The Heart Chakra — Seat of the Emotional Being and the Psychic Being

The subtle energy centres govern the powers at work in each individual. If a centre is ‘closed’ or only slightly ‘open’, the action governed by that centre is weak or even virtually non-existent. Each centre governs a different type of energetic action, starting with the first chakra at the base of the spine that governs the physical being and the sexual forces of the being. The second chakra between the sacrum and the navel governs the lower vital energies. The third chakra at approximately the level of the navel, governs the strong vital forces that create a dominating force or a strong power of action. The fourth chakra governs the action of the heart centre, and is thus the seat of the emotional responses in the external nature. But behind this surface action, there is another element and that is the psychic being which holds its seat deep behind the surface through the action of the heart chakra.

The psychic being, as it develops and takes on a more concrete action and control, is able to guide and direct the development of the outer life, and the instruments of body, life-force and mind that together make up the ego-personality we assume in our external life.

Sri Aurobindo observes: “The physical heart is in the left side, but the heart centre of yoga is in the middle of the chest — the cardiac centre.”

“I never heard of two lotuses in the heart centre; but is is the seat of two powers, in front the higher vital or emotional being, behind and concealed the soul or psychic being.”

“The apex of the psychic and emotional centre (like the apex of all centres) is in the backbone, the base in front in middle of the sternum.”

“The heart is the centre of the being and commands the rest, as the psychic being or caitya purusa is there. It is only in that sense that all flows from it, for it is the psychic being who each time creates a new mind, vital and body for himself.”

reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 6 More Lights on the Psychic Being, pg. 164