SATSANG
with
Giten
February, 19, in Stockholm
“I am so grateful
for the opportunity
for Satsang.”
– Toshen
4. The Heart
– Unconditional Love and Acceptance
An excerpt from Giten’s book “Presence – Working from Within: The Psychology of Being” (available at international book store Lulu: www.lulu.com/spotlight/Giten
The forth chakra or level of awareness is the human heart. The heart relates to unconditional love and acceptance both for others and ourselves. It relates to qualities of empathy, joy, acceptance, trust, intuition, understanding, compassion, playfulness, healing, friendship, sincerity and a feeling of unity in love.
The heart chakra is the center in a system of seven chakras. The heart is the golden bridge, where the physical and spiritual worlds meet.
The heart is the most important chakra. The heart is the base for spiritual growth. It is the seed for unconditional love, for the inner capacity to feel love for all and everything.
Love is the create aspect of life. Societies that only emphasize intellectual and academic education create spiritually challenged people.
The heart is the golden key to the greatness of being a human being. It is through the human heart that mankind has made the greatest achievements. The human heart is the only way to save mankind out of the present situation in the world.
Humanity as a whole is in-between the power chakra and the heart in its psychological and spiritual development process towards spiritual maturity.
The power chakra relates to the ego and the outer world. The power chakra relates to the inner man. The heart is the door to the inner world. The heart is the river between the inner and outer self, between the ego and the inner being, the authentic self. The heart is the door to the inner woman, the meditative quality within, the inner source of healing and wholeness.
The open heart is like a fountain, which no longer make any distinction between “I love you – I do not love you”. The open heart does not any longer make any distinction between friends and enemies. The open heart is open both for others and ourselves. The open heart is unconditional love.
When there is a genuine love between two people, there is a natural will to give, instead of demanding.
When our heart is closed, it can create a lonely and isolated feeling together with an attitude of: “Nobody loves me” or “Nobody cares about me, which can make it difficult for other people to love us.
Many people live without really being in contact with their own heart. They live without really being in contact with themselves. Their energy goes from the power chakra and makes a detour around the heart, and goes straight up to the Communication chakra.
During a period in my life, I felt that relationships with people just ended up in problems. I felt that relationships sooner or later ended up in a ditch. The two people in my life that I thought were my real friends, who I thought loved me and who I thought I could trust, had let me down. During this period I consciously decided to close my heart for a while. It surprised me when I realized that this is actually the way that many people live, without even being aware about what they are missing in their lives. This makes them emotionally and spiritually challenged. It leaves them without emphatic ability, without ability to understand either themselves or other people. It also leaves them without contact with their intuition, with their true inner voice, with their inner source of love, truth and wisdom. Instead they live their lives out of ideas, ideologies, and are directed from without themselves by other people and outer forces. Because of the lack of love in their lives, which would be really fulfilling, they seek a substitute instead in respect, status, fame, money, power and position.
The heart relates to developing abstract logical and rational thinking. The heart is also about developing empathy, the capacity to understand the situation of another person, and to see beyond our own needs and understand the needs of another person.
The level of awareness of a person also relates to how a person eats. On the level of awareness of the heart, a person becomes attracted to simple vegetarian food. This is also a help for the continued spiritual growth. It is like tuning our inner instrument.
Blocks in the heart chakra manifests itself as heart problems, a decreased immune system, and a lack of empathy and compassion.
Healing is pure love. The human heart is a healer, which heals both others and ourselves.
Working with people is basically a question of presence, awareness and energy. Chakras also relate to working with people and the fourth level of awareness relates to working with groups of people. To work with groups of people, the therapist needs to have achieved the level of awareness of the heart. The therapist needs to be available with a quality of presence and he artfulness to be able to work with a group of people in a relaxed way.
Intuition is a function of the heart. Intuition is our true inner voice, our constant available inner source of love, truth and wisdom, the silent voice of Existence within. Through the intuition, we are in contact with Existence. Our heart is the door to how much we can allow life to guide us, instead of being directed by our ideas, attitudes and learned concepts of how things should be.
