The unchecked, lopsided warfare now being waged within our mind by the combined forces of Ego, Senses and Unconscious against the Conscience, is the primary cause of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pain. This persistent inner conflict distracts and depletes our energy and creativity. It keeps us endlessly doing, consuming, grasping, manipulating, obliterating and fearing. And it denies us the true freedom of an Enlightened state of Consciousness. Ironically, such pathological thinking is what the mind accepts as “normal.” When we blindly adopt this misunderstanding, our Conscience loses its capacity to guide us safely and rewardingly through every relationship, on every field of action in thought, word and deed. And without regular access to the Divine Super Conscious Wisdom and guidance reflected by our Conscience 24/7, we will habitually identify with the limited personality, while the wisdom of our Divine essence remains buried at the core of our being.
Today, a new reliance on our Conscience as our guide can empower each of us to access and integrate intuitive wisdom, and to establish greater personal security, creativity and peace of mind. As we experiment with the profound gifts of the Conscience to determine our thoughts, words and deeds, we are destined to become both the instruments and beneficiaries of our own Super Conscious Wisdom. For this noble endeavor, learning how to use and experiment with the infinite resources of the Conscience is not simply a good idea, it is a dire necessity. And all the information you need can be found here on pages 3-9.
ConscienceMonth.org • January 2025
Easy Step-by-Step Guide
#1. CONSCIENCE
Like a continuously broadcast radio signal, your Conscience can reliably advise you which thoughts to think, words to speak and actions to take that will enable you to live your life in freedom. Yoga Science calls this invaluable function of the mind buddhi, and early Christian traditions called it the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost. Everyone has a Conscience. It’s one of the four functions of
the human mind. But when we don’t use it regularly, its quiet voice gets overpowered by the more insistent voices of the Ego, Logic-Senses, and Unconscious. Although their advice can be helpful, it can also prove unrewarding or painful because it’s based on only a limited perspective.
The Conscience, however, is the lone function of mind with a panoramic view, the unique ability to discriminate objectively, and decide appropriately what’s to be done and what’s not to be done. That critically important, far-reaching power is available to every human being and operates as a mirror. The Conscience can access unerring intuitive wisdom from the Superconscious Mind, and reflect that Perfect insight into our Conscious Mind. When we routinely let the Conscience be our guide, we learn by personal experience that what it says is true. The only question that remains is: Do we have the will power to align our thoughts, words and
CONSCIENCE
This is How We Receive Inner Wisdom
January Conscience Month 2025
actions with the wise and good counsel of the Conscience. The idea that the Conscience can reflect infallible wisdom from the Superconscious Mind is not a figment of the imagination. This Superconscious Mind is real, the source from which Albert Einstein saw mathematical equations, and Paul McCartney hears beautiful melodies. Albert Einstein himself clearly stated that, “A problem cannot be solved on the level at which it appears. It must be solved on a higher level.” The “higher level” that Einstein referred to is the intuition brought into our Conscious Mind through the Conscience
But here’s our challenge: If we continue to accept the inflated promises from the culture, senses, unconscious habits and ego, without seeking the wise counsel of the Conscience, we only guarantee ourselves future forms of dis-ease or pain. The only way to know for certain what’s to be done and what’s not to be done in each moment is to follow the wisdom of the Conscience. When we let the Conscience choose our thoughts, words and deeds, our lives are definitely more healthy, happy, creative, and productive, and more free of stress and pain.
or losing, pleasant or unpleasant. The Ego’s insistent voice can be valid and useful. We all know, for example, we need a healthy ego to skillfully drive a car. But in certain situations the Ego’s inherent biases must be overruled. Left unchecked, the often-wrong but neverin-doubt Ego can waste a lot of our energy and creativity chasing the nonexistent gold at the end of every rainbow.
#3. LOGIC-SENSES
Sight, Smell, Taste, Hearing, Touch
Seeking happiness and security, the mind’s Logic-Senses function employs the organs of sight, taste, smell, hearing and touch. The senses quite spontaneously expend our creative energy because it is their nature to do so. They scour the world for anything that delights or promises safety. Then, taking its cue from each suggested thought, desire, emotion and concept, this Logic function continually asks the question, “Should I do it, or should I not do it?”
