FW: [RamanaMaharshi] Hridaya - the Heart

[Guest guest]

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Harsha [Harsha]

Saturday, November 20, 2004 8:02 PM

'RamanaMaharshi'

RE: [RamanaMaharshi] Hridaya - the Heart

 

 

 

Thanks Gabriele. A central point made by Bhagavan many times.

 

 

 

Will pass it on to HS.

 

 

 

Harsha

 

 

 

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gabriele ebert [g.ebert]

Saturday, November 20, 2004 4:31 PM

RamanaMaharshi

[RamanaMaharshi] Hridaya - the Heart

 

 

 

 

 

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A staunch devotee of the Bhagavan sent a letter from England asking for an

explanation as to the term Hridaya and its significance. The following is

the gist of the reply written by T. K. Sundaresa Iyer and approved by the

Bhagavan:

 

 

 

"Just as there is a cosmic center from which the whole universe arises and

has its being and functions with the power or the directing energy emanating

therefrom, so also is there a center within the frame of the physical body

wherein we have our being. This center in the human body is in no way

different from the cosmic center. It is this center in us that is called the

Hridaya, the seat of Pure Consciousness, realized as Existence, Knowledge

and Bliss. This is really what we call the seat of God in us.

 

"It is this Hridaya that is said to be different from the physical heart,

regulating the blood circulation. The Hridaya has its being on the right

side and is not commonly known or felt. The primary thought in us arising as

'I,' when traced to its source, ends somewhere in us and this place, where

all thoughts die, where the ego has vanished, is the Hridaya. From this

center is felt and enjoyed the Pure Consciousness.

 

"Hridaya described as 'the literal, actual, physical seat of the intuition

of the Self' has the meaning explained above. Perhaps the words 'physical

seat' may create some confusion. What it really means is that there is a

center of Pure Consciousness in the physical body. It is related to the

physical, but is not itself physical.

 

"The word Hridaya is a composite of hrid and ayam - "center, this". It is

the center on the right, which we reach as a result of meditation (

<http://sped2work.tripod.com/samadhi.html> Samadhi). From the Hridaya,

consciousness arises to the sahasrara through the sushumna and from there

spreads out to all the parts of the body through the several 'nadis'. Then

alone we become conscious of the objects around us. Man, due to the illusion

that these have real existence, experiences suffering, as he strays far away

from his Self. The seat from where all these arise and manifest is the

Hridaya.

 

"Whether in sleep, joy, sorrow, fear or satisfaction, we return to this

heart and that is why we feel lost to all consciousness of things around. If

by meditation or Vichara we attain to our centre, the Hridaya, and thus are

our real Self, we enjoy unalloyed bliss.

 

"In the course of tracing ourselves back to our source, when all thoughts

have vanished, there arises a throb from the Hridaya on the right,

manifesting as 'Aham' 'Aham'. This is the sign that Pure Consciousness is

beginning to reveal itself. But that is not the end in itself. Watch

wherefrom this sphurana (throbbing) arises and wait attentively and

continually for the revelation of the Self. Then comes the awareness,

oneness of existence.

 

"When we steady our breath we feel the steadying of our thoughts. Then the

thoughts turn inward and melt away at a point. Watching this point, where

the thoughts vanish, will also help us to merge ourselves in the Hridaya."

 

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