The human heart has both an active and outgoing quality, and a receptive and ingoing quality. The outgoing quality of the heart is active love, and the ingoing quality of the heart is to allow both ourselves and others to love us.
A beautiful friend of mine once told me that she had a reading of her heart chakra, and that she was told that her heart chakra had the quality of a faithful and trusting dog. She was very cute when she told me this with a slightly ironical tone. She would probably have preferred to have a heart chakra with a more challenging, mysterious and adventurous quality.
Our heart is the door to allow Existence to guide us. Our heart is the door to surrender to life. Our heart is the door to our inner being, to the inner world. When we begin to open our heart, we realize that we are a part of life, a part of the Whole.
Above the heart, we need a teacher and a guide. It is somebody who “knows”, who has walked further on the path than us, and who can guide, encourage and inspire us. There is an Indian saying: “When the disciple is ready, the teacher appears”.
An over active heart chakra leads to:
An overly critical attitude and a feeling of jealousy.
An under active heart chakra leads to:
A cold and distant attitude, a feeling of being unloved and uncared for, a lack of empathy and compassion, an inability to understand the needs of other people, a lack of contact with the intuition, with the true inner voice, with the inner source of love, truth and wisdom, a need for outer recognition and appreciation, emotional and economical insecurity, a mistrust towards life, a low self-confidence, self doubt and criticism towards others.
A balanced heart chakra leads to:
Love, empathy, compassion, acceptance, friendship, intuition, creativity, a humanistic view of life, generosity, healing, purity, trust, a sense of belongingness to life and a feeling of unity in love.
Intuition
– Trusting Your Self
An excerpt from Giten’s book “Presence – Working from Within: The Psychology of Being” (available at international book store Lulu: www.lulu.com/spotlight/Giten
What is intuition? How can we develop a trust in ourselves, in our heart and in our intuition? How can we develop our intuition, so that it becomes a source of love, truth and wisdom in therapeutic work? How can we be in contact with the Whole through our intuition?
Intuition is our true inner voice, our constant available inner source of love, truth and wisdom, and the silent voice of Existence within ourselves. Through our intuition, we are in contact with the Whole.
Intuition is the voice of the heart. Intuition is our inner teacher and guide. Intuition means to learn to listen to the silent whisperings of our heart.
Intuition basically means to develop a trust in ourselves.
Intuition is a ‘yes’ to life. Intuition is to develop a trust in life. Intuition is learning to listen to life. Intuition is to be in contact with the Whole.
Intuition means to follow the whispers of the inner in a basic ‘yes’ to life. When we allow ourselves to follow the silent whisperings of intuition, the fragrance of love arises.
Intuition is a valuable tool in therapeutic and healing work. I have been working for more than 20 years with helping people develop a trust in themselves and in their intuition. The word ‘intuition’ means to know from within ourselves. Intuition means to learn to listen and to understand the Existential language. The Existential language is the language of silence. Learning to listen to the intuition mean to develop the subtle listening that is needed to hear the silent voice of our heart and being. Intuition is to be in contact with the Whole.
The basic vocabulary of the Existential language is an inner quality of love, joy, trust, silence, truth and wisdom. Intuition means to learn to be in contact with the inner source of love, truth and wisdom, which is already present within ourselves as a constant available source.
Through the five physical senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch, we learn to know the outer world. Through the intuition, the sixth sense, we learn to know the inner world. The five physical senses are limited in time and space, while the intuition is not limited by distance and geography. The intuition has the capacity to see beyond time and space.
To see the world through the five physical senses is like seeing the waves on the periphery of the sea. To see the world with the eyes of intuition is like being in contact with the depth of the sea. Through the five physical senses, we see the part. Through the intuition, we are in contact with the Whole.
