Heartspeak

To all North American abhyasis,

We are living in an unprecedented time in human history when the conscious and unconscious call for relief from the current way of life is at a fever pitch. In the midst of much suffering, a grand conversation about spirituality, the heart and the need for oneness is taking place all around us; at dining room tables, offices, coffee spots, universities, churches, community centres, online etc. Our Sahaj Marg method is playing a central role in the unification of humanity and, quite naturally, there is a seat at the discussion table that is waiting to be fully occupied by us. Heartspeak aims to help us to humbly, yet confidently, take our place at the table whenever the heart calls upon us to do so. But perceiving the call of the heart is the key, and a process of deep interiorisation, as Babuji often refers to it in Whispers from the Brighter World, is essential for the task.

In this spirit, Heartspeak aims to:

• Assist every abhyasi who aspires to develop a greater capacity for perceiving and responding to the divine vibration within his or her own heart and within the hearts of all others without distinction;
• Assist in cultivating spiritually nurturing environments in our centres and ashrams, free from tensions and divisiveness, where greater unity, faith and love might flower;
• Help us to become more aware of our central place in the worldwide conversation about spirituality, the heart, and the future of humankind;
• Help us to join naturally in the conversations taking place all around us;
• Assist us in speaking more fluently and with ease the universal language of the heart, always beginning with deep interiorisation
• Help us to participate in fulfilling the aim of our great Mission – the spiritual upliftment of suffering humanity.

Heartspeak is open to all, and we invite everyone to look deeper into the possibilities. Take some time to read over the section below Heartspeak – An Introduction, How to Participate, and Resources for North America, paying special attention to the last page which includes contact information for assistance with Heartspeak. Consider the suggestions included in this guidebook as a starting place. As with all things organic, we look forward to new insights, suggestions and resources arising out of our collective research and practical experience of Heartspeak.

From the bottom of our hearts,
Heartspeak North America

So we have a double responsibility. It operates in two ways. We have to achieve the goal for ourselves, in our own lifetime; and we have to make the achievement of this same goal possible for future generations of mankind. That is, we have to consider ourselves as plants which not only produce grain or fruit for immediate consumption, but which also produce great quantities of seeds for planting acres and acres of the same crop for the future, again and again.
—P. Rajagopalachari, The Principles of Sahaj Marg, Set 1, p. 123

An Introduction, How to Participate, and Resources for North America

“Babuji, how is it possible to unite this mob — multi-coloured, multi-lingual mob? How do you unite them?” He said, “The secret is hidden in the heart. And if you look at the heart, you will find that it is only through the heart that you can bring people together.”
—P. Rajagopalachari, Heartspeak 2011, p.11

What is Heartspeak?

Simply put, Heartspeak is allowing the heart to speak. And how does the heart speak? It is the purest, most subtle form of communication; it can happen in silence, or through music, art, words or even a smile. It is resonating in harmony, in love: connecting through the heart. One is first attuned to the subtlest vibration of the Divine within oneself and then, quite naturally, to the Divine within others. When the heart speaks, it touches the heart of another and the melody of hearts in resonance begins to play. Heartspeak is ancient and inherent in all, yet the complexities of modern life and the impressions governing us often block us from speaking and listening with the heart.

The unparalleled efficacy of our Sahaj Marg practice addresses all aspects of creating a clear, unobstructed path for Heartspeak and our goal of oneness with the Divine. Our Master clearly tells us that oneness with the Divine also means seeing the Divine in others. In fact, the key to our continuation and evolution as a species seems to lie in our ability to accept one another and to live and function as one. Those who are fluent in the language of the heart do not put themselves ahead of others. They resonate with all life, and so are incapable of exclusion. This is the true universal love, the true language of the heart.

The Conversation

Collective wisdom gathered throughout the ages tells us that we are inextricably bound to one another in oneness. At this time in human history, we are seeing an explosion of movies, documentaries, books, university curricula, TED Talks, music and poetry on this theme. This explosion could well be a refection of the hearts’ insistence that now, more than ever before, is the time to listen and obey the evolutionary impulse for oneness. Contemporary research in all branches of science continues to reveal evidence that our universe and all its manifestations are intimately interconnected and tied to the same source.

