Meditation starts with the thought that there is divine light within the heart

Heartfulness, as I mentioned earlier, is an approach that fundamentally uses ‘Pranahuti’. This is a simple process that even a beginner can try and experience. And, with practice, one can observe the shift in consciousness. Having said that, I would also like to state that this is a method wherein, meditation is done on the heart. To reiterate, “When we meditate on the heart, everything becomes very simple: direction comes, our heart becomes our inner guru, and we don’t need to search outside anymore. Even when a guru is there and tells you to do something, still the heart will guide you whether to do it or not. And the heart can only guide clearly and with confidence when it is pure and the conscience is clear.”

“Have you seen a baby being born? Normally the baby cries, and if she does not cry the doctor holds her upside down by the legs and gently taps on her back to stimulate the heart and the lungs so she starts breathing. If the baby still does not breathe, the mother will cry because the life force has not come into the child. You may call it anything – atma, jiva, rooh – what it means is that the soul, the life force, is within me. My soul is not in Dwarka or in the Himalayas or in some temple, or mosque or church. My soul is in me. That is why in our Shastras it is called ‘Antaryamin’, that which is within me.

“Yet still people run outside looking for God. Why should we run outside? It is all right for children to realise that the akar is a representation of the Lord, but it is not the Lord Himself and slowly children start understanding this. But we are not children. We are trying to move from akar to nirakar through the medium of meditation.

“Meditation starts with the thought that there is divine light within my heart, and slowly we start experiencing the divine presence, we start entering the condition of Samadhi. When we are in Samadhi the condition of Mukti is felt from within. I can guarantee that within three months you will experience that condition if you practice diligently.”

“If you think that some good person will come and change the country, then forget about it. We have to change, and how will we get the courage to change? It will come when we experience the presence of God in our own hearts. If we look for a God outside then we will be dependent on people outside. The Heartfulness way is simple, as you only need courage to look within your heart. Meditation gives us the courage to depend on the heart, and when we feel the divine presence within what else is required?”

Kamlesh D Patel is the fourth spiritual Guide in the Sahaj Marg system of Raja Yoga meditation. He is a role model for students of spirituality who seek that perfect blend of eastern heart and western mind. He travels extensively and is at home with people from all backgrounds and walks of life, giving special attention to the youth of today.