To see life from the perspective of intuition is to have vision. To see life from the perspective of intuition is to see life from the perspective of wholeness. It is to understand that life is basically one and that we are part of life. While the intellect can only see the details, intuition sees the whole. To see life from the perspective of intuition is like looking at life from the summit of the mountain, whereas seeing life only from the perspective of intellect is like looking at life from the foot of the mountain. Through learning to listen to our intuition, we learn to be in contact with the Whole.
Intuition is not about going out into the world, intuition is about inviting the world to you. It was a spiritual awakening for me when I realized that my intuition was not limited by distance and geography. I realized that my intuition was already in contact with the Whole and that it could guide me all over the world. I still remember vividly when my intuition first began to whisper that it was time to go to India when I was 21 years old. I did not understand why, but I trusted my intuition. I had already made plans to go to Ibiza to live high-life with a friend. But instead I called my friend and told him that I was not going to Ibiza, but that I was going to India. There was a long silence and then my friend said slowly and thoughtfully: ‘Well, then I suppose I have to go to India also…’
Intuition is basically a question of developing a trust in ourselves and to the silent voice of our heart and being. Through learning to trust our intuition, we can the sense of being lovingly and carefully guided in life. When we have developed a trust in our intuition, intuition is not just single impulses any longer. It becomes a constant available inner source of love, truth and wisdom. We can just close our eyes, go within ourselves, and always receive the right guidance.
When I had pursued an education in healing in USA 1984, I was interested to pursue a further education in spiritual counseling, but because of financial reasons I could not do it at that time. The same day that I thought about what to do about this, I suddenly remembered that I had previously booked an individual consultation with one of the counselor’s at the University. I brought up the question about the further education in spiritual counseling with him, but he did not understand why I wanted to pursue it and said: “You have much trust and silence to share”.
Our heart is the door to how much we can allow Existence to guide us. Our heart is the door to how much we can allow life to support us in our psychological development process towards spiritual maturity.
Intuition is basically a function of our heart. Our heart is the door to how much we can allow life to guide us – instead of being directed by our ideas, concepts and expectations of how things should be. Since the days of Aristotle’s we have been taught that logic is the only way to reach a solution, but while the logic works in a linear step-by-step-process, the intuition simply takes a quantum leap to a solution without any intermediate steps.
Intuition is about learning to listen to the silent whisperings of our heart. To listen to our heart is not always easy, but it is always true.
In an individual consultation, in a course or in a situation in life, when I do not know what to do, I turn my attention within and ask for guidance from my intuition, from Existence within myself. Sometimes the answer comes immediately and sometimes it takes longer before Existence is ready to respond. But I will always receive an answer. It is always a deep source of joy to allow Existence to guide me and to give me what I really need, instead of following my own ideas, ambitions and preconceived concepts. Sometimes I can ask my intuition a direct question, and then let go of the question, and allow Existence to give me an answer. Many times, I notice that it is when I let go – instead of struggling to make things happen – that they really happens by themselves in a more loving and creative way that I ever could have imagined.
Life is really very simple. In each moment, we have the opportunity to choose between saying “yes” or “no”, to listen to our intuition, to listen to our true inner voice, the Existential voice within ourselves. When we say “yes”, we have contact with Existence and we receive nourishment, love, joy, support and inspiration. When we say “no”, we create a separation from life and begin to create dreams and expectations of how it should be. We begin to live in the memories of the past and in the fantasies of the future – as if any other time than here and now really could make us happy and satisfied.
Intuition is to learn to live from our inner being, from our essence and authentic self, from the Existence within ourselves. Intuition is to learn to live our own truth. There are basically two kinds of people in the world: outer-directed people and inner-directed people. The outer-directed people are directed from without themselves and inner-directed people are directed from within themselves. Intuition is to learn to be directed from within ourselves, from our inner source of love, truth and wisdom, instead of being directed from outer forces and by other people’s ideas, opinions and expectations. Through learning to listen to the love and truth of our own heart and being, we always know what is the truth in a situation. Through learning to listen to the truth of our own heart, we can always see the situation in the healing light of love. Through learning to listen to the truth of our own being, we can always see the situation with the vision of the Whole.