For example, in Tom Sadyac’s documentary film I Am, we learn how a brush with death inspired him to explore themes of “human connectedness, happiness, and the human spirit.” Paul Pearsall, author of the book The Heart’s Code: Tapping the Wisdom and Power of Our Heart Energy, presents research from heart transplant patients indicating the heart’s dual and inherent purpose of transmitting and receiving information by way of energy vibrations.

Daniel Goleman, author of the book Emotional Intelligence, shares in a TED Talk that our “complete self-absorption” stands in the way of making human contact even though neurons in the brain are designed to mirror those of others with whom we make contact. We are wired for empathy, yet we fail to even notice each other. And in Heartspeak 2011, “The talks in this volume emphasize that Sahaj Marg is all about the heart. They cover topics such as the need to listen from the heart and be guided by the heart, as well as speaking from the heart; the basics of Sahaj Marg; our human duty and the oneness of humanity; the role of transmission in spirituality and the need for hope and faith.” (p.viii)

Heartspeak – Joining the Conversation

Conversations exploring themes of human interconnection and the wisdom of the heart are taking place in our homes, libraries, community centres, theatres, church basements, social media sites, universities and even town halls. As Sahaj Marg abhyasis in North America, we have the good fortune to freely participate in this grand conversation at many levels. Some of us want to share our heartfelt experience of transformation with family, friends, colleagues and community members. Some of us feel a strong responsibility to make others aware of our method and keep it out there as an option for those seeking spiritual transformation.

Yet Heartspeak is much more than speaking about Sahaj Marg to others. The language of the heart transcends talks, presentations, speeches and meetups. It is the language of the subtlest divine vibration – the language that longs to give without expectation. It is the universal language of spirituality, of love, and it belongs to all of us. We all have a heart.

An Invitation for Conscious Practice

Remaining alert to the feeling of heart-to-heart resonance with others is a practice in divine remembrance. Our sadhana allows us to feel this vibration. Courageous self-observation helps us see where we block love’s vibration. Gradually we are able to ignore the blockages and place our attention on Him Who loves all. Fusion with Him is the key to our Master’s clarion call: Love all whom He loves. This is the call of Heartspeak.

With the Beloved's water of life, no illness remains In the Beloved's rose garden of union, no thorn remains. They say there is a window from one heart to another. How can there be a window where no wall remains?
—Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi

Intention

This is an invitation to all of us to expand our capacity to feel and to remain conscious of the subtle vibration of the Divine within ourselves and others. This capacity will remain an abstract thing, however, until we move beyond our habit of self-concern and truly open our hearts to all. You might call this invitation a fresh opportunity to ‘walk the talk’ of Sahaj Marg.

In doing so, our efforts to share our method with others seeking a spiritual path will find natural and divine expression. The following Whisper best captures the intention of this introduction to Heartspeak:

Wednesday, September 13, 2000, 10:00 a.m.

The attainment of the goal requires efforts. Going inside oneself, deeper and deeper in an intense way full of love, bears its fruits. The process must be twofold: interiorisation (fusion with the divine presence) and openness to the world. It entails being attentive to one’s fellow man – whether close or far from you – considering that all beings on this Earth are brothers. You cannot neglect this aspect, at the risk of curbing your own evolution. A solitary process, only focused on oneself, slows down the process. You do not advance alone; the beings that surround you are to be considered in every sense of the word. By helping your brother, you will help yourself in the best way possible. The Masters of the past insisted on this aspect without being truly followed; this concept is essential. You should review your way of doing things, take a close look at yourself with rigour and try to draw from it the beneficial conclusions that will foster your progress. It’s all connected; love develops in you, but it must manifest itself around you, generously. Think of it.
—Babuji, Whispers from the Brighter World, A Second Revelation, p. 618

How to participate?

