{"id":1020,"date":"2011-11-25T22:45:51","date_gmt":"2011-11-26T05:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.practicalspirituality.info\/inneressentials\/?p=1020"},"modified":"2011-12-09T12:10:32","modified_gmt":"2011-12-09T19:10:32","slug":"your-heart-is-wise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.practicalspirituality.info\/inneressentials\/2011\/11\/25\/your-heart-is-wise\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Heart Is Wise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Heart\"Do you turn to your heart when making decisions?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The world\u2019s traditions are filled with poignant lessons that point to the wisdom of the heart. We learn from the sages that the voice of the heart will always tell us the right way to go in any situation.<\/p>\n

In the ancient Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, when the sage Yajnavalkya is asked, \u201cWhere is the locality of truth?\u201d<\/em> he answers, \u201cIn the heart, for by the heart man knows truth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

When you are attuned to your heart, you will know the appropriate response to any situation\u2014whether to make a sacrifice for someone else or draw the line, whether to listen or say \u201cenough,\u201d whether to take a stand or let an issue go, whether to leave a relationship or hang on.<\/p>\n

Instead of turning to our heart, though, we sometimes make our decisions based on how our defensive ego feels today or what our mind rationally tells us conforms to the rules of right and wrong we\u2019ve grown up with.<\/p>\n

Follow the Rules . . . or Follow Your Heart? <\/strong><\/p>\n

This tale from the Hasidic tradition of Judaism shows that rigidly defending the ego or following society\u2019s rules and expectations can close down our capacity to respond wisely from our heart.<\/p>\n

Every week a respected rabbi celebrated a weekly Sabbath meal with friends and students. One week, a new guest showed up. As the meal got underway, those attending looked with disdain on the newcomer, who was sloppily dressed and a bit crude. On top of it, seemingly without respect for the rabbi, the man pulled a large radish out of his pocket and gnawed away at it loudly. The rabbi, however, seemed not to notice.<\/p>\n

One of the rabbi\u2019s students, unable to stand it any longer, turned to the man and was about to reprimand him when the rabbi interrupted and said, \u201cYou know, I wish I had a nice big radish to eat with this wonderful meal.\u201d Hearing the teacher\u2019s words, the new guest reached into his pocket, pulled out another radish, and handed it to his host, who gave him a big smile and thanked him for his kindness.<\/p>\n

Simple stories like this are full of symbology. This one tells us that when we catch ourselves judging our own or another\u2019s behavior, we might just need to let the walls we\u2019ve erected come crashing down so we can bask in the light of the heart.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another lesson that once again shows the power of the heart, this one handed down from the desert fathers, the Christian monks who lived as hermits in the deserts of Egypt. It tells of two young monks who once asked Abba Poemen what he thought they should do if they caught other monks asleep during prayer time. \u201cShouldn\u2019t we pinch them to make them stay awake?\u201d said the monks, bothered by this apparent disrespect of their holy ritual. \u201cWell,\u201d replied Abba Poemen, their more seasoned brother, \u201cif I come across a brother who is sleeping, I place his head on my knees and let him rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes the best choices we can make and the best gifts we can give are the ones that violate the rules we have about right and wrong.<\/em><\/p>\n


\nProblem Solve from the Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n

The sages teach that being still and centering in our hearts can lead us to the best solutions to any problem. When you are facing a knotty issue or are just confused about what choice to make, look at it from a heart perspective.<\/p>\n