Void

The Void, or ‘Bhavasagara’, is located within our abdominal cavity and is the center of our self mastery. It contains the Nabhi Chakra in its center, while the Swadisthan Chakra rotates around it thus creating its circumference. As the Nabhi Chakra governs our sense of satisfaction, and the Swadisthana Chakra controls our attention, the gap between them represents how far our attention is from the truth of our existence.

When our attention is caught up in materialistic ideas of money and possessions, or fixated on our family, our work, our achievements or failings, then the Void may become blocked. On the other hand, when we clear our Void we are able to guide ourselves and others with a clear awareness of reality.

Left Aspect

The left part of the Void governs our ability to discern right from wrong, and therefore our conviction in our own decisions. The saying to make a decision based on our ‘gut feeling’, actually stems from the natural intuition that we gain when our Void (located over the area of our gut) is open and clear.

By nourishing this area we can establish a much stronger sense of right from wrong, to the point where we can actually feel the subtle energy of places and people on our fingertips. Thus we can become very decisive individuals without our own egos coming into play. Diffidence in becoming one’s own master and being dominated by others can block the left Void, and prevent us from being able to guide our own growth.

Right Aspect

The right part of the Void relates to our sense of Dharma, or righteous conduct. Dharma means that you live and act in favour of sustenance and preservation i.e. you live in a way that is benevolent for you and everyone around you. It can be seen as sustainability that extends from the environmental perspective to the social, emotional, and spiritual aspects, in that we take care of ourselves and others in a balanced and sustainable manner.

Trying to dominate others goes against this principal and will block this area. In order to become true masters of ourselves, we should not abuse ourselves or others, but rather explore how to live in accordance with the laws of nature.

In Life

How to open the Void

By manifesting the qualities of our Void chakra in our daily life, this center can grow stronger, deepening our meditations and making us less susceptible to imbalances. When we neglect this chakra we can become wrapped up in the material world, unable to discern right from wrong, and therefore unfit to act in a way which is benevolent for ourselves and others.

Tips for improving your Void chakra:

- Believe in yourself! You can become your own master.

- Avoid all forms of fanaticism and extreme behaviour, including your views on world religions. Balance and moderation are key!

- Remember that there is more to life than material things.

- Try to avoid substances that mess with your awareness (alcohol, drugs). They affect our ability to discern what is right for us, and what might be wrong for us.

Cleansing Techniques

Foot Soak

Simple and inexpensive, soaking your feet in saltwater is the daily habit you didn’t know you needed. Imagine standing with your feet in the ocean, letting it soothe your stresses away and calm your mind. Luckily, foot-soaking can also be done in the comfort of your own home!

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Candle Flame

Feeling lethargic, overly-emotional or depressed? The left channel functions properly when we are in a balanced emotional state. This channel can freeze up when out of balance, leaving us feeling sad or helpless. To bring light and warmth back within, try a candle flame!

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Shri Mataji's Words

Ancient Knowledge

The Great Masters

The evolution of mankind is characterised by the constant battle between righteousness and truth verses ignorance and illusion. Ten great masters are associated this struggle, and despite coming from different eras, cultures and geographic locations, their qualities shine as an example to all people and are still relevant today.

Raja Janaka (India c. 8000 BC), the King of Mithila was revered for his detachment. Abraham (Israel c. 2000 BC), is honoured in Judaism and Islam for his quality of faith, commitment and patience. Zarathustra (Persia c. 1000BC) emphasised the exercise of good thoughts, words and deeds, while Moses (Egypt c. 1250BC), who is recognised as a great prophet in Judaism, Chrisitanity and Islam delivered the Ten commandments.

Lao-Tse (China b. 604 BC), the founder of Taoism spoke of oneness with nature and the inner self, while Confucius (China b. 549 BC) taught ethics, morality, and the value of social relationships, justice and sincerity. Socrates (Greece b. 431 BC) is considered the founder of logic, and Mohammed (Arabia d. 632 AD), the founder of Islam, delivered the words of the Quran.

Guru Nanak (India b. 1469 AD), the founder of Sikhism, brought the message of equality and brotherhood of man, and Sai Baba of Shirdi (India c. 1840 – 1918 AD) tried to reconcile Hinduism and Islam, teaching about love, forgiveness, charity, and inner peace. The teachings of each of these masters can serve as a guide for us to establish our own guru principle and master ourselves.