#2. EGO
Creates “Likes and Dislikes” and assumes responsibility for self-preservation
The Ego’s primary responsibility is preserving and protecting our individual mind-bodysense complex. Motivated by that important mission, the Ego narrowly defines choices in terms of various forms of “likes” and “dislikes” such as: good or bad, praise or blame, winning
#4.
UNCONSCIOUS
Habits & Concepts about Self-Preservation
The Unconscious portion of the mind is analogous to a computer’s hard drive. It’s a reservoir of all our habit patterns, including
ConscienceMonth.org • January 2025
both those that serve us well and some that don’t. It’s a storehouse of information useful in fulfilling all the desires and concepts the Ego has deemed essential to self-preservation.
consequences. Have you made a decision yet?” Without a decision, the Logic-Senses function of the mind repeats again and again, “You have two choices: A or B. Will you do it, or will you not do it? Will it be A or B? A or B? A or B?”
Now that you know the 4 Functions of the Mind, you need to coordinate them, so the Conscience can be their guide, and yours as well!
Now that you know the 4 Functions of the Mind, you need to coordinate them, so the Conscience can be their guide, and yours as well!
COORDINATING
The 4 Functions of Mind
To Make the Best Choices & Outcomes
With the information collected from the Ego, Senses and Unconscious Mind, the Logic function of the mind presents two possible choices for consideration. It begins by saying, “You have two basic alternatives. There is alternative A, which will probably result in consequences one, two, three and four, and there is alternative B, which will probably result in a different set of consequences one, two, three and four. Kindly make a decision and take an action.”
After the Logic-Senses function of the mind concludes its monologue on alternatives and consequences, it waits a bit for our decision. If none is forthcoming, it automatically begins again. “You have two basic choices: alternative A with certain consequences and alternative B with certain other
The relentless repetition is at first annoying, then frustrating, and eventually, exhausting. The doubt and indecision play on like an old broken record, and this inability or unwillingness to make a decision based on the available information is a major cause of stress in our lives.
The Logic of the mind works like a computer. No matter how sophisticated and swift its operation, the computer is always dealing with one solitary question: yes or no? one or zero?. The cumulative contributions of the Ego, Logic-Senses, and Unconscious are vital, but as with the computer, none of these functions of the human mind have any capacity to decide what’s to be done, and what’s not to be done. That work is the exclusive purview of the Conscience. Now comes the really interesting part.
Fortunately for us, our mind comes equipped with a Conscience, the only function of the mind that can discriminate, determine, judge and decide. But in order for us to apply the wisdom of the Conscience, and benefit from its wisdom in every relationship, we need to parent the Ego, Senses and Unconscious Mind by convincing them to support the unerring wisdom of the Conscience . That’s easy when the Conscience agrees with the Ego, Senses and Unconscious Mind. But when the Conscience disagrees with their limited or flawed perspectives, we need to lovingly encourage them to set aside their old, habitual reactions just for the sake of a scientific experiment: trusting the Conscience. When you begin to follow the advice of your Conscience, you’ll undoubtedly be asked to give up a few old habits that conflict with your own Inner Wisdom. But, please, don’t take on too much too soon! When experimenting, it’s always best to begin sacrificing
small, seemingly insignificant “no brainers.” That way, it will be easier to convince the Ego, Senses and Unconscious that your Conscience and the Super Conscious Wisdom it alone has access to, is less threatening than they once thought. Instead, choose just one seemingly insignificant old habit that would be relatively easy to give up. Perhaps you’ll let go of a second cup of coffee in the morning, or half a cookie with lunch. Maybe you’ll give up snoozing that extra ten minutes in the morning, or the habit of not brushing your teeth after every meal. Remember, if your experiment is easy, it will be right. And if it’s right, it will be easy.
Step by step, as you let your Conscience be your guide, you, and all four functions of your mind will reliably experience the pleasure and reward of doing what’s to be done, and not doing what’s not to be done. As you more frequently let the Conscience be your guide, you’ll be creating the new habit of trusting and employing the Conscience, and as a result, your entire mind-body-sense complex will feel better physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And the world will benefit as well.
But the undisputed proof of that bold statement can only be discovered through your willingness to do the experiments.