The approach is simple and requires little or no facilitation. There is no specific timeline for completion – only a guideline. It consists of two parts as described below. You can choose to participate in one or both parts, although both are suggested. If you like this approach, welcome, and read on.

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe”, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
—Albert Einstein

One is first attuned to the subtlest vibration of the Divine within oneself and then, quite naturally, to the Divine within others.

Part One: “Interiorisation”

The Sahaj Marg method is complete in terms of its efficacy in bringing us to our goal. It is up to each of us to determine how fully we have embraced this divine process, which extends well beyond a routine practice of meditation, cleaning and prayer. Sensitivity to what we are receiving and the willingness to remove blinders of self-concern are necessary to evolve into the divine realm.

How to develop that sensitivity? The first thing is to turn your senses inward. If you have seen Babuji's face, you see one eye is always here [pointing towards the heart], drooping to the heart. When I asked him why it is like that, he said, “One eye for the [outer] world and one eye for the inner world.” This is observing this; this is observing that.
—P. Rajagopalachari, from a talk entitled Sensitivity, Palakkad, Kerala, India, 22 December 2005.

The approach below is intended to assist those who wish to focus on developing greater sensitivity and openness. It must be underscored that this is not to be treated as a modification or addition to our method. In fact, daily practice is the cornerstone for this purpose. As is indicated in Master’s quote from his talk entitled Sensitivity, Babuji’s subtle observation of the inner and outer world cultivated sensitivity and heightened the benefits of our method.

Set aside 10 minutes each day in the morning for suggestions 1–4 and naturally incorporate the rest into your day and daily life. You decide for what length of time you wish to consciously apply yourself to this effort – 30 days, 60 days, or more

1. Intent - After your morning meditation, read and re-read the September 13, 2000, 10:00 a.m. Whisper (provided above).
2. Attune – Direct your attention to the heart and take a few moments to feel the divine Master within. Attune your heart to the heart of the divine.
3. Amplify – Go deeper into the condition and, from the heart, gently make the suggestion that all hearts are one. Feel the divine Master in all – ever widening the circle to embrace all.
4. Alert – Make the suggestion that you will remain alert and in remembrance of Him and all whom He loves throughout the day
5. Observe – Fearlessly observe habits of self-concern throughout the day or any thoughts, which disconnect you from your own heart and the hearts of others.
6. Re-Attune - Immediately redirect your attention to the divine Master within and feel the divine resonance. Adjust yourself to be in tune with the divine heart in all at every opportunity.
7. Respond – Naturally respond to the hearts of others. A gesture, a smile, a listening ear (heart), a few kind words, a cup of tea, divine silence – let your heart be your guide.
8. Universal Prayer – Sit at 9:00 pm each night and participate in the Universal Prayer.
9. Diary Writing – If you maintain a diary, add a sentence or two or more about your experience of this Heartspeak practice. What did you find?

Part Two: “Openness to the World”

I must say that I am happy to see more and more of these documentaries nowadays, trying to bring back this concept, this spirit of human oneness.
—P. Rajagopalachari, “Think of Others – Forget Yourselves”, a talk to prefects, 15 August 2000

Below is a small sampling of media options for individuals, pairs or small groups to read and view. You might know of other media focusing on the theme of our interconnected humanity and the role of the heart, which you are welcome to utilise for this effort. The media selections below are not endorsements by Sahaj Marg or any of its members.

It is perfectly fine to undertake this work on your own. If working in a small group, we recommend a maximum of six per group. Suggestions for individual work and for sharing in pairs and small groups are at the end of this section.

The media selections are intended to:

• Expand our perception of Heartspeak;
• Open us to the world of interconnection, beyond perceived boundaries of where Sahaj Marg begins and ends and from a multitude of perspectives;
• Provide a forum for being together and giving one another our full attention, as we practise truly listening with the heart and speaking from the heart;
• Encourage consideration of the theme. How do the ideas presented in the media affect our understanding of:
  • who we are
  • why we are here
  • how we intend to feel oneness with all creation
  • what we need to attend to in order to do so.
• Enthuse us to join the conversation, which requires meeting others where they are. We have something to offer – our heart.
• Practice allowing the heart to perceive, to express and to interact.

