HEART-LOTUS

In the immaculate water, both the lotus and the slimy scum (pellicle like stuff that grows in the water)
are found. (Although) the lotus flower is with the slimy scum and the water, but, in their association,
it remains untouched (i.e., ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੋਈ ਦਾਗ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗਦੇ). ||1|| (sggs 990). (If) Through the Gur-Shabad,
Heart-Lotus blossoms forth; (then) the treasure of devotional worship is obtained (sggs 950).
O brother! associating with Saadh-Sangat (Holy Company, Satsang, etc.), cleanse your mind,
and (thus, the mind gets to) dwell in the Lord's Name. (As a result) O bother! the darkness of
ignorance (of one's Originality, etc.) is dispelled, and the Heart-Lotus blossoms forth (sggs 639).
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In the Eastern scriptures, the inner awareness, the inner heart or the inner mind is depicted as the lotus flower (Kamal). The feet of God (Self, Guru or Satguru) are also portrayed as such. Obviously, there must be something very special about the lotus flower to earn this honor and recognition! For example, the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS) says:

Yes, there is something very special about the lotus flower by which it has earned such unparalleled recognition in the scriptures. In fact, the scriptures affirm that until we mend our ways to be like a lotus flower, we would be unfit for linking with the Infinite Consciousness, Waheguru.

A bird flies in the sky without leaving any mark, a fish swims in the water without making any footprints, and the swan swims across the stream without getting wet. Similarly, although the lotus flower lives in the water of slimy scum, but it remains untouched. In the same way, the scriptural texts urge us to live amidst the so called impurities of the material world without being affected. In this context, this Gurbani Reflection will attempt to reflect on the followings:

Uniqueness Of The Lotus Flower

The lotus flower is very unique indeed. As discussed before, the consciousness — one's effulgent Being or atomic power — can be depicted as a lotus flower. In other words, if our consciousness can be visualized, then it would be through a lotus flower. Similar to an individual consciousness, the lotus flower also goes through many experiences before it blossoms forth into a beautiful flower, untouched by the mud or water.

Everything exists in the Absolute Consciousness, rises from It, and finally merges back into It. Just as all the pictures thrown on the screen are visible by the light projected from a spot; similarly, the body and other objects are all visible in the reflected Absolute Consciousness. Analogy of the lotus flower helps us better understand this Reality.

Below the surface, down in the darkness, the consciousness of lotus flower lives in a seed form. Connected with its dynamic central source of energy, then it breaks out of its hard shell, and takes root in the slimy scum. Surrounded by water, its stem grows upward toward the light and air. With conscious of water all around it, finally the stem emerges above the water surface into fresh air and sunshine. Its consciousness now has a small bud and green leaves. At this time the consciousness is still limited because it has not grown into its fullness. Fed by the energy of the sun, its consciousness expands until a delicate lotus blossoms open into a beautiful flower. It then creates more seeds for more flower.

Man's consciousness also goes through similar experiences. However, in the case of man, the mud can be looked at as the instincts, the hard shell of the seed as the instinctive mind, the water as the intelligence, the stem as the ego and the body, the air as the Absolute Consciousness, the darkness as the spiritual ignorance, and the sun as the intuitive Wisdom.

First, the individual consciousness, the projected light from the Absolute Consciousness, is in a seed form. In the mud of latent tendencies, memories, and impressions of the past actions, this seed swells and then breaks out of the hard shell of the instinctive elements and sprouts. In the darkness of the ignorance, the consciousness grows as false ego, mind and the body.

Thus, the consciousness comes through the mud of the instinctive mind: lust, anger, greed, attachment, false pride, enviousness and stubborn mindedness (and their numerous variations). After that it comes into the intellectual mind where it becomes aware of culture, people, opinions, history, politics, future, all sorts of systems, organizations, institutions, society, world, etc. Then it creates more Karmas or worldly entanglements.

After passing through the evolutionary process, when the Soul becomes purified then it breaks away from the instinctive mind as well as the intellectual mind (annihilation of mind) and comes into its delicate and beautiful bud state. This bud then expands and begins the process of Spiritual Enlightenment. It unfolds and helps those who are still caught in the mud (Maya's illusion). Upon becoming a full flower, it remains untouched by the so called impurities of the material world, just as the lotus flower remains untouched by the slimy scum and the water.

The "Lotus Of  The Heart"

Deep within the Heart dwells the "Lotus of the Heart". And deep within this Heart-Lotus dwells the Self-God.  In other words, the Heart-Lotus is the seat of the Infinite Consciousness. This is the Spiritual-Center, the Support or the Adhaar of life and everything else. Juts as the waves rise from the ocean, subsist in the ocean and then merge back into the ocean; similarly, the thoughts (mind) rise from this Substratum, on which they exist and where they are dissolved. Thus, this Heart-Lotus is the Center of all centers.

