Spirituality

Importance of an Open Heart in Spirituality

Maharshi Yadnyavaikalya was a legendary sage and author, who wrote Brihadaranyaka Upanishad about 2900 years ago, considered one of the oldest scriptures in Hinduism. In this ancient text, he explains the importance of the heart in spirituality.  

He says the heart is the abode of all beings, supporting all beings. The heart is the supreme Divine. Furthermore, the great Rishi says, the heart never deserts him who, knowing this, meditates upon it; all beings eagerly approach him; and being a God, he attains the Gods. Much has been written on the broken heart, but we will discuss the importance of an open seat in spirituality in this blog. 

What is a heart in spirituality?

The physical heart is an organ located in the chest, which pumps the oxygenated blood towards the organs, bringing oxygen and energy to each cell of the body. Everyone knows that. But only the spiritual practitioners are aware of the heart that lies in our subtle body. Also called Anahata, this heart chakra is the energy centre of the subtle body, which plays a vital role in our spiritual growth and well-being.

Ramakrishna Paramahansa used to say the heart is the shrine of the body, and just like any other shrine, it should not be left in the darkness. It should always be illuminated with the light of love and wisdom. While behaving and interacting, spiritually awakened entities cannot differentiate between two people or even between humans and animals. They treat everyone with unconditional love and respect. The awakened heart makes it possible for them to do so.  

We all are connected with the Divine with the fine thread of love with the Divine. This connection stays dormant and inactive for many years for many of us. As we open up our hearts with spirituality, that connection re-activates.

Ways to open your heart to the life

Nature.

 Take a hike to spend some time outside. Every day, the sun rises and sets, and every day, it’s your choice to witness it. Go out camping, build a fire. Keep a couple of plants on your work desk. Let yourself connect with mother earth. Be amazed at the beauty we take for granted. Effortless and straightforward love of Mother Nature will open your heart.

Forgiveness. 

 When we don’t forgive, we make ourselves suffer. Lack of forgiveness is one significant reason our hearts are closed and tied. Forgiveness frees our spirit. Forgiving yourself and others is a great heart opener. When you let yourself and others go, you lift the heavy burden from your shoulders, allowing you to have more room to make yourself better.

Get on the ARK

 ARK is an act of random kindness. Maybe it will be as little as helping someone unload groceries from their trunk, or maybe it will be volunteering at a homeless shelter, assisting strangers to enhance our empathy on deeper levels. It allows us to experience a heart-to-heart connection with others.

Yoga

 Yoga is not just to acquire flexibility; it’s a two-thousand-year-old tradition, explicitly focusing on different muscles, organs, and energy centers. Salamba Bhujangasana (Sphinx pose), Ustrasana (camel pose), Marjarasana (cat pose) or may it be the Matsyasana (fish pose), each and every one of these yoga pose helps us to open our chest and put our Heart Chakra in a receptive position.

Getting in touch with our feelings.

 Since childhood, we have been trained not to show and act upon our feelings and emotions. We have been told not to cry, although we feel restless, uneasy, distracted, or inconvenient. Ignoring our feelings creates a blockage in our Heart Chakra, and all those negative emotions are pent up. Find a safe space where you can be you and shout, cry, laugh, shake yourself, yell, sing your lungs out. Give yourself a space to express yourself, and open up your heart to all the feelings you have pressed down.

Heart-Mind Alignment

 Located at the center of our chest, Anahata or the Heart Chakra is the fourth energy center in our subtle body, associated with compassion, affection, and internal strength. This Chakra acts as the bridge between the lower three and upper three Chakras. When it is in balance, it enhances our ability to love unconditionally.

Blocked heart Chakra could have some severe consequences. Lack of empathy, being withdrawn, isolation, unforgiveness, excessive self-criticism, or being detached from the emotions are a few signs of your Heart Chakra being blocked.

Many ways could aid in balancing the Heart Chakra. We can use essential oils containing Lime, Copaiba, spearmint, geranium, and rose for positivity upliftment and boost self-love. Crystals like quartz are known as the stone of unconditional love and heart healing. Wearing those aids in restoring the balance in the Heart Chakra.

Meditation for Heart Chakra Balance

 Meditation is the best tool when it comes to restoring our Chakras. Chakra meditation is a meditation technique similar to regular meditation. Still, here, we concentrate on the specific energy center of the body, called Chakra. Let’s look at the step-by-step process for the Heart Chakra balancing meditation.

-Sit in a quiet place, preferably in your prayer room. Sit with the straight spine and eyes closed. 

 -Relax your muscles and take a few deep breaths. Fill your lungs with air completely, pause for a second and exhale, emptying your lungs completely. Pause for a second, and repeat the process for two minutes. 

 -Imagine a glowing green sphere in the middle of your chest, at the heart level. Imagine healing rays from your Third Eye Chakra are falling on the Heart Chakra, healing it.

 -Breathe in life and love energy. Feel the love and warmth growing inside of you. Fell the heat of passion in both your palms. 

 -Visualize your heart becoming a light orb that is emanating light and filling your entire body with warmth, love, and light. This energy, love, light, and warmth become stronger as you keep breathing in and out.    

 -You can chant the Beej (seed) Mantra ‘Yang’ to balance the heart Chakra. For the first five minutes, you should chant it loudly, and then, you can chant it in your mind for the next nine to ten minutes without moving your lips. After that, open your eyes, and continue with your day.

We hope this blog helped you understand the importance of an open heart in spirituality.  

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