Unless a mirror is cleaned regularly, dust and debris naturally accumulate on its surface and obscure the mirror’s reflective quality. Analogously, when we don’t create a healthy habit of using our Conscience to skillfully choose the thoughts we think, words we speak and actions we take, the Conscience begins to lose its capacity to accurately reflect the Perfect Super Conscious Wisdom from the core of our being. As a result, the Conscience makes decisions for us by simply“rubber stamping” the loudest voices it can hear and reflecting them into our Conscious Mind. In such a compromised condition, most of our thoughts, words and deeds wind up serving the narrow-minded, often short-sighted and flawed perspectives of the Ego, Senses and Unconscious. In the face of such challenges, the Conscience will still decide what to do and what not to do, but its decisions will definitely be made only on the basis of limited, and possibly faulty vision that very often leads to pain.
However, each time you use your Conscience, you’re continuously cleaning its mirror-like capacity to reflect the highest Truth, and you will be positively and rewardingly guided in every relationship and circumstance. Therefore, one of the most meaningful ways you can personally experience the benefits of Conscience Month is to experiment using your own Conscience when deciding which thoughts to think, words to speak and actions to take. Remember, your Conscience already knows that not everything your personality “likes” is good for you, and that everything the personality “dislikes” isn’t always bad for you. So begin today by choosing to experiment with small, relatively easy decisions, and within hours you’ll be feeling positive about yourself, more self-confident, self-reliant, and grateful for the love and kindness you are offering to yourself and to the world.
Experimenting with your Conscience
By Laurie Gold (Chandra)
Chandra Laurie Gold is a professional writer, print designer and marketing consultant, and has been a student at AMI for ten years. When you make choices guided by the wisdom of your Conscience, you will feel better mentally, physically and spiritually. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Try these simple experiments and see how you feel:
EAT HEALTHY: Every day you have choices to make about what, when and how you eat. When you use your Conscience to make better food choices, you strengthen your will power and resolve. Over time, making wise food choices will result in significant improvements to your health and wellbeing. Try these simple experiments:
REMOVE DISTRACTIONS: Before eating a meal, remove all distractions such as reading material, TV, music and cell phones. Try eating your meal in silence, focusing on the flavors and texture of the food in your mouth, to the exclusion of all else. Let your senses enjoy each bite. If your mind wanders, let your Conscience gently guide you back to the food.
SLOW DOWN: Try putting your fork down after each bite. Ask your Conscience if you are hungry before taking the next bite. Wait 20 minutes before you consider dessert. Then ask your Conscience if you’re still hungry, or if having only half a dessert is the better choice.
OBSERVE YOUR FOOD: Is the food you eat providing you enough energy and nutrition, or leaving you feeling depleted? Ask your Conscience what food choices might make your body and mind feel healthier and happier. Start small. Try incorporating one healthy food choice at a time. For example, substitute a piece of fruit for a cookie. Or eat half a cookie.
EXAMINE YOUR MOTIVES: Before you reach into the refrigerator or cabinet to get a snack, ask your Conscience whether you are actually hungry. If you are simply bored or anxious, try redirecting your energy toward a positive activity, such as taking a walk or reaching out to a friend in need.
Practice Gratitude: Before you eat a meal, consider the ultimate source of the food, and the effort involved in bringing the
food to your plate. Mentally offer a word of thanks for the gift of nourishment.
Reflect: After you’re finished with each experiment, contemplate how you feel. Are you pleasantly satisfied or uncomfortably stuffed? Are you pleased with your choices, or do you feel regrets? Regardless of the outcome, congratulate yourself on doing the experiment using your own Inner Wisdom. You’re building confidence in your ability to make positive choices that will lead you to a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.
BE MORE PRODUCTIVE: People who try to multitask actually get less done, are more stressed out, and perform worse than those who focus on a single task. You can increase your productivity by giving complete attention to just one task at a time. Let your Conscience guide you toward work habits that increase your productivity, creativity and satisfaction. Try these simple experiments:
START SMALL: If you are having difficulty starting or completing a project, ask your Conscience if you are taking on too much too soon. Try giving your full attention to one small step in the process. For example, if you need to clean the bathroom, bring out your supplies and start with just the sink. Taking a small step will build your will power and help guide you toward completion.
MONOTASK: Focus on one task for 15 minutes. No email, no phone calls, no internet. If you find it difficult to stay focused, ask your Conscience if breaking down this challenge into smaller chunks of time (5 or 10 minutes) is kinder to yourself. Over time, slowly work yourself up to 45 minutes (90 minutes max).
