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you may fall into pits, brambles, quicksand, and monsters.

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But Christi, you have commented on danger of visualization in relation to chakras (like ajna or throat). I am assuming that this opinion does not necessarily address my question which addresses internal organs such as the heart

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"The heart of the wise is at his right hand, and the heart of a fool at his left.

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Even when the fool is walking on the road, he lacks sense...

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"The sun rises, the sun sets, then to its place is speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns it to the north; it turns and turns again. Then back to its circling goes the wind [i.e., focus of attention and/or light visualization]? A generation goes, a generation comes; yet the earth stands firm for ever.

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8. What part of the body is the abode of the Self?

The heart on the right side of the chest is generally indicated. This is because we usually point to the right side of the chest when we refer to ourselves. Some say that the sahasrara (the thousand-petaled lotus) is the abode of the Self. But if that were true, the head should not fall forward when we go to sleep or faint.

Source: page 22 of The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi, Shambala, Boston & London, 1988.

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What profit can we show for all our [yogic] toil, toiling under the sun? A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm forever.

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Originally posted by newpov

FIRST:

The distinction between organs and chakras may be important. Is one specific internal organ the same as, and/or associated with, only one specific chakra or energy turbine?

If you visualize light in any one internal organ (specifically, for example, the heart), does it follow that one identifiable combination or collection of chakras in the nervous system will therefore always be activated, without healthy automatic or autonomic rebalancing by the nervous system as a whole and so therefore with possible unfortunate consequences? How do you know?

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Originally posted by newpov

SECOND:

Perhaps any answer for the heart organ differs from the answer applicable to all other organs.

Since the heart is centered between 3 chakras above and 3 chakras below, might visualization of light in the heart organ bring about a distribution of energy or a balanced activation of the surrounding 6 chakras? "As above, so below?"

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Originally posted by newpov

THIRD:

Going much further, suppose visualization in the heart region properly includes or spans the physical heart on the left side, over to the spiritual heart (about which Robert Adams and Ramana Maharshi spoke) on the right side. An early reference in Ecclesiastes 10:2 --

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"The heart of the wise is at his right hand, and the heart of a fool at his left.

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Originally posted by newpov

FOURTH:

Going even further, if spiritual sweep of included attention or activation is horizontal as well as vertical, could this be the ancient "Way of the Cross" as newly understood in yogic terms?

Vertical activation is evident as the "road" (read: spine or spinal nerve, etc.) in the verse that immediately follows [!!!!!] Ecclesiastes 10:2 --

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Even when the fool is walking on the road, he lacks sense...

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The yogic cross is perhaps evident in Ecclesiastes 1, as two generations or again, in East/West, North/South terms:

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"The sun rises, the sun sets, then to its place is speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns it to the north; it turns and turns again. Then back to its circling goes the wind [i.e., focus of attention and/or light visualization]? A generation goes, a generation comes; yet the earth stands firm for ever.

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Originally posted by newpov

FIFTH:

My impression is that Christian mystics have had special veneration for "the sacred heart." Why do you suppose this has been the case? What do you believe has been behind this spiritual tradition?

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Then back to its circling goes the wind. Into the sea [heart chamber?] go all the rivers, and yet the sea is never filled [because of outgoing arterial flow?], and still to their goal the rivers go.

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I was more astonished than I can put into words when, for the first time, I felt my heart glow hot and burn. I experienced the burning not in my imagination but in reality, as if it were being done by a physical fire...

...because I will try to show the superheated and supernatural feeling of love to everyone, the title The Fire of Love is selected for this book.

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Originally posted by newpov

But where spiritual practice is concerned, could we be overlooking or even dismissing something vitally important?

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Note that Rolle above includes explicit reference to "imagination". Bear in mind, what I could is a translation from the Latin by M.L. del Mastro, available used on Amazon.com.

Despite what seems to be an explicit disavowal, Could Rolle be alluding to deliberate light/fire imaging or active visualization of some sort in his spiritual practice?

