A lot has been said about each of the three words – heart, mind, and love. However, it is a lifetime (or rebirths) journey for many of us to truly understand the inter-relationship between these three. This article at attempt at my improving my own understanding of these based on my experiences. Hope it adds value to the reader.
Heart
The quality of a pure heart are that of universal love – love for one and all. A pure heart does not give or withhold love based on what the other person has given you or can give you in your life. A heart can not be truly loving until it reaches a level of universal love. Look for opportunities to increase your goodwill towards all – especially the ones you feel have wronged you in the past. A pure heart understands that everyone is on their journey of spiritual growth and no one is at the core less lovable or more lovable. Yes, it may be that at the current time someone may be more aligned to you and someone else less or not at all, that does not mean that they are not lovable or deserve ill will from you or anyone.
Mind
The mind is essentially an insatiable analytical tool that thrives on “solving problems”, “finding answers”, “working towards a goal”, and essentially loves it when it is fed more and more. That is reason why it is so difficult to quieten the mind. However, we need to understand that a mind which is essentially a sophisticated calculator can not help us or anyone in matters of heart. It can only create multiple scenarios many of which may be based on fear. It can help us solve science problems but not help relationships or create love and joy in humanity. May be that is why we see such a difference between happiness in the West and the East, between developed nations and not so developed nations.
Mind is essentially a great servant but not a good master. The aim with mind should be to bring it to equanimity. Equanimity means having mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation. Meditation which helps us increase our awareness is one of the most important techniques to reaching a stage of equanimity.
Many people assume that following meditation practice makes people boring or heartless. That can never be more far from truth. As a matter of fact, a heart can only be loving if the mind has equanimity. A non-reactive or silent person is not a person with less love or heart, as a matter of fact, their love and heart is so strong that they can maintain calmness in difficult situation and be more loving in the broadest sense of the word.
Love
Love is simply the energy or incentive that nature has given us to keep on this journey of finding the balance between heart and mind. When we engage in loving relationship with an imbalance in us, we are bound to experience pain. Love is what keeps us from straying or going in a shell and helps us channelize our pain for the purpose of our growth. Love is the anchor that helps us stay the course through our trials and tribulation. Love is not a destination in that sense – it is an on-going feeling of support. A loving presence of a loving soul, gives us the inner fuel to work on ourselves and transform ourselves to be more loving. Loving towards one and all.
I leave you with a few apt quotes:
The more we listen to and follow our inner voice, our inner sense of knowing, the more we like ourselves, the happier we are, the smoother our life flows. Nithya Shanti
Who you become through all your trials and tribulations, is the only thing that is left with you and that matters. PremAnand.