Intuition is to take creative decisions. Through developing a deeper trust in our intuition, mechanical and habitual patterns, which was safe and comfortable, begins to change into conscious choices. Conscious choices are not always easy, but they are always true.
Intuition is a trust to the unknown. Intuition is an invitation to the unknown. Intuition is to open our heart to the unknown. Intuition is to change perspective from the safe and secure to a thirst for risks and adventure. Intuition is a “yes” to the unknown mystery of the moment.
Intuition is to follow the vision of the heart. Intuition is the art of the heart. Intuition is the art of the moment. Intuition is always in the moment, in the here and now. Our heart has no rules and expectations. Our heart lives in the here and now, in the moment.
Intuition is about learning to distinguish between the silent whisperings of our heart and the endless wishes, desires and expectations of the ego.
Intuition is about learning to follow our own inner guidance, instead of listening to outer forces and other people. It is when we realize that everything that we need for a loving, creative and satisfying life is already within ourselves that we begin to listen to the whisperings of the inner. Through developing a trust in our self, we do not as easily become a victim for outer forces.
Through developing a trust in our self and in our intuition, we also help our inner teachers to guide us. These inner teaches guides us through our intuition. Through listening to the intuition, it becomes very clear what will make us really satisfied.
Through trusting the intuition, to our true inner voice, to Existence within, life will give us everything that we really need.
Intuition is the art of the moment. Intuition is always in the moment, in the here and now. While the intellect swings all the time like the pendulum of a clock between the memories of the past and the dream and fantasies of the future, intuition is always in the moment, always in the here and now. The more we develop our inner being, our inner source of love and truth, the inner quality of being here and now, the more we have also access to our intuition.
Intuition is about moving out of our own way and our sense of “I”. It is about moving out of the way of our ideas about how things should be – and just be with what is. It is to be in the living reality of the moment.
In period of chaos, confusion and change, it can be difficult to hear the silent whisperings of intuition, because of the restless chaos of the mind. It is like the waves on the surface of our consciousness is rising high, so that it becomes difficult to come in contact with our inner being, with the depth of our consciousness. But in the midst of chaos, the center of our being exists like an inner source of silence, which is not touched by the chaos on the surface. In times of chaos, we can always return to this inner source of silence.
When I stand in a crossroad and have to make a major life choice, I usually ask my intuition which choice to make and then I leave the choice to my intuition, to my inner source of love, truth and wisdom, to Existence within myself, and allow three days for my intuition to become ripe with an answer.
The way to develop intuition is to learn to love, accept and respect ourselves.
We have all the same capacity to develop our intuition. Love and meditation are the two ways to develop our intuition.
A female meditator describes intuition as a form of openness and listening to life, which is trained step-by-step through meditation. She says: “To begin to listen and understand the messages that I get in life is one of the best aids that I have. It is like you begin to feel that there is something that is with you and that you can communicate with. You can send out the questions that you have in life and say: “How should I do now? J am thinking about doing this, but I do not know?” And then an answer always comes. The answer may not come in the form of words, but it always comes a clear answer. I take these answers directly from life. If things happen easily, I trust that it is right. This listening is trained through meditation. This sensitivity also becomes more and more subtle and you begin to hear more sophisticated messages. In the beginning you do not listen so good and that is also the reason why people receive harder and harder blows to wake up.”
She continues to describe that this subtle listening is also a meditation in itself. She says: “When you begin to meditate, meditation is like a small island in your life. It is an isolated phenomenon in your life. But when the meditation starts to develop in your life, the sensitivity also becomes more developed.
The school has taught us to be skeptical, but it has not taught us how to trust. Intuition is basically means to develop a trust in our heart and in ourselves.
