The heart (hridaya), Ishwar in the heart, kutastha

Q: In some religions and different books also they talk about the heart being the seat of the soul. The soul is in the heart. What is your comment on that?

Sh: Yes. Prana lives in the heart. The heart is its center but it is spread all over the body.

The heart is supplying blood to every part of your body. It is the seat of the prana. And here I will mention while passing that prana is one of the names of Shiva also.

Even the brain depends on the supply from your heart. It simply cannot survive on its own. It always needs the support of the heart.

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Q: It is written in the books when Shiva and Shakti connect together, then Prana appears and world starts.

Sh: Prana and Matter appears.

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In India prana is conceived as an air body made with the air only, which is the exact replica of your physical body. It will reside in the void.

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Well, I will give you a very a different answer here. When you start to practice yoga, you became aware of the brain's power and how much mysteries it is carrying inside. And it is an ocean of consciousness which we call mind. When you are sort of recovering from that big surprise that so much things are there in the brain. Then your attention goes to the heart that what is supporting the brain. Then your attention goes to the heart and then heart itself might be having its own consciousness because only a conscious thing can support another conscious being which is in the process of development. And then after you have understood the mysteries of the heart to a certain

level then you begin to think that how heart was created and then your attention goes to the popo which sounds hilarious but everybody knows that our whole body was created through the popo when we were inside the mother. So then then the mysteries of the popbook are understood and there might be some consciousness there in the pop also. The machine which created you is switched on there and it registered there. Then your attention goes that what is the say the mother matter which created our body. Then your attention goes to the earth element and we say that it is located in the moolahar chakra which is representing the earth

element. So that is the journey of a yogi in a nutshell.

Five elements consist of a Void?

Guruji: Yes, everything.

Does anahada chakra connected with anahada sound?

Guruji: All chakras are connected with that. Maybe another chakra is very near to the heart and the Nada of life keeps on: lap-tap, lap-tap – so the drum is on and we’re dancing to it’s tune.

So the perception of Nada doesn’t start from that center?

Guruji: No. but it is constantly echoing with the sound of life, sound of the heart. It’s a beat – heart is beating!

But hridaya and anahada are different centers?

Guruji: Yes. Very near. “Anahada” can also be translated “limitless”. You can call heartbeat “anahada” – unstruck sound; nobody's beating it – but it’s on.

As I understand, chakras are connected with certain nervous centers in our body; but until or unless chakras are developed – we cannot perceive something in those points?

Guruji: We will remain unaware.

THIRD EYE

what functions has the third eye?

Guruji: that’s the very good question. Third eye has been discussed too much in the name of spirituality but I would like to inform you that third eye is described only with Shiva and Shakti and maybe some of their ganas – otherwise nobody has the third eye.

And Shiva used it only one time: to incinerate the god of love. He has no other use of that third eye. What you see – kutastha; literally in Sanskrit means “immortal soul”. Many people in Kriya yoga workshops are trying to say that kutastha between your eyebrows is your third eye – so concentrate on kutastha; but it is all useless talks. We don’t have a third eye. Some Tibetan lamas are also proclaiming that by some operation by dragging the hole between the eyebrows their third eye has been open – but remember: in all mythology only Shiva is described wuth third eye and also Shakti – no one else. By concentrating between the eyebrows – whatever has been taught in yoga – you can develop your mental facilities or maybe your intuition will become very great. Your subconscious mind will become more conscious and you will become aware of so many things which are gone missing for normal people. But this term – third eye – is sort of abused nowadays. Nobody has the third eye.

from where this appear?

Guruji: in Shiva purana or wherever they describe Shivji – they talk about third eye. But there was one lama: Lobsang Rampa, who was just writing some books: he described that his third eye was open by drilling the hole between the eyebrows. I think from that time, from the 60s it begin to be more and more. I’m very happy with only two eyes.

for opening and closing chakras we also must blame him?

Guruji: no, indian mind is very fertile in commercial way – many yogateachers going west are talking about that.

what happened when the mind goes into the heart?

Guruji: you will see God face to face. And you will experience absolute darkness. Total darkness. Because heart is a vessel which is actually the seal container of absolute darkness. Without understanding darkness you will never realize what is light. And God loves darkness – that’s why he is inside your heart.

and in this moment heart must be without motion?

Guruji: it may. Or it will slow down so much.

Darkness is the creator, not only carrier.

and what is happening in the heart?

Guruji: I think heart has its own consciousness in a different way. It is the support system for the brain; it is like a parent waiting for the child to grow. I’ve already said: it is absolutely dark and blood is flowing there.

You came into the heart not after the first samadhi?

