Tending the Vital Heart

In the Sufi tradition, there are many layers to the human heart, the innermost being the holiest of places where our true nature dwells, untouched by the troubles of this life. In the subtle body teachings of Tibetan Medicine, sperm meets egg at the heart chakra and new life unfolds from there. The heart is considered the seat of consciousness. We can think of the Sacred Heart in the Christian mystical tradition as well.

However we approach it “tending the vital heart” is essential work.

To tend the vital heart is to do our inner work. That means befriending what gets in the way of remembering this jewel that dwells at the center of ourselves.

It can be covered over, forgotten, even denied, but our true nature never changes. For our essence to be seen and reflected back to us is an extraordinary experience. It’s what we hunger for and it’s the work of a life time.

Usually we come to our inner work due to a crisis in our lives but over time, we come to realize that we deserve more than just enough to keep us on the sunny side of not feeling bad.

Life is so much more than needing to justify our inner work. To find meaning in life is to recognize that tending the vital heart is the most important work we’ll ever do. It’s from that place of a well tended heart that we are of the greatest service to others.