Balancing The Head and The Heart-  Swami Chidananda

In our human personality the head and the heart are very valuable faculties. By the head we mean our logical abilities. By the heart we mean the faculty of feeling.

Reasoning on the one hand and emotions on the other, together make a good, balanced personality. However, everyone of us finds that one of these two tends to get an upper hand. In many of us there is a lop-sided growth; we may be very logical and analytical, but in- capable of understanding or expressing emotions; or we may be very emotional full of sentiments and feelings but incapable of arriving at logical conclusions. In spirituality, as in secular matters, we need both the head and the heart. Scriptures like the Bhagavad Geeta go to great lengths, telling us to develop both faculties equally. When the spiritual path is predominantly head-oriented, it is known as jnana yoga, but the jnana yogi also needs to have an evolved heart. The doors to Self Realization or God Realization are shut to the seeker whose heart is not open, however scholarly or analytical he may be. The path which is characterized by rich emotions, turned towards God, is called bhakti yoga. But in no way is a bhakti yogi unreasonable or lacking in clear thinking. The distinction is a matter of preference; the bhakti yogi may prefer not to go into elaborate study of philosophical systems and the jnana yogi may not go around exhibiting his love for God, singing His names and His glory. There are many other ways of expressing love. An evolved head and heart are necessary for both jnana and bhakti. If one faculty is neglected, growth becomes stunted and the joy of life cannot be experienced in full measure.

© `Tapovan Prasad’ (June 2002) published by Chinmaya Mission, No.2, 13th Avenue Harrington Road, Chetput, Chennai 600 031. (Email: tapovan@vsnl.net). Reprinted with permission.

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