The heart is the essence of our being, our innermost self. When you connect with your heart, you connect with your core. When your heart is “closed,” you lose touch with this core, and you shut others out from knowing it. This understanding is reflected in our language: getting “to the heart of the matter” means uncovering its central issue. As the center of our being, the heart is where we make our deepest choices and actions. It defines our values and gives our lives meaning. We admire people who “follow their heart,” acting according to their deepest calling despite obstacles. The heart is linked to authenticity and wisdom, guiding us to listen to our true selves. It is a source of wisdom and truth, often seen as the abode of the “soul.”
In Sanskrit, the heart chakra is called “anahata,” meaning “unbeaten” or “unstruck.” This suggests that the heart is indestructible, even though hearts often feel pain, get hurt, and break. In the yogic tradition, the heart is considered the most unbreakable part of us. To understand this, we need to go beyond the surface layer of the heart, which is vulnerable to pain. We need to sink inward and discover the innermost part of the heart that remains unaffected by life’s hardships.
Many people think their energetic heart is near the surface of the chest, but ancient Hindu and Buddhist traditions tell us this is just the superficial layer. To connect with the true heart, we need to visualize moving from the lower chest inward toward the spine. This deep place is the true heart chakra, often called the “inner cave” in the Katha Upanishad, an ancient Indian text on self-liberation through meditation.
The Heart’s Hidden Strength
The inner cave of the heart was first mentioned in the Upanishads. For example, in the Katha Upanishad, the Lord of Death says:
“The wise, realizing through meditation The timeless Self, beyond all perception, Hidden in the cave of the heart, Leave pain and pleasure far behind.”
This is not just a metaphor; it means we should find our true self in the depths of the heart chakra. By meditating on this hidden space, we can uncover a source of light and wisdom. This small lamp within us contains the entire universe and the supreme Self, dispelling darkness and bringing light to everything.
Meditation on the inner cave is found in both Hinduism and Buddhism. The simplest form is to identify the deepest location of the heart chakra and meditate on a source of light there, or use the mantra Aum. Another method is to visualize a glowing white drop, as tiny as a sesame seed, representing the indestructible drop of the heart in Vajrayana Buddhism. This drop is thought to survive death and is key to immortality.
The most advanced practice of the inner cave is the Clear Light meditation of Vajrayana Buddhism. Here, meditators visualize the entire universe, including their bodies, absorbed into the drop until only the drop remains.
Purpose of Heart Meditation
This meditation has two main aims. First, it heals the heart deeply. By focusing on the inner cave, you tap into a part of your heart that has never been hurt and is a source of great power. This is important because we often see the heart as the most vulnerable part of us, needing protection. Learning to trust the heart’s invincibility helps us feel more empowered to handle heartaches.
The second aim is to realize our deepest spiritual self. The inner cave connects us to our subtlest consciousness, unaffected by experiences and conditions, and even transcends death. Instead of contemplating abstract concepts of the supreme Self, we merge our awareness with this deep point within our subtle body.
Practicing Heart Meditation
To practice, first identify the exact location of the inner cave of the heart. Place your attention between the breasts, at the bottom of the sternum. This area is the outermost layer of the heart chakra. Use your inner vision to pierce deep into the chest and move toward the spine. Just before reaching the spine, you find the heart chakra’s true location, deep within the subtle body.
During meditation, journey through the heart’s outer layers. The outermost layer is vulnerable and experiences the immediate pains and joys of life. The middle layer contains deeper emotional impressions and challenges. Moving deeper, leave behind superficial experiences and reach the heart’s inner cave. Surrender and fall back into the heart’s core, experiencing its true, untainted nature.
Instructions for Heart Meditation
- Preparation: This meditation usually lasts between twenty and thirty minutes. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Feel drawn to discover and contact the heart’s mystery. Visualize your head disappearing, leaving empty space, allowing your center of gravity to move to your chest. Feel how your head is now your heart.
- Journey Inward: With each breath, journey into your heart chakra. Move through the outermost layer, experiencing the immediate pains and joys of life. Pass through the wall of the outermost heart to find the heart’s inner world, its deeper emotional impressions, and self-worth.
- Discover the Inner Light: Aim to reach the source of the heart’s inner light. Let go and fall back into the heart’s vibrating core. Dwell in this energy field, allowing the innermost heart to glow and share its presence with the universe.
- Rest and Reflect: Rest in this open-heartedness. Continue to reflect on the heart’s invincible energy, carrying it into your daily life. Allow the meditation’s peacefulness and power to infuse your actions and thoughts.
Experiencing the Heart’s True Nature
The outermost layer of the heart, close to the skin, is what faces the world. This layer can easily be bruised by emotional hits, subject to daily pain, hurt, and changing circumstances. Because of this vulnerability, we often build protective walls around it to avoid getting hurt.
However, focusing on the inner cave of the heart allows us to tap into a layer that has never been hurt or damaged, a source of indestructible power. This deeper layer stands in stark contrast to the ordinary experience of the heart as fragile and vulnerable. Recognizing this inner strength can transform our perception of the heart, not as a source of pain but as a place of profound, unbreakable power. It becomes our resting place, where we find inner completeness. Trusting in the heart’s invincibility, we feel empowered to face heartaches and heartbreaks with greater resilience. By meditating on the inner cave, we connect with a powerful and enduring part of ourselves, allowing us to navigate life with a sense of peace and strength.