Guruji: no, it came after 5 years, the second phase of samadhi. I tell you – it is the noisiest part of the body: the biggest noise is coming from the heart. What is your pulse? The resonance of your heart.

and You perceive Vasudeva in the heart?

Guruji: you’re aware of very mysterious power inside. Not like some mechanic working in the engine of the ship – it is something else. It’s scary also. All body is dark inside, everything is dark, and heart is another seal chamber of pure darkness. Blood is pumping and the very mysterious power lives here. Only some light is coming into the body from eyes, some from mouth and ears; otherwise – every life is driving in the dark.

LIVING WITH FEAR BY STUDYING IT

I understand that heart is the supporting system for the brain; but it exists some unknown anatomical connection or energetical connection with the brain?

Guruji: there is a mysterious force inside, which may be called god.

how to understand the connection between this mysterious force and the brain?

Guruji: see, if a ship is going: no matter captain is piloting – but if the inner engine is out of order – what captain can do? It is like that: chief engineer is there.

GOD IN THE HEART

how to understand that it’s not the play of our imagination – if we’re seeing the moving of particles – if it is the reality?

Guruji: believe in yourself! Who is an atheist? Who doesn’t believe in god? I think atheist is the one, who doesn’t believe in himself. That is atheism. Ishwar is inside your heart. You don’t have to believe somebody is living in heaven in the very antiseptic climate – he is here, inside.

That brings us to very interesting conclusion: that’s why you will never hear somebody have cancer in the heart. Never happens. Because Ishwar lives there- second heart is constantly working out. So clean diets and daily workout is very important( smiling).

what can we say about the people with the artificial, electronic heart?

Guruji: maybe it’s a sense of humour of the Ishwar; but we need to study: what are the changes in their nature, they cannot remain the same.

Guruji, but we see kutastha by the brain?

Guruji: let’s say we see our immortal soul by the brain.

so like seeing kutastha needs more time to understand what we see – same with the consciousness?

Guruji: in a way, yes; seeing is the beginning of understanding. I think we explained it in Gorakhbodh: seeing is of many kinds – you see with your eyes, you see with your intellect, you see with your feelings…seeing has many different shades to it. I will see, let us see – even language is full of it.

on what level the person could see the kutastha or the spirit of other people? When he understand the consciousness of the Void?

Guruji: no, much before. I will give the very simple example here because you have been working out for many years; I think the person who is just walking towards you – you will know in a second whether this person is working out or he is not working out. That you are seeing with your understanding. So will also see other person’s thing.

As a yogi I’m saying this: everybody believes that Ishwar – or the god, whatever you call – lives inside your heart. So when you are able to directly connect with the Ishwar or the god inside your heart- you’re directly connecting with the source of life; and then after that, Ishwar will take care: you will not need any spirit to give you life or animation or anything. Remember that, it is inside your heart! That’s why Hridaya granthi bhed considered the most important sadhana in Kriya yoga.

Can we say that after Hridaya granthi we will not need a spirit?

Guruji: No; after you reach Ishwar and you somehow make him take some interest in you and he is willing to share the source of life with you. Looking at him is one thing, then being in intimate contact with him is one thing, then establishing a form of communication with him is another thing: it will continue. The association will continue.

Prana is one of the names of the Shiva: so when you will realise the prana- you will continue to remain alive without the support of any spirit or something.

When we reach the level of kevala kumbhaka – prana must be constantly inside the body?

Guruji: Always. That is the source of life.

When you don’t need spirit anymore – the prana will be still inside?

Guruji: It agrees to remain inside: which is maybe the biggest achievement. Then the association with Shiva will begin.

brain is the root of ashwattha tree; but Vasudeva resides in the heart. What is more important and what is the correspondence between heart and brain?

Guruji: without heart brain will not survive. Heart is the carrier or the living place of Vasudeva or prana. Heart is very important.

some people say – the heart is pure?

Guruji: the power inside the heart which is making him live, is pure. All that things are the reactions to the society, family and initial circumstances.

Guruji, what guides us in our existence? Vasudeva from the heart? Or the mind from the brain?

Guruji: both. When mind takes over the heart – you have problems and the life becomes so complicated. But in society, if you continue to follow your heart – you will not survive long. There has to be a balance and combination of them both.

48. CONTENDED BY TOTALLY KNOWING HEART

Guruji: yes, when he understand everything – he is merged into himself, third sutra of Yoga darshan: tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam.

so here Hridaya is not the synonym of Time?

Guruji: hridaya is the origin of your life. And also we say: yat pinde tat brahmande: whatever is in the body is in the Universe. When you realize all your own heart – then you will start to realize the heart of the Universe also. That heart also there mentioned.

what can be the heart of the Universe?

Guruji: the essence of prana.