“That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.”
– Bhagavad Gita (15.6)
Imagine being forced to enter a deadly, lonely forest all alone. The eerie and foreboding darkness sends shivers down your spine as wolves howl incessantly and the occasional roar of a lion pierces the silence. If given the choice, you would likely run away from this jungle and seek the safety of your home.
In a similar way, our inner world of mind, intelligence, and ego can feel like a dark and dangerous jungle that scares many of us. As our mind incessantly whines, we long to escape to the safety of our homes, but we often don’t know where our home is or how to find it.
The purpose of these reflections, titled “Diving Deep,” is to facilitate our discovery of our inner home and provide solace in its safe chambers.
We have two lives: one is the obvious external life, where our social dealings and actions can be seen and judged by others; the other is our internal hopes and horrors that only we know. But do we truly know our inner selves? Do we face our inner demons, or do we avoid them or even worse, suppress our unhealthy desires? Many of us run away from what we imagine is a deadly forest within us. We bury ourselves in our smartphones, social media apps, and countless web series instead of entering the treacherous woods of our own thoughts and feelings. We would do anything to avoid facing our own insecurities.
It’s easy to live in denial of our dark side – our fears and undesirable anxieties are often unknown even to ourselves. Meanwhile, our life-alienating emotions gather energy within us, eventually taking a toll on our physical and emotional well-being. It’s important to face our inner selves and come to terms with our inner demons if we want to lead a fulfilling life. These reflections titled “Diving Deep” aim to guide us in exploring the uncharted territory of our inner world and help us understand and accept ourselves better.
To truly understand ourselves, we must face both the joys and sorrows, the pleasant and unpalatable, that make up our inner world. It’s then that we can enter our “Heart Space,” our home within.
After a long and tiring day, we all long to reach the comforts of our physical homes. Similarly, in our inner world, we need a place where we feel rested and safe. When different challenges confront our mind and ego during the day, we yearn for a sense of belongingness, to be loved and accepted without judgement.
This sacred space is within our own heart. While the physical heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood through our blood vessels, this series is not about that. Across various religions, cultures, and traditions spanning millennia, the heart has been identified as the seat of emotion and life. It’s a symbol of love that signifies truth, conscience, and connection.
In these weekly posts, we explore this emotional and spiritual heart, which is our true home and a source of solace in the midst of life’s challenges.
Throughout this series, you will see the terms “Heart Space” and “Home State” used interchangeably. That’s because, in our relationships and work in this world, we feel at home when our heart is safe. Similarly, our home is where our heart is secure, and we feel a sense of belongingness.
The two terms are synonymous and represent the idea that when we feel emotionally safe and secure, we are at home. It’s when we have a deep sense of connection with ourselves and others that we experience a profound sense of belongingness. This sense of belongingness is essential to our well-being and happiness, and it’s what we explore in this series.
To be continued….
