Thoughts On Opening My Heart

By Swami Yasodananda

Originally posted April 28, 2021

 

I’ve read stories and biographies of people who are considered to be saintly, to have a passion for the Divine. Most of those stories were inspiring and got me thinking about what my passion might be and how do I express devotion to it; how do I find it? I know it resides in my heart.

What it comes down to is focus, concentration. I observe what comes forward from within myself. I also observe what is revealed by other people and by close friends whom I admire. I can’t imitate any of those people or what they have done or written. The search has to come from within. Experiences by others can get me thinking, but bringing understanding to light needs my own exploration.

This search takes patience; takes seeking awe and wonder, lit by a little spark that seems remote at times. Wisdom doesn’t come from a smartphone, rather it comes by putting the phone down and listening inside. As Swami Radhananda said to me more than once, keep going. I understand that to mean keep listening.

Where is my interest? Some of the practices I’ve done that put me into a devotional frame of mind I am unable to do now. So I’m finding a new way to seek the Pearl, being still, praying, asking for understanding. I am a human; the Divine Light created me with strengths and weaknesses. Influences from past lives and from the present have made me who I am at this time. What do I need to change? What do I need to develop to open my heart? Silently I say ‘start by listening;’ start by listening to the breath, the life force. Put aside restlessness and be still. Put aside restlessness and be still.