With my first glance of the image accompanying the "Meditation on the Heart," my heart started opening like fresh lotus petals opening to the sun's soft rays. In the white light at the center of the lotus, I saw Gurumayi. Whenever I meditate, I have Gurumayi's
darshan in my heart, and here I was having Gurumayi's
darshan in the center of the lotus!
Two days after this experience, I am still able to maintain a renewed sense of equipoise and bliss. This evening, after working ten long hours, I sat in my car for a few minutes before driving home, and I recalled the image of the lotus to bring myself back to a quiet mind.
Gurumayi ji, thank you very much for this very powerful image of the lotus, for the
dharana, and for continuously giving me your
darshan in my heart.
a Siddha Yogi from California, USA
Since August 15, Baba's Divya Diksha Day, I have been repeating
Shivo'ham, Shivo'ham, "I am Shiva," as my new affirmation. And my meditations on the heart chakra during the past week have been deep, sweet, and full of love.
Today, when I saw the
dharana on the heart lotus from the
Vijnanabhairava, it encouraged me to continue to follow my heart, to be in my heart, and to serve from that place always. Love is all there is, regardless of what appears to be happening all around me.
a Siddha Yogi from Bangalore, India
This morning, I used this
dharana as I meditated, envisioning the heart-lotus and focusing my attention there. My meditation was immediately filled with a honey-like, subtly vibratory energy that I experienced in the region of my heart. I was filled with love—love that I now want to carry with me into my day and my world.
a Siddha Yogi from Maryland, USA
At this time when I feel such a pull to focus on outward events, it is a supreme gift for me to be drawn within so compellingly and naturally by this
dharana. At first, I experienced everything outside falling away. But then, from one moment to the next, all became encompassed within the expanding point of light in the lotus. Nothing was outside of this radiating inner light. All was contained in a sublime peace.
This
dharana is truly a blessing.
Thank you, Gurumayi!
a Siddha Yogi from Massachusetts, USA
Yesterday I read this
dharana. Today, every time the image of the space of the heart came to my mind during my activities, I took a moment to breathe consciously, remembering Gurumayi's Message and picturing the lotus heart. Each time, an inner peace came over me immediately. This experience brought me to the awareness of how easy it is to practice in a regular way the gift that our Guru gave to us.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for this tangible experience.
a Siddha Yogi from Mexico City, Mexico
For a while now, I have been reading this particular verse in the
Vijnanabhairava along with the commentary each morning before I meditate. First, it has illumined my understanding of Gurumayi’s Message for 2017. And I experience a sweetness while focusing on the connection to the space of my heart, my inner consciousness, in a way I have never known before. As my mind settles into a calm space and my breath becomes quiet, I experience freedom and love.
a Siddha Yogi from Arizona, USA
At first my conscious mind tried to remember the words of the
dharana, but then I let go and allowed my awareness to surrender to the space it evoked. In an effortless way I found myself serenely floating in silence, emptiness, and fullness.
As I practice this again and again, my conscious mind is becoming accustomed to experiencing this state of tranquility.
a Siddha Yogi from Iowa, USA
I was surprised and delighted upon reading these words and gazing at the image of the heart
chakra. I immediately felt my heart expand and fill with light. I now understand that this light always resides in my heart as my very Self.
Dear Gurumayi, thank you for your grace—for your support in opening the treasure in my heart.
a Siddha Yogi from California, USA
This is an incredibly powerful
dharana for me in the way it takes me directly to the heart. It certainly holds a high promise at the end!
I understand from the swami’s share, and my own experience, that entering into the middle of the heart lotus symbolizes the unification of knowledge and the object of knowledge—as one, as the
madhya. The
dharana is bringing me to the center of my heart immediately when I sit for meditation.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for this opportunity to stay in the center of my being and feel connected with the Self throughout the day—during all my activities and relations with others!
a Siddha Yogi from Zuthen, Netherlands
As I began contemplating the
dharana during meditation, I found myself picturing the two halves of the heart lotus as two halves of a grape! I brought my awareness to the space between the two halves where it remained for a while, and then my focus moved to the cranial area in my head.
As this unfolded, I could feel my body begin to turn into tiny white particles, stretching horizontally through inner space; my awareness remained conscious and alert. As I watched, a most delicious joy coursed through my being, and an expanded awareness began to open up. I knew that I was that expanding, conscious awareness.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for your endless grace and for expanding our experience of the Message for 2017 through this
dharana.
a Siddha Yogi from New Jersey, USA
This
dharana always leads me to the timeless space of the Heart. From this space I can see that everything is precisely as it should be. I become absorbed in the joyous vibration that connects me with all beings, all things.
a Siddha Yogi from Adelaide, Australia
The sages of Kashmir Shaivism explain that the heart-lotus is shaped like two bowls, one above the other. The upper half represents the power of knowing and the lower half represents the object of knowing. The Knower is in the heart,
hṛdaya, at the center between these two halves of the heart-lotus. By visualizing this lotus in the midst of our chest and focusing on its center, we can enter the space of the heart, which is the Knower, our own Self. When I practice this approach, I experience entering a conscious space of tranquility, goodness, and sweetness—a space of blessedness.
a Siddha Yoga Swami