TAKE A BREAK: It may sound counterintuitive, but taking regularly scheduled breaks actually increases your productivity. Ask your Conscience if a mindful walk would be helpful to incorporate into your daily routine.
TRY YOUR BEST: Good enough can be better than perfection. If you find yourself lingering on a task, ask your Conscience whether it’s time to take it off your plate. You can always come back to it later if it needs adjustment.
REVIEW: As you finish each experiment, reflect on how you feel. Did you accomplish more or less than you expected? Are you pleased with the choices you made or do you feel regrets? Regardless of the outcome, congratulate yourself on doing the experiment. You’re building confidence in your ability to make choices that will lead you to a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life.
STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS: The quality of your relationships can suffer if you don’t give them your full attention. Your Conscience can offer you decisions that cultivate happier, healthier relationships and increase your capacity to love. Try these simple experiments:
Listen To Others: When talking with someone give them your full, complete and undivided attention. Avoid interrupting. Recap what the other person has said. Let them know they were heard, even if the Ego disliked or was bored with what was said.
Practice Patience: When you find yourself getting impatient with another person, ask your Conscience to guide you toward understanding and love rather than avoidance or anger. Try setting aside your own personal needs, and put another person’s needs first (just as an experiment).
Observe Anger: When you become aware of anger, take a time out. Don’t allow negative emotion to poison your entire body. Pause to examine which function of the mind authored the anger, and ask your Conscience if there is a more compassionate way to express what you truly need in this situation.
Give Love Freely: When you find yourself withholding love, ask your Conscience if building a wall to protect yourself is in everyone’s best interest. If not, reach out to the other person without expectation.
Contemplate: After you are finished with each experiment, reflect on how you feel. Did you experience anxiety, anger or fear? How did you benefit from the experience? Are you pleased with the choices you made, or do you feel any regrets? Regardless of the outcome, congratulate yourself on doing the experiment, knowing that better choices will lead you to a more rewarding life.
FEEL HAPPIER: Every thought you think, word you say and action you take has a direct effect on your state of mind. When your
thoughts, words and actions reflect the wisdom of your Conscience, you will experience happiness, fullness and peace of mind. Try these simple experiments:
Shift Perspective: Is your glass half full or half empty? When things aren’t going your way, try shifting your perspective to see the value and humor in what’s being brought to your awareness. Ask your conscience, “What is the lesson to be learned from this situation?”
Examine Your Energy: The next time you feel drained, ask your Conscience if it has to do with the food you ate, the interactions you’ve had (or haven’t had) with people, or the quality of sleep you had the night before. If you could do it over again, what would be a better course of action? What would make you more energized and less drained?
Feed Your Soul: Watch less TV. Set a limit to your internet browsing. Turn off your cell phone. Instead, let your Conscience guide you towards healthier activities such as a nature walk, a creative endeavor or connecting with friends and family.
Take Care of Yourself: Give yourself the gift of time. Get up an hour earlier. Let your Conscience guide you toward a self-care routine that strengthens your immune system. Do it with intention and stay focused. For example, watch the birds outside as you enjoy your cup of tea. Try some gentle stretching. Take a mindful walk around the block. Ask your Conscience what might be the best time to begin meditating in the early morning.
Serve Others: Next time you feel sad or anxious, try a simple act of kindness such as opening the door for someone, helping an elderly person with groceries, or volunteering at your local animal shelter or food pantry. Serving others can be uplifting and fulfilling.
Review: After each experiment, note how you feel. Anxious or calm? Are you pleased with your choices, or do you feel any regrets? Regardless of the outcome, congratulate yourself on doing the experiment. By letting the Conscience be your guide, you’ll be building confidence in your ability to make life-affirming choices that will lead you to a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.
January 2025 will mark the 6th Annual observance of National Conscience Month. Throughout the month Americans from all walks of life will be imagining new ways to celebrate the benefits of experimenting with their Conscience to guide their thoughts, words and deeds.
Here’s a special opportunity for high school seniors across the nation! You’re now invited to participate in a unique and creative way by writing a short essay about using your Conscience instead of old habits. Think of a real situation in your life or create an imaginary scenario in which you allowed (or chose not to allow) your Conscience to guide your thoughts, words and actions. What were the results? What were the benefits? Did you experience any unexpected consequences? What did you learn from your experiment?
