Opening of the Heart

 Opening of the Heart

All scriptures, great Masters have always insisted that the heart should be open and then it evolves like a blooming lotus. The opening of the heart is also compared with blooming lotus. And the heart is often depicted as the lotus heart or HrudayaKamal. Heart is always compared with lotus. And as they say there is Sahasra Dal Kamal (a thousand petalled lotus) on the crown of your head, the destination of the spiritual journey.

(Please enjoy the video of blooming lotus above in a meditative mode and draw your own insights about your inner life.)

How does the heart open?

This is the question we often face during our inner practices. We can get a clear clue from the blooming of lotus that it is effect of the sun's rays that makes the lotus to flower or bloom or open. We can infer that our heart opens with the rays of Hid grace like sun's rays. Only Grace can open the heart.

Is the heart closed?

It appears so otherwise we will not think of opening. And all the Masters of Spirituality will not insist on the opening of the heart for success in spiritual evolution. Misery, lack of clarity and restlessness is the proof of our closed heart.

What makes the heart close?

If we can peep into our hearts dispassionately we will find that the harbouring of the following things are the reason for a closed heart: Fear, Negativity, Lust, Anger, Miserliness, Attachment, Arrogance, Jealousy, Prejudice. They are invisible realities in all of us; for whatever reasons. These things cause enormous stress in every layer of our being (broadly body, mind and soul) and make our life miserable. And every being consciously or unconsciously is praying intensely or longing intensely to get out of this mess that we got into somehow. And the stress caused is progressively increasing day-by-day instead of decreasing; the peace of mind is decreasing progressively every day. 

When does the Grace happen?

It is ONLY when the prayer or longing of the being for release is genuine, intense and we are able to wait patiently that the Grace descends, happens. And the heart starts opening up. 

What is the role of Spiritual practice in this?

Assiduous spiritual practice facilitates the Grace to continue on the seeker's heart; allows the heart to open more and more, layer by layer, petal by petal. Spiritual practice is a conscious effort to attract God's Grace. 

What is the role of Character?

The role of character is vital in the opening of heart. Constant vigil on the character and working on it facilitates the blooming of the heart easily. Vigil on the character is watching our Words, Deeds, Thoughts, Behaviour and Intentions.

What is the role of the Guru?

Guru is the bridge between the being and the God; God with form is Guru and Guru without form is God, say our Masters. He is the catalyst to hasten this process. That is why the need for surrender , saranagati, eeshwara pranidhaana towards the Guru.

What happens when the heart opens up?

The heart when it open up starts evolving to the highest possible state open to humankind. The heart becomes what it ought to be from what it is. It becomes the light for others to help them find the light too. 

Just imagine a lake FULL of lotuses and imagine the world FULL of open hearts; It is the opening of our hearts that this world becomes a better place to live in making us better and better human beings.