Let’s refer to a domain of human consciousness that is essential to our lives and meditations but is hardly mentioned. No straightforward concept points to it—the yogis called it iccha and spanda; the Sufis, himma.
We may name it the “primordial impulse of the Heart” or the “realm of Pure Intention.”
The Allegory of the Cave
We exist like the prisoners of Plato’s Cave who, unable to move, can only watch and give names to the shadows projected in front of them. They are unaware of the actual objects and the fire behind them, which is the cause of such shadows, so the umbras are their only reality. Similarly, when we are only aware of thoughts, emotions, or sensations, they become our reality. Our thoughts—all the endless chattering inside our heads—manifest as our reality.
We see only such distant projections of the light of Consciousness but ignore the fire of the Self and the pure realm of our Heart’s Intentionality. By ignoring or refusing to look for the Heart’s Intention, the true source of conscious life, we continue to create undesired outcomes and allow ourselves to blame others for our misfortunes.
My Whole Being Is Vision
Accessing the domain of Pure Intentionality is like finding a guiding star in the journey of Self-Inquiry. It is the home of Love, a most intimate space in which the Being Values like Beauty, Truth, Spiritual Aliveness, Simplicity, Spontaneity, etc., implicitly exist in an inseparable oneness. Equally qualities of the soul and the Spiritual Heart, these values abide at the fragile edge between human and divine.
In different traditions, they are seen as Names of the Divine or the Great Cosmic Ways of Divine Knowledge—the Ten Great Wisdoms (Dasha Maha Vidya).
Self-awareness starts with such an “intimate dialogue,” as exalted in the Sufi tradition: “When He shows Himself to me, my whole being sees; when He speaks to me in secret, my whole being listens.”
Goals and Desires Remain Personal
Our awareness should be oriented not to thoughts but to this holistic, pure Impulse of the Heart, which is much more profound than personal desires or goal setting. Goals are rational, logical, linear, task-oriented, and left-brain focused. Primordial Intention is not a desire—desires are rooted in personal impulses; they are focused and dependent on external objects. Transient, they fall away whether they are satisfied or not.
The Perpetual Longing of the Soul
This wholehearted Intention arises from a more profound, nonpersonal layer within us. It is a perpetual longing of the soul. It doesn’t even refer to ordinary creativity or intuition related to the right brain. The Heart’s Pure Intention is a holistic impetus, the energetic, non-mental starting point of any inner aim or creative impulse in its deepest form. Because of this, its power, inspiration, beauty, and efficiency can be much greater than goals or desires.
A Silent Affirmation of Faith
Intention is a seed that carries the magnificent flower of the divine creative power of the Heart. It is an inner movement not towards objects but towards Self-awareness. As the source and secret meaning of any motivation, it is the real spring from which any conscious act flows. Nevertheless, the meaning carried by such pure intuition is not rational but devotional and shines like a deep intuition of ourselves, a profound recognition. It is a silent affirmation of our faith in ourselves, an authentic remembrance of the Self and our real power.
This silent faith can move mountains—the mountains of egotism, personal limitation, and unconscious resistance. Each time we remember who we are, inseparable from pure, wholehearted Intention, it’s like we reclaim our cosmic creative power and, at the same time, continuously make a silent pledge to ourselves, from our core.
Non-Conceptual Meanings of Existence
Genuine spiritual transformation happens when we start to fully honor the pure radiant powers of the Heart, the non-conceptual meanings of existence. Commonly, we are used to giving attention to thoughts, sensations, or emotions. Even in classical meditation, awareness is generally oriented towards an object: the breath, sensations, etc. Still, fundamental transformation only happens when our consciousness isolates itself from things.
Awakening
But what is the deeper anchor our consciousness comes to have in meditation?
The Pure Intention radiating from the Heart represents the actual agent of inner transformation.
This inner impulse is a more resounding echo and purpose of all we do. At the same time, it is a catalyst for deeper states of meditation since it points to Self-awareness, to who we really are…
Therefore, it is an awakening, which feels so simple and evident since, in this way, we reconnect with the reason we meditate. It is a constant re-actualization of the divine consecration of our entire being.
Then, it is as if we could conceive of any act from its end to its beginning.
For example, at the core of any ritual is a longing, this Pure Intention.
When we look into our lover’s eyes, the eyes are not the “object” of our attention; it is their reflected wonderment and love that become the deep anchor of our awareness.
Likewise, a mother’s caress is not about sensations or gestures but points to a universe of care and love we feel with our entire being.
When we say a prayer, the transformer is not our beautiful words, uplifting thoughts, or even personal emotions, but faith, that tremor, the singing soul.
Abraham’s Bosom
Such wholehearted Intention maintains a focus that is not easily diverted. No matter what thoughts and worries bother us, we withdraw in “Abraham’s bosom”—our consciousness acknowledges a space of perfect Peace in the Heart, which is, in fact, the focus of real meditation. This is why Thomas Merton doesn’t recommend to keep fighting with thoughts but to surrender by changing the domain of our awareness in the same space of nonverbal Heart Intentionality and aliveness: “Any number of things beyond our control may make it morally impossible for one to meditate effectively. In that case, faith and goodwill are sufficient.”
Similarly, Thomas Keating tells us to focus not on thoughts but on this Pure Intention: “Intentionality is the star rising in the dark nights. It is the ‘focus’ of contemplative prayer. As long as our Intention remains pure to serve God, to listen to God, to wait upon God, to surrender to God, then thoughts of whatever kind do not make any difference.”
In meditation, we may start with the awareness of the short pauses after inhalation and exhalation; but when diving more profoundly, we may discover a space of perfect rest. This means our attention shifts to an inner universe of stillness or bliss, and we acknowledge that depth, precisely that Pure Intention we are pointing to here.
Move your attention from thoughts to somewhere deeper inside. You will discover this secret movement of consciousness, which exists prior to thinking, is much more subtle than thoughts, much closer to our real being—the precognitive impulse-tremor of the Heart.
This is the secret of the Science of the Heart. It will make you live your whole life as a variation on the Song of Songs.
With love,
Sahajananda
Sahajananda is the founder of Hridaya Yoga. You can read all of his posts here.
