The Heartfulness Way: Heart-Based Meditations for Spiritual Transformation

by Kamlesh D. Patel

‘Do you think they would describe themselves in such a way?’ he asked. ‘In mathematics, there is something called an asymptote. It’s a line that is approached by a curve, which intersects the line at infinity. That curve moves infinitely closer to the line, but the two never meet. They only get closer and closer. A highly advanced aspirant is like that curve. She forever approaches the destination without ever arriving. At any given moment, she is both infinitely close and infinitely far from the goal. Yet, she keeps moving. As long as the aspirant exists, the journey will be infinite.’

‘Of course, there is a lot of help available. There is no lack of great teachings—especially in this modern age! At the click of a mouse, we can access the wealth of nearly any tradition. We can view the latest scientific research on so many subjects. It’s the age of information. Yet, information can only do so much to help us.’ Daaji laughed and said, ‘I am reminded of an old couplet: “Worms ate up thousands of books but did not receive a certificate of erudition.” ‘That’s what a bookworm is. No matter how much knowledge they gain, it doesn’t make them any wiser! Knowledge cannot change us, you see. For example, we all know that patience is a virtue, but is knowledge enough to make us patient?

‘This shows how even the best experiences can become traps. We have the tendency to get stuck on our experiences. Rather, we should always be willing to go beyond, to go further. Even at the high stage where bliss finally dawns, you must keep moving. Otherwise, your desire to remain in that state of bliss holds you back. You like it so much that you want to repeat it again and again. You don’t want to transcend it. Be assured that whatever you may experience, there is always something beyond it.

‘Acceptance is a cheerful thing. There is no such thing as grudging acceptance. You are either grudging or you are accepting! You can’t be both. Acceptance is from the heart. You cannot force yourself to accept a situation that your heart is rejecting from inside. In real acceptance, there is joy. Even if the girl you love says no, you are still happy. Love does not exist for the sake of receiving anything in return. That would be sacrilege. Rather, it exists for its own sake. You love for the sake of love. That is unconditional love, which is the only kind of love that there is. Love demands nothing. In love, there is no place for expectation, but only for gratitude. That is why love is the pinnacle of human nobility.