Heart Chakra, Chakras, and Buddhism

Jeffrey

You are welcome to participate by saying these are not actually Buddhism, and for that reason I put it in 'comparing religions' which invites more input than 'that's not Buddhism'.

For Buddhism itself I wonder if the heart chakra has anything to do with wisdom and compassion. My perception is that it is just a nexus of energy and not a 'self', but I have not realized a non-intellectual emptiness aside from some glimpses such as seeing thoughts are not in my control which made me feel powerful and then ego comes.

Aside from that ^ perception I have read the heart chakra has to do with motion of winds and sort of getting things done and giving things a push. At the negative you can be disturbing and overly controlling, but at the positive you can be skillful having insight to speak from your understanding and compassion without ego.

Any thoughts?

karasti

My teacher actually talks about Chakras and we do meditation based on them sometimes. I don't have much to say on it at this point other than to say I think they can coincide with Buddhism just fine. One of ladies in our group is a holistic healer and she talks of energy healing and such all the time. She's a very smart lady, knows a lot about quantum physics and such, and has a lot to say on the topics. Very interesting. (as I understand chakras have to do with energy channels in the body which is what she talks about)

BhikkhuJayasara

In Theravada they don't talk about such things, but in my yoga practice they do :-P.

Some say yoga isn't Buddhist either,but I know many monks who do it. Doesn't have to be connected to Buddhism to be useful.

karasti

Exactly. There are a lot of tools in life that can help us, even in ways not entirely related to our religious/spiritual practice. Sometimes, they can help us with our practice.

lobster

I was taught a Shingon Buddhist practice, which activates or contacts aspects or arisings associated with chakras or centres.
http://yinyana.tumblr.com/post/31454196568/elements

taiyaki

The heart center is where the mandala of the peaceful deities dwell. It is the calm state. When first developed it is like a wound or a soreness. It brings tremendous sadness as we begin to feel. If we are stable enough then we allow that sadness to mature into a beautiful quality of openness. When that openness is stable then confidence and joy grow. From the heart center one can connect with the eyes and then all that is seen in the visual field becomes love.

Also it is much easier to connect with the heart chakra once the subtle energy enters the central channel.

Its interesting that you note that the chakras are questionably non buddhist or maybe that is the perception. Buddhism for the most part deals with the physical, gross level of existence. Then it processes into the subtle, through shamatha.

Considering that you work with Mahamudra practices you have probably come into the realm of energetic experiences in your practice. Energy itself is the pure inspiration and creativity of the vast expanse. When it is not inputed and manipulated for egoic purposes then such energy is ones own radiance of their natural state. This is what is known as the Sambhogakaya or the unseen realms.

Not recognize for what they are = samsara.

Recognize for what they are = liberated activity.

In regards to compassion. First compassion is directed towards others. Then further on the path it is directed at dharmas. Then when emptiness is realized compassion is directed at no thing. It compounds upon itself over and over and over and over again.

Another interesting thought:

Pride or self cherishing when examined as an energetic phenomena appearing in what we call the body is interesting. When seen in its purity it is a kind of holding of the world as if we were the mother of it all. A kind of love and clarity.

Trungpa was right when he said everything is workable.

Jeffrey

@taiyaki, my meditation works on openning to space. I rather think energy is used though as in 'heart energy' which relates to confidence and the wish to be happy. Openness is focused on in our meditation. I have gotten some stronger shamata with my previous meditations. Which is to say I have actually a feinter awareness that stears me away from daydreaming. But I do have that wound you are talking about. I have great manure for practice in strangely compelling psychotic voices. It's a real intense practice to remain open but centered. There is a jarring 'sea legs' to the voices as the climate changes hourly even from very peaceful to hearing "langenbrenner" repeated for 45 minutes in a row pretty much as in unavoidable contact with a voice persona. So it can be a trick to be centered and spacious at the same time. Quite a test, really. Fortunately other karma came together to give me a supportive family.

Also the five Buddha families each with a buddha: padma (passion), Buddha (space and patience?), karma (stepping in to do), vajra (insight), and ratna (expansive with equanimity)..These also have hellish aspects. http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1658

All of this makes it hard to practice but it softens me considerably. I recently had the courage to visit a nun I knew through family who had a stroke. Trungpas teaching I liked to recollect is to just go into a situation and be there without feeling confident, to just open to the situation. I ended up with a good feeling of compassion though part of me hurt that she was in physical pain and part of me was happy because I felt she had friends and discipline to do the physical therapy and stay positive. But I was in the room for her for about 5 minutes when my mom was looking for a nurse and her narcotic medicine was not for an hour and she was just talking out her pain, talking to God. And I just spontaneously gave words not proselytizing more support, but I tried to give the gift of spaciousness and no fear.

Jeffrey

@lobster, I like stupas and that provided interesting food for thought. I want to work on the water element. It's the same buddha energies in your link and mine.