed, sleep better, and reduce your level of fear and tension, but it will not solve all of your personal, financial, and political problems, or turn you into a saint. Those who pose as saints, superheroes, and reincarnations of famous historic figures are either sincerely self-deluded or cunning frauds.
Gurus who sell quick meditation methods, encounter groups, seminars, and PBS specials are just taking advantage of the innocent. The very synapses in your brain must be rewired to reconnect in new ways to gain progress in meditation. [see scans prove meditation alters the brain] This organic transformation takes a long time, and there is no way around patient practice. All authentic meditation methods can be done alone, at home, at no financial cost to you. See Meditation Handbook for powerful ancient and new meditation techniques.
Copyright notice: Please feel free to copy, repost, or publish The Brain Jockey Club (© 2004 Christopher Calder). You may repost or publish any of my essays without cost, but you must clearly state that the essays were written by Christopher Calder, and you must not change any of my words or their meanings. I prefer that those who repost my essays install a web link to my home page, but that request is not a demand. This is a 100% free website, published only for the benefit of other students of meditation.