After reading the foregoing verses, one may ask as to how a lotus plant can grow deep within the Heart or the mind! Or, how the feet of Guru-God can exist in one's mind or Heart? Here, neither the Heart is physical, nor the Lotus and nor the Feet. They are Spiritual; without any feature or form. Thus the "Lotus of the Heart" mentioned in the scriptures represents the Subtle-Center and not the physical center. Man's language is limited. But the Absolute Truth godly Souls try to explain using this limited human language is unlimited and infinite. When a truth that has not been personally experienced is expounded by the Men of Light or the sacred texts, one can not grasp it directly. However, with the help of illustrations, it becomes relatively easier to grasp. Consequently, once the significance of such illustrations is grasped, one comes to understand the real nature of the Self and this material world.

We can look at it from an another perspective. The worldly truth is based on relativity, however, the Absolute Truth is self-existence. Majority of us can only appreciate relative knowledge. Why? Because we have confound the Self with the physical body. As a result, we think we are the physical senses, mind, intellect, heart, and so on; which gives rise to relativity. Accordingly, as most of us can only grasp the relative knowledge, some place as Heart-Lotus is mentioned by the scriptures as the place of All-pervading Consciousness. Hence, this type of instruction using variety of methods (analogies, similes, allegories, metaphors and figurative or mystic representations, etc.) are meant for most of us who can only appreciate the relative knowledge. However, being Infinite as well as both Transcendental and Immanent, there is no particular place for God. Hence, in reality, the "Lotus of Heart" is not a physical place. It is the Spiritual-Center connecting the whole Universe.

The scriptures tell us to intuitively see the Infinite Consciousness as the lotus flower within. To put it otherwise, the Heart-Lotus is none other than the Divine Light within everyone. We are That Light (Joti Svaroop); which is the substratum of all Jeeva, the individual consciousness. In order to feel the subtlety within, we are asked by the scriptures to visualize the lotus flower centered right within the Center of the Heart, the place of the True Being. Thus, the Heart-Lotus is the seat of  Divine Essence or the Divine Essence Itself.

The "Lotus-Feet"

As stated earlier, the "Lotus-Feet" of Guru-God-Self are not physiological feet. They are Spiritual, therefore realized upon being thoroughly awakened to the Pure Consciousness of the indwelling Reality. They are none other than the Naam Consciousness, Shabad Consciousness or God Consciousness. In other words, the "Lotus Feet" are the Shabad-Giaan (Spiritual Wisdom) and Gurmantra. In order to find or experience these "Lotus Feet", the scriptures teach us to "look within".

The Divine Lotus-Feet are Infinite Consciousness or Consciousness Itself. To "look within" is to focus the attention on this Infinite Consciousness; which is the  cause of causes, and the source of the Bliss and real Amrit (Immortality). In order to realize these "Lotus-Feet", one needs to link his individual consciousness to the Cosmic Awareness through meditation (Jap or Naam-Simran). Hence, the Guru-God's Lotus-Feet are ever situated within everybody's Heart-Lotus. However, it is the veil of our ignorance that inhibits us from experiencing them. But, those who have roasted the seed of ignorance in the fire of Self-knowledge (Shabad-Giaan), always see them in their Self, the Inner Consciousness — in their waking state, in their dream state, in their deep sleep state, they are simultaneously connected to them. They also see them everywhere else. Thus, God, Self or Satguru is not apart from the seeker, and the seeker is not apart from Him. Therefore, physical proximity is of no consequences; unbroken (Akhand) mental communion alone matters. In other words, the mind must be connected to the Infinite Consciousness — one must hold on only to the Self within. Then the disciple is guided from within, the Source of all Wisdom and the Knowledge. Anhata Chakra And The Heart-Lotus

The powers in the various elements of the subtle body help build, maintain and enliven the gross physical form. The centers of life and consciousness from which these powers function are the subtle brain, and the subtle cerebrospinal axis (or Sushumanaa) containing six Chakras (rings) or subtle centers. Five Chakras are located in the spine, and the sixth Chakra is located in the medulla. These are the subtle centers of the Super Consciousness.

As mentioned by the Yogis, tThe top most Chakra or subtle center is indicated to be located in the Medulla - in brain between eyebrows (seat of the single or spiritual eye), and the top of the cerebrum. This is the powerhouse of life force and consciousness. It supplies power to the lower subtle centers. Cervicial or Vishudha Chakra is located in the spine opposite to the throat, Dorsal or Anahad Chakra is located in the spine opposite to the heart, Lumber or Manipur Chakra is located in the spine opposite to the naval, Sacral or Savdhirthan Chakra is located in the spine opposite to the generative organs, and Coccygeal or Mooldhar Chakra  is located at the base of the spine. The Anhata Chakra is often referred to as the "Lotus of Heart". Anhata literally means "unstruck sound or melody". In the Gurbani (SGGS), this unstruck melody is called "Anhataa Shabad", "Anhataa Dhuni", "Anhata Baaje", "Anhata Dhunai", "Anhata Naad", "Anhata Run Jhun", "Anhata Beenaa", "Anhata Soor", and "Anhata Bain", and so on. It is said that those who have the Anhata Chakar awakened possess Divine Qualities such as truthfulness, contentment, Spiritual Wisdom, intuitively balanced mind, sharp reasoning, etc. These qualities enable one to easily overcome one's baser instincts and emotions.

