I find heart-mind a useful image for a part of myself. From various spiritual sources we can take it that we have a physical heart, an emotional heart, which is the source of our loving, and a a spiritual heart (referred to as heart-mind by Ram Dass) the place from which our soul connects. Some sources would have it that the second and the third are the same. The Hindus refer to the seat of consciousness for heart-mind, which is has a parallel with what Quakers describe as "that of God within us" - the place from which we can experience the still, small voice of God.
Ram Dass describes the heart-mind as awareness turned inward or " the spiritual awareness within." In spite of what our ego tells us, it has an important function in our sense of self. If I asked who you are, you might point to yourself as you answer. And you would almost certainly point to your chest. Maybe that's because this is where our awareness really is - not in our minds. My heart-mind is where "I" am, not my mind.
It follows then that awareness is a heart-mind process, not a thought process. The start of my growth in awareness came when my identification started to shift to me heart-mind.
Through paying attention to myself, and looking hard at my mind and body, I became aware that my mind is in some way controlling the various organs in my body, causing my heart to beat, my lungs to contract and expand, and my liver and kidneys to function.
As I watched this, noticing that the processes were beyond "me" (in that I couldn't observe the processes or the mechanisms) I became aware of the fact that if "I" tried to control any of these different functions I would be likely to expire in minutes. I have no power, or ability, to consciously control my body. It reminds me of early efforts to use a short mantra as an aid to meditation; as I became more conscious of my breathing, the timing started to go awry and I got to the point where it felt as though I was struggling for breath. I do not understand how my body parts work in order to keep me alive - yet somehow I cause them to function.
It seems to me now that the same is true of the workings of my heart-mind. It functions and seems to work at a place beyond the reach of my conscious mind. Of course, there is something I can do to interfere with its working - I can exercise my will, going along with my ego. But, without doubt my heart-mind functions best when left alone, without me trying to run any aspect of myself though conscious thought or rationalisation.
Ram Dass describes the heart-mind as awareness turned inward or " the spiritual awareness within." In spite of what our ego tells us, it has an important function in our sense of self. If I asked who you are, you might point to yourself as you answer. And you would almost certainly point to your chest. Maybe that's because this is where our awareness really is - not in our minds. My heart-mind is where "I" am, not my mind.
It follows then that awareness is a heart-mind process, not a thought process. The start of my growth in awareness came when my identification started to shift to me heart-mind.
Through paying attention to myself, and looking hard at my mind and body, I became aware that my mind is in some way controlling the various organs in my body, causing my heart to beat, my lungs to contract and expand, and my liver and kidneys to function.
As I watched this, noticing that the processes were beyond "me" (in that I couldn't observe the processes or the mechanisms) I became aware of the fact that if "I" tried to control any of these different functions I would be likely to expire in minutes. I have no power, or ability, to consciously control my body. It reminds me of early efforts to use a short mantra as an aid to meditation; as I became more conscious of my breathing, the timing started to go awry and I got to the point where it felt as though I was struggling for breath. I do not understand how my body parts work in order to keep me alive - yet somehow I cause them to function.
It seems to me now that the same is true of the workings of my heart-mind. It functions and seems to work at a place beyond the reach of my conscious mind. Of course, there is something I can do to interfere with its working - I can exercise my will, going along with my ego. But, without doubt my heart-mind functions best when left alone, without me trying to run any aspect of myself though conscious thought or rationalisation.
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