My own way has always been to trust my own intuition and myself. My intuition has always been my inner teacher and guide in life – long before I was even aware of the fact that I was actually listening to my intuition. I have always trusted my own heart, my own love, trust, intelligence, wisdom and creativity and it have always led me right. Even when it has meant to go another way than the flock, when it has meant to go against others and to put up creative boundaries against that which do not resonate with my own heart, with my own truth.
Intuition is learning to respond to the situation in the moment, instead of reacting from preconceived ideas, concepts and notions. It is when we let go of things that they really happen. It is when we let go of our ideas about how things should be, that we can allow our intuition to guide us. When an idea or a project has support in Existence, it grows by itself.
I remember when I stood alone in the heat in the busy and crowded bus station of the million-town Bombay in India. I was tired after having just landed in India after a 12-hour flight from Stockholm. I was about to try to find a bus and go to a small town, which was a 5-hour journey by bus. The problem was just that the signs of the buses were written only in Hindi. I asked a number of bus drivers, but they just gave me confusing and contradictory answers. Finally, I gave up and turned my attention within and asked by intuition to guide me to the right bus. There was many buses coming and leaving the bus station, but after some time my intuition gave me a nudge when a new bus came into the station. I boarded the bus and also asked both the bus driver and a couple of Indian woman sitting in the back of the bus if this was the right bus to the town that I wanted to go. The all agreed that this was the right bus, which increased the probability that my intuition was right. The bus slowly left the bus station and began its journey out into the gigantic and boundless country of India. The bus traveled for hours and I hoped that this would prove to be the right bus. Suddenly I saw a small sign by the road with the name of the small town that was my destination, which finally confirmed that my intuition had once again led me right.
Through following our own heart, we also help others to follow their own heart. Through following our own truth, we also help others to follow their own truth.
Intuition is the voice of our inner being. Intuition is the voice of Existence within ourselves. Through listening to the intuition, we are in contact with the Whole.
A result of following our intuition is a deep feeling of joy, a sense of meaning and an inner satisfaction.
To follow the silent voice of intuition is to surrender to Existence. Intuition is already in contact with Existence, with that which is larger than ourselves. When we live in contact with Existence, life becomes immensely satisfying.
Intuition is a trust that if we follow our heart, the Whole becomes enriched.
Intuition – Exercises
Exercise 1: From intellect to intuition
This is an exercise, which aims on learning to distinguish between intellect and intuition. Take as a continuous meditation to learn to distinguish between the intellect, between our ideas of how things should be, and intuition, our true inner voice, to learn to distinguish between the false and the real, between the true and the artificial.
Exercise 2: Learning to distinguish between listening to the intuition and to be directed by outer forces
This is an exercise that aims at learning to be aware when you allow yourselves to be directed by outer forces and when you allow yourself to listen to your intuition. Be continuously aware in different situations between when you allow yourself to be directed by other people’s ideas, opinions and expectations and when you allow yourself to be guided from within by listening to your own intuition, to your own true inner voice, to your own inner source of love, truth and wisdom, to Existence within yourself.
Exercise 3: To invite guidance
When you are in a cross road in life or in situations when you need guidance, take as a conscious exercise to ask you intuition a question and ask for guidance and clarity. The answer may not come directly, but you will always receive an answer.
Exercise 4: Make a painting of intuition
This meditation aims at painting a picture in color and form of your experience of intuition.
If you do this meditation together with a partner, you can discuss your painting with your partner.
Exercise 5: Listen to your heart
To continuously be in contact with your heart and with your intuition, you can ask the following four questions in different situations for example when you have to make a choice or when you are going to take a new step:
1. Will I love myself if I do this for example if I take this new step, if I chose this or if I say this.
2. Will I feel courageous?
3. Is it beautiful for me?
4. Can it be simplified in any way?
Read more about Satsang, Satsang Intensives, Satsang Weekends and Retreats with Swami Dhyan Giten at international site Meeting Truth:
http://meetingtruth.com/teacher/SwamiDhyanGiten
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