Would a student who is watchful for irony in spiritual writing, and therefore "contrarian" to prevailing opinion, be enticed and therefore be inclined to follow up on this lead for the few?

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Originally posted by CarsonZi

But I have faith that Yogani knows what he is talking about, he has experimented enough and knows enough about the entire process that if it was necessary to focus on the heart in order to achieve transformation then he would have included a practice within the AYP framework. I'm sure he didn't include such a practice because he either knew it wasn't necessary, or knew that it would only lead to excessive kundalini symptoms or something.

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Lesson 220 - Q&A – Opening the heart chakra
The practices in the lessons are geared toward overall spiritual
awakening, and not so much on individual chakras - except the ajna to
root connection, which is especially important for enlightenment. Of
course, the heart is opened also by this overall purification in the
spiritual anatomy. While meditation and spinal breathing are global
and open the heart "by proxy," other techniques like uddiyana/nauli,
chin pump and targeted bastrika can work more directly in the heart
area as part of the overall process of purification and opening.

In general, I am not for focusing on individual chakra openings,
because how can we know what is the right order? Unfathomable karma
sets each of us on a somewhat different path, and that is why the
broad approach in the lessons is offered, rather than a specific
chakra by chakra approach. In this way we allow pure bliss
consciousness to cultivate natural opening of the nervous system from
within, relying on intellectual decisions very little. Through the
practices in the lessons, we are systematically surrendering to the
process of spiritual transformation that is inherent within us. Of
course, pure bhakti is the greatest of all practices, and you know
that already. If human desire is raised to the level of bhakti
(intense desire for God/Truth), then all the methods of yoga are
stimulated automatically. We only need hear of them once (if at all),
and we are off into practice!

Having said all that, here are a couple of additional suggestions on
opening the heart chakra that are holistic in their effects:

There is a pranayama technique that works directly in the heart that
has not been mentioned in the lessons so far. It is like spinal
breathing, but in reverse direction. We can call it "heart
breathing." It provides the opportunity to bring our ishta (chosen
ideal) directly into our heart using the breath with profound effect.
What we do is inhale from the third eye (point between the eyebrows)
back to the center of the head and down the spinal nerve into the
heart, and then exhale back out the same route through the third eye.
On the inhalation we bring our ishta in, and on the exhalation we
send out impurities. If we slow down the breathing (comfortably), the
effects will be enhanced. Breathing through the nose is preferable,
but not mandatory. This method has great benefit for the heart,
purifying and opening it. During this practice, our heart is filled
with our Beloved and impurities are expelled. It can be done for 5-10
minutes before or after sitting practices, or anytime. Be careful not
to overdo it in the beginning, as it can bring excessive karmic
releases in the heart if overdone. It is suggested you start off slow
and work up gradually according to comfort and effect. This practice
has not been offered in the lessons so far because of the reverse
direction aspect and possible confusion to beginners in the
traditional spinal breathing that is given beginning in lesson #41,
which purifies the heart in a more general way. Also, many people do
not have a clear ishta to use, which can be confusing to those coming
to yoga with a non-worship orientation. This is clearly not the case
with you, so perhaps you can use this practice with good effect. It
may even combine nicely with your other practices. It is in your
hands.

For those who wish to try this practice without a specific ishta
(diety, avatar or guru), the purifying and healing power of universal
Truth can be brought in through the third eye and down into the heart
during inhalation, and impurities sent out on exhalation.

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Originally posted by newpov


SECOND:

Perhaps any answer for the heart organ differs from the answer applicable to all other organs.

Since the heart is centered between 3 chakras above and 3 chakras below, might visualization of light in the heart organ bring about a distribution of energy or a balanced activation of the surrounding 6 chakras? "As above, so below?"

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I think it is asking for trouble to try and follow yoga practices from the bible. The bible has been edited and parts eliminated by people who didn't have a complete understanding of yoga.

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