One talented student will receive a $2,795. scholarship,* awarded for an original essay of 1,000 words or less. *$2,000 scholarship for Higher Education, and $795 scholarship for the AMI Meditation Foundation Course
Submission Instructions: No membership or purchase of any kind is required to take part in the National Conscience Month Essay Contest. Essay submissions should be sent by email to ami@americanmeditation.org. Submissions should be sent as a PDF attachment. Submissions must be received no later than Monday, February 3, 2025. The contest winner will be notified by email. Submissions may be featured by the American Meditation Institute either online or in print in connection with National Conscience Month programming and promotions, and the right to reproduce submissions is reserved by AMI. For complete information visit: ConscienceMonth.org E-mail
A Six-Week Scientific Journey to Enlightenment
A MI MEDITATIO N® Foundation Course of Yoga Science
with Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev)
A Living Link in the World’s Oldest Health & Wisdom Spiritual Tradition
A Clinically Proven Mind/Body/Spirit Curriculum
Developed by Leonard Perlmutter (Ram Lev), and derived from his award-winning books
The Heart and Science of Yoga and YOUR CONSCIENCE ®
Yoga Science & Philosophy–WEEK 1
Learn to expand your creative consciousness
How to use the mind for the best choices
Understanding pain as an agent for healing
Increasing energy, will power & creativity
Antidotes for worry, stress and depression
AMI Meditation®–W EEK 2
Systematic procedure for AMI Meditation®
Diminishing distractions with your Mantra
Learning the one-minute meditation
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Breathing Techniques–WEEK 3
Breath as Medicine
How breathing irregularities foster dis-ease
Three-part diaphragmatic breath
Yoga Psychology & Ayurveda–WEEK 4
Coordinate the Four Functions of the Mind to access the power and Inner Wisdom of Your Conscience
Use the power of NOW to build and heal relationships
Ayurvedic Medicine & Nutrition for your health
Easy-Gentle Yoga Exercises–WEEK 5
Yoga stretches to detox the lymph system and benefit your muscles, nerves, joints, glands & internal organs
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The practical benefits of contemplation
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Leonard (Ram Lev) is an American spiritual teacher, a direct disciple of medical pioneer Swami Rama of the Himalayas, and a living link to the world’s oldest health and wisdom spiritual tradition. A noted educator, philosopher and Yoga Scientist, Leonard is the founder of the American Meditation Institute, developer of the AMI Foundation Course curriculum, and originator of National Conscience Month. He is the author of the awardwinning books, The Heart and Science of Yoga® and YOUR CONSCIENCE, and the Mind/Body/Spirit Journal, Transformation. A rare and gifted teacher, Leonard’s writings and classes are enlivened by his inspiring enthusiasm, vast experience, wisdom, humor and a clear, practical teaching style. Leonard has presented courses at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, numerous medical colleges, Kaiser Permanente, the Commonwealth Club of California, the U. S. Military Academy at West Point and The New York Times Yoga Forum with Dean Ornish MD.
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JAN 5 - FEB 9: AMI MEDITATION see p. 11-12
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FEB 16 - MAR 23: AMI MEDITATION® see p. 11-12
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MAR 17 - APR 21: GITA/ YOGA PSYCHOLOGY see p. 14
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YOGA SCIENCE LAB ® How to Practice Meditation-in-Action
Valerie Chakedis Ed.D.
Prerequisite: AMI’s Foundation Course
Level II: In the AMI Meditation® Foundation Course, you learned that your thoughts are your most valuable asset. The Yoga Science Lab® will help you examine your thoughts and expand your ability to focus your attention. The techniques learned in seated AMI Meditation® are applied in every duty and responsibility throughout the day. This process is called Meditation-in-Action. As you experiment with the Truth reflected by your Conscience, you’ll develop decisionmaking skills that will enhance your confidence in all relationships. As you have already learned, to experience real freedom you must be centered in the present moment, know who you are, and follow your Inner Wisdom. The Yoga Science Lab® can help you achieve that freedom!
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MONDAYS, 6:30 - 8:30 PM ET, $150. (6 WKS) JAN 13 - FEB 17 AND MAR 17 - APR 21 LIVE ON ZOOM & AMI HOME CENTER