Inverted Heart-Lotus

Inverted Heart-Lotus is the state of ignorance. Simply put: It is the sense of separateness between God and man. And the one who is separated from God is called Manmukh in the Gurbani. He is neither interested in devotion nor God's Name. As such, a Manmukh is the person who has forsaken or forgotten the Divine. Hence he dose not understand the Naam, Shabad, purpose and way of life and his relationship with God. As he remains engrossed in material wealth, his efforts are false. His consciousness is stubborn, and the words from his mouth are insipid. He does not mingle with the True and the Righteous; because within him are falsehood and selfishness.

As revealed in the Gurbani, the symptoms of those with inverted Heart-Lotus are as follows: egoism, ignorance, duality, evil-mindedness, falsehood, violence, untruthfulness, doubts, superstitions, uncontrolled senses, identification with the feeling of "I, me, mine, your", lust, anger, greed, attachment, self pride, self-conceit; jealousy and enviousness; stubborn mindedness, hatred, fanaticism, selfishness, conflicts, lack of contentment, material hankering and lamentation, lack of mental control and inner peace, self-centered, full of quarrel and contentions, lack of faith, extrovert, ritualistic, unhappy, always interested in taking instead of giving, affinity for bad association, lack of self-discipline, mental agitation, unceasing wandering (rat race), begging material things from God, complaining, finding faults in others, unable to bear pains and sorrows of life, love for material world instead of the Self within, corruption, fraud, larceny and swindling, bribery, cheating, lying, plundering, stealing, indulgence in mental speculations and material logic, attachment to world objects, deceitful nature, fearful, unceasing desire for sense objects, cynicism, hypocrisy, always wants to control the world, always wants to be appreciated, unceasing hunger for name and fame, and so on. Opposite to these are the attributes of Gurmukhs or Spiritual Beings.

Upright Heart-Lotus

The Opposite of Manmukh (ignorant or material being) is Gurmukh (Spiritual Being). Therefore, the state of upright heart-lotus means to be situated in Transcendental or Self-knowledge (Aatam-Giaan). And the one who knows the Self is called Gurmukh in the Gurbani. Based on the qualities outlined in the Gurbani, a Gurmukh is a person in God Consciousness. As such, he is a Divine Being who has taken shelter in the Lotus-Feet. Internally, he has fully surrendered his falsehood to God.

Nothing can be contained in a vessel turned upside-down. Similarly, the state of inverted Heart-Lotus (the way of the Manmukh - a materialistic person) is unconducive to experiencing Spiritual Consciousness. Therefore, to become a Spiritual Being (the Gurmukh), one has to turn the inverted Heart-Lotus upright. But how can one turn the inverted Heart-Lotus upright? That is to say, how can one realize the state of Spiritual Consciousness within? For the inverted Heart-Lotus to turn upright, the Gurbani asks us to cultivate the following Divine Attributes: Self-realization (Chauthaa Pada, Turiyaa Avasthaa or Tenth Gate); Sahaj Avasthaa (natural state of Being); Spiritual Silence (Sunn Samaadhi); Undivided Love for the All-pervading Self, Divine Knowledge (Aatam Giaan); humility; contentment; mercy and forgiveness; nonviolence; unshakable faith in God; Naam or Shabad-Consciousness; equanimity; self-discipline; righteousness; discriminating intellect; endurance; contentment; intuitive poise; patience; detachment; humility; physical-control; intense yearning to realize God; truthfulness; selfless service (Sevaa); inner joy or bliss; mental control, inner purity; compassion; mercy; forgiveness; unbroken communion in the Self; freedom of duality; high moral character; seeing God in everything and everywhere; faith, living in-tune with God's Hukam or Will; true inside as well as outside; Pure Bhagti or devotion; God-centered activities; undivided saintly nature; and so on. The means to attain these Divine Virtues are through the true understanding of the Gur-Shabad. This understanding comes by reading, reflecting and living by the Word; keeping constant association with Sat (Truth) within and without; attaching mind to meditation (Jap or Naam-Simran); selfless service (Sevaa), Self-inquiry, practicing Love and devotion; remaining detached while living in the world; using Viveka Budhi, and so on.

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

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Updated on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 10:15 PM (PST)

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