Please copy/paste any of the selections into your browser to learn more.

Media Selections

Books

Documentary Films and Interview Links

Films

Poetry

TED Talks and Web Links

Suggestions for utilising media for individuals, pairs and groups:

• Make a selection from the list above or use media of your own choosing.
• No matter what media you select, use the questions for personal reflection and sharing (below) for individual work. If you keep a diary, you may want to use your diary to record your reflections.
• If working in pairs or a small group, we suggest that you start with recording your own responses to the questions for personal reflection and sharing. Then share your reflections with one another.
• For books, decide on a few meeting dates to share your reflections – 3 or 4 meetings for example. First, decide on how many chapters to read before each meeting, and then the reflection questions would apply to the chapters completed. The reflection questions remain the same for each meeting.
• For movies, you may wish to view the movie together and then gather a second time to share your reflections.
• Practise being in remembrance. Make an effort to be attentive to your brothers and sisters. Listen deeply with your heart, and practise speaking only what your heart prompts you to share.
• Please note that the intent here is to share your reflections, not to discuss or debate the ideas presented.

Questions for personal reflection and sharing: (No need to respond to all questions – they are simply for heartfelt reflection)

• How does this book, film, poetry or other work reflect Heartspeak, from my perspective and the perspective of the Heartspeak Introduction?
• Was I able to read/listen/view with the heart? If so or if not, take note of the experience.
• What was evoked in me?
• How, in this moment, have the ideas presented [in the media] affected my understanding of who I am and why I am here in this life?
• Has my feeling of interconnection with all brothers and sisters of the world been altered in any way?
• How do I intend to become more in tune, in the heart, with all creation?
• What might I need to pay attention to or modify in myself in order to do so?

Heartspeak Resources

The following abhyasis are available to assist you as you consider how to join the conversation in your local community. If there are several in your centre with renewed Heartspeak energy, you may wish to organise a conference call with one of the abhyasis listed below for support. Your regional coordinator is also there to help.

Open Houses and Informal Get-togethers

For help with holding an open house at libraries, community centres, ashrams, meditation centres and clubhouses; or for informal get-togethers in homes and the like, contact Brian Jones: brianjonesart@yahoo.com, Joan Laurino: jslaurino@gmail.com, Malar Curran: kmalar@gmail.com, or Amy Zezulka: azezulka@yahoo.com, Rob Klinger: robklinger@roadrunner.com

Invited Speakers from within Sahaj Marg

(In Development) - For considering and planning events to present Sahaj Marg, such as large speaking events, panels, interviews, expos and corporate events, contact Robert Perry: robert.perry@gmail.com, or James Joseph: james.joseph2012@gmail.com

College and University – Student Groups

For assistance with setting up a student group on your campus and conducting open houses on campus, contact Chethan Reddy: cgreddy3160@gmail.com

Printed Materials

For help with guidelines and resources for postcards, flyers, cards, posters and announcements, contact Brian Jones: bjonesart@yahoo.com, Joan Laurino: jslaurino@gmail.com, or Malar Curran: kmalar@gmail.com

Online Communities, Virtual Groups and Meetups

For help in understanding Sahaj Marg guidelines and for assistance with online groups, contact Brian Jones: brianjonesart@yahoo.com, or Chris Mills: millsctm@gmail.com, Joan Laurino: jslaurino@gmail.com, Malar Curran: kmalar@gmail.com

Articles and Publishing in External Publications

For assistance with writing articles and/or publishing articles in non-SRCM publications, contact Elizabeth Denley: edenley@internode.on.net, Rama Devagupta: rama_devagupta@msn.com

Heartspeak

For questions related to Heartspeak, how to participate, or upcoming opportunities for Heartspeak development, contact Janmarie Connor: janmariec@comcast.net, Veronica Carter: vhcarter1@aol.com, or Kim Hansen: srcmcan@ica.net, Trevor Weltman: TreWeltm@gmail.com