Fate and Free will

In Tantric texts it is said that the Anahat chakra is where one’s thoughts and desires are materialized and fulfilled. Basically, there are two ways of thinking, dependent and independent. Up to the Manipura chakra the first approach is valid, but once Shakti penetrates the Anahat, the second approach takes precedence.

This means that as long as your consciousness is focused on the lower Chakras, you remain completely dependent on what is already ordained for you, your fate or destiny.

This is called Prarabdha Karma. Even awakening the lower Chakras does not make much difference. Once the consciousness passes to the Manipura Chakra, you become the master of some situations in life, but you are still influenced and bound by your Prarabdha Karma. You know that you can escape it, but you do not know how.

The lower Chakras belong to the experiential world of the body, mind and senses. Those who accept their fate as inevitable have not yet transcended the Muladhar and Swadishan Chakras. Manipura is also considered earthly, although it is on the border between the mortal and immortal realms. Those who actively shape their own destiny with the power of will channeled in a positive direction and leading to realization and attainment are in the region of Manipura.

The anahata chakra is almost completely beyond these experiential dimensions. Here, one realizes that destiny is of course real, but one can go beyond its dictates. It is like throwing something into the sky. If you are able to hurl this object beyond the field of gravity, then it will no longer be pulled under the magnetic forces of the earth. Just as a rocket is launched with terrifying speed to go beyond the magnetic attraction of the earth, so consciousness accelerates in Anahata reaching the speed of free will, to overcome the attraction of dormant Samskaras.

Only when you reach Anahata Chakra do you become a Yogi. Until then, whether you are in Muladhar, Swadisthan or Manipur, you are a practitioner of Yoga. In Anahat you become a Yogi, because you are fully established in yogic consciousness and depend solely on the power of your own consciousness rather than on anything external or to do with faith.

*Desire of Desires

In the Anahat Chakra, a person's freedom becomes a reality, as he escapes a predetermined fate or destiny. According to the Tantras, at the root of Anahat there is a tree of wish fulfillment known as the Kalpa Taru or Kalpa Vriksha. When this tree begins to bear fruit, whatever you think or desire becomes a reality.*

Normally, we have many desires, but they are rarely more than a daydream. But if they were all to come true, we would quickly begin to wonder if we even want our desires to be fulfilled. Most people would rather depend on fate than take responsibility for creating their own destiny, and rightly so. There is a beautiful story that is often told to illustrate this.

Once upon a time a traveler was sitting under a tree. He felt very tired and wanted to drink something. So he thought of a clear stream, and immediately he heard the gurgling of water next to him. After he drank the water, he thought that he would like to have some food to satisfy his hunger, and it immediately appeared next to him. Then, as he felt tired and thought that he would like to rest, a bed appeared there before him, and so he went to sleep. The foolish man did not know that he had gone to rest under the tree of wish fulfillment. In the evening when he woke up, the sun had already set and night had fallen.

He got up and the thought came to his mind: Oh, what a terrible darkness, tigers may come and eat me.’ And so it happened…

This is what happens to anyone who awakens the faculty of desire fulfillment without adequate preparation. If consciousness awakens in Anahata, but you do not know the powers of your mind, or you have negative, pessimistic attitudes, dark approaches to life, worries, fears and many other negative mental tendencies, then you will immediately fall victim to them.

If this happens, you risk the possibility of falling from Anahata. And if you fall from Anahata, it is a question of whether there is any possibility of making a second start. To avoid a fall at this point, it is necessary to be always alert, like the antelope, which is sensitive to every sound. For this reason, the antelope is the vehicle of Anahata. It is not a symbol of worry, but of vigilance.

When whatever you wish comes true, it makes you very happy, but at the same time, it is necessary to analyze constantly your attitude towards yourself and others. You need to be very careful with doubting thoughts. For example, if your heart beats fast sometimes and you think: ‘I may have angina’, or if with a pain in the abdomen you think: ‘I have appendicitis or gallstones’, such thoughts can result in many problems and disorders. You should also be on the alert for doubting thoughts regarding others: ‘maybe this person is my enemy’, ‘my son is sick, he may die’, ‘my friend did not call me, he must have had an accident’. It is important to have firm control and readiness over the mental tendencies and fantasies of the mind.

Every moment thoughts of all kinds come to us, concerning the body, children, wife, family, financial, social, economic or political situations. If the Kundalini is asleep, these thoughts have no power. But when Kundalini awakens in the anahata Chakra, all these thoughts suddenly become realities. If we are not constantly alert at this stage, we will lose our heads in our own hands.

In the Tantric text Soundarya Lahari, this process of wish fulfillment is very aptly described as Chittamani, or the gem of wish fulfillment. Here, the word Chitta means ‘process of selective thinking’ and Mani means ‘gem’. Therefore, Chittamani means the ‘gem of right and positive thinking’. In this text, the anahata is described as the garden of the Devas. In the center there is a small divine lake in which is the Chittamani. It is not necessary to acquire this gem. If you can realize that you are near it, that is enough. Then, whatever you think comes true.

*Developing a New Way of Thinking

When the Anahat Chakra is blossoming and awakening, you must have very good Sangha, or relationships. You should never have relationships with people who depend on their fate. On the contrary, you should always associate with people who depend on faith. You must have unwavering faith in the power of your own will. Even in the face of terrible adversity, be unwavering. Then you will succeed.*

Willpower is never a product of suggestion. If you are sick and you say a hundred times, ‘I am well, I am well, I am well...’ that is called self-suggestion. It is not will. Will is something more than that. ‘even though our son is suffering from the worst disease and medical science has declared that he is going to die, I know that he will not die.’ That is how you need to think and use your will.

So, the first preparation for the awakening of Anahat is to change your entire way of thinking. If you are the type of person whose thoughts and desires often come true, even when circumstances seem to oppose that outcome, then it is necessary to develop some mindfulness along with a new way of thinking.

You must become extremely optimistic and positive, always full of hope. You must never cling to the negativity of the mind. Physically, mentally and spiritually, you must be completely at peace with yourself, with people outside and with the whole society in general. Although the world is full of conflicts, contradictions and deep enmities, you must always feel peace in your entire being. Never be negative about any situation in life. Even if you meet a murderer, an incorrigible gambler, or a corrupt person, for you he is a good person. Every situation is good for you and the future is always bright. In all circumstances this should be your attitude. It makes no difference whether you are in poverty, suffering, illness, conflict, divorce, emotional crises and disagreements. They are all part of the good, so accept them.

You need to have only one thought fixed. "The whole world is within me", or "I am within everyone". When you are able to develop this universal kind of attitude, the Kundalini will shine forth and pierce the fifth Chakra - Vishnu, the centre of immortality. This is the meaning and importance of Anahata.

Perhaps the best Mantra for the heart centre is Om Shanti. 'Om' is the universal cosmic vibration which pervades the entire creation and 'Shanti' means peace.

Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati