Anyone can build a Heart Temple. As a metaphysical or spiritual exercise, you can create a fully functional structure in two simple steps. Here's what a Heart Temple is, how to build one, and how it may support the emergence of a new species — or at least a new civilization. First, though, we'll look at the dynamics between the Inner and Outer Worlds and their connection to this process.

The Outer World: Culture, Biology, Psychology
Culture, biology, and psychology shape the Outer World and the Outer World shapes us. Within our culture, the media plays an important role. It subtly yet powerfully directs (and sometimes distorts) our perception of reality. It tries to sell us, among other things, the idea that we should buy products. Lots of products. If we do, then we will feel satisfied. We will become more attractive. Others will notice how special we are.

We discover soon enough that the thrill of our shiny new possessions tarnishes quickly and that being superficially "special" is only another wall of the ego. Especially today, the Outer World implies that we should neglect the Inner World: it's unrealistic and not profitable. At worst, only weirdoes or losers who can't make it in the real world believe in it. The truth is, greed is good, and the one who dies with the most toys wins. (What do we win?) The Outer World has so much more to offer than any alleged "inner life."

People who buy these ideas often advance to the next level of insatiable hunger: power. But there's more happening here than just rampant consumerism and clawing for power. The Outer World is where we deal with others and take care of the body's necessities. Biologically, the Other World influences everyone regardless of his or her culture. When we're hungry, we eat and are satisfied. Before long, though, our stomach rumbles and we're hungry again. That's how it works. With the body, satisfaction is short-lived.

Psychology, which combines materialistic theory and cultural bias, plays a role as well. At the core of psychological study is the mind, which operates on the principle of dualism. It detects differences by contrasting one object with another. Accordingly, the world is composed of opposites: black and white, ugly and beautiful, Left and Right, and many other relative distinctions that challenge our notion of oneness. When you notice that your spouse squeezes the tube of toothpaste haphazardly ("Oh, no!") while you roll it up neatly from the bottom, you acknowledge a difference. The brain then determines whether the difference is good or bad based on its experiences.

The mind uses other subtle tricks. For instance, I'm not the swiftest bird in the flock. When I compare myself to someone who "thinks faster on their feet" than I do, then I'm "slow." In a production-driven society, slow is bad. But there's good news for the ego. If I find someone slower than me, then I'm fast and he's slow.

There's another way to defend my ego. When I'm slow, I could think, "Well, I may be slow, but I'm deep and he's shallow. So there." But the same principle of duality is at work. When I bump into someone deeper than me, I'll need to think of something that would make me not look bad. "OK, he's deep, but he's slow." That's the offensive approach. Whenever the ego is threatened the mind starts to rationalize. It doesn't matter that what it concludes may lack any basis in reality. "Rationalize" does not mean rational.

In the Outer World, we can always find differences regardless of whom we meet. It's a survival mechanism that has allowed humans to distinguish predatory Saber Tooth tigers from fluffy rabbits. [GIF] So-called real life — existential reality — is an ever-present reminder of our separateness.

Although this paints a negative picture of this world, I'm in no way suggesting that we should resist or reject it. Most importantly, life as we know it would not exist without it. The drama it presents offers each of us the challenge and opportunity to express and thereby manifest our dreams and visions of a more heavenly reality. Doing this, we become co-creators of a new world.

The Inner World: Spirit, Meaning, Eternity
Life in the Inner World is independent of, yet woven into, the fabric of the Outer World. It stands beyond the influence of bio-chemicals, socialization, trauma, and even religious doctrine.

We can perceive spirit most readily here, because it is the Seat of Oneness, the Heart of the Moment. In this place, happiness does not rely on our capacity to consume or how we weigh on the sliding scales of fat and thin, short and tall, rich and poor. Rather, the Inner World nourishes, supports, and heals us because we exist. Its essence is eternal, transcendent, and evolutionary. As the realm of Spirit, it is the limitless source of all life. By embodying this state of consciousness even partially we begin to move beyond the ego's narrow bounds of fear and greed. We see through the Outer World's illusion that we are alone. Just look around. It's not that we are alone; rather, we have embodied beliefs and behaviors that support this illusion.

Instead of continuing to internalize the Outer World, which all of us have done to varying degrees, we can begin to externalize the visions, attitudes, and gifts of the Inner World. We do this by sharing them freely. This contributes to the evolution of the individual, of the race, and of the planet. Part of our job as builders is to show that this is possible. We experiment and discover that this lifestyle can provide greater happiness, fulfillment, and peace. By doing this, we become the sprouting seeds of a new civilization.

The Heart Template, Step One:
Clearing the Area

As we grow, society often discourages our desire to live from the Inner World to the Outer World. Socialization makes us conform to varying degrees. We accept a number of its limiting or depressing beliefs as real, and they stop us from living the principles of the Inner World — the principles of our true nature. When building a Heart Temple, we use visualization to remove those limiting beliefs. Some think of visualization as strictly a psychological tool, but others apply it metaphysically. Here, we use it to tidy up our astral aspects.

A Clearing Technique
A good time to do clearing is either during meditation or just before going to sleep. Your mind should be relaxed, but not falling asleep. Once you've reached this state, bring your consciousness inside your chest area. Look around. Chances are you'll see some clutter. These are the astral manifestations of our limiting beliefs. You'll want to remove them, although it may take several days or even weeks to do so. (A comprehensive clearing takes years.)

When I first started this project, I saw a gate made of vertical bars covering my chest. It hung from hinges attached to my throat area. I though it was my rib cage at first, but on my next visit I realized it was a defense mechanism that kept others from hurting me. Unfortunately, it kept me imprisoned as well. Those who have developed a cynical attitude towards the Inner World may judge this as imagination, a psychological exercise, or a symptom of mental illness. They would naturally judge all spiritual work that way. For materialists, the Inner World exists only as thoughts (brain generated electro-impulses) and emotions (chemical-based survival mechanisms inherited from our reptilian and mammalian ancestors). Regardless of the truth, one effect is certain: after I removed the gate, my mind and body felt lighter. Something heavy had vanished, and it hasn't returned.

I continued investigating the heart area, ferret like, for another week. Some of the astral forms looked like mustard-colored armor. Some were shaped like long spikes with strings attached. You can find astral implants too — rusty, metal-looking contraptions that definitely don't look natural. The rule of thumb is to remove anything that doesn't look like divine light. If it's something good and you remove it by mistake, don't worry: whoever put it there will understand what you're doing and will replace it. The reason we clear the area, by the way, is to make it a "livable space" for our favorite deity, guru, or master.

When you're done, your heart area can be filled with nothing but clear, glistening light. You don't need to reach this point of perfection to take the next step though. The minimum that's required is a space big enough to accommodate your favorite deity. These beings, of course, don't need any space to live within someone. However, if you're going to build a Heart Temple, then you have to clear some space.

Step Two: Choosing the Resident
Next, you decide who should live there. Devote Hindus could choose Krishna. If you have a spiritual master, he or she would be the natural pick. For Christians, Jesus is the obvious choice. Some Christians already do this. They invite Jesus into their heart, but I don't know if they do the preliminary metaphysical clearing work.

If you love more than one of these beings, pick the one with whom you feel most aligned. I wanted to turn my Heart Temple into a deity condominium — invite them all — but I received a definite "No" on that idea. Your experience may differ. Choosing the right one is a matter of feel: Before you offer the space, picture each candidate in your mind and imagine him or her inside your heart area. One of them will stand out, so choose that one. (If you change your mind, you can always replace them.) I asked my guest if he would clear out other obstacles. I believe he's done that, and he didn't stop at the heart area. He even took up residence in another charka for a while. You also can ask him or her everyday questions.

Results and Benefits
Everyone's experience is unique. I've found that the Heart Temple grounds an additional source of divinity within the heart area and can make you more conscious of inner reality. Of course, I still act like a jerk now and then (it's a guy thing), but overall I've noticed a definite improvement.

Strengthening the Inner World helps buffer the jaggedness of existential life and reveals the underlying harmony between diverse elements of the Outer World. At a very high level, fine webs of ethereal light connect all living things. Here we can appreciate ourselves as being special: we are a unique and necessary part of that world. This is more fulfilling than basing our identity on the changing, superficial qualities of the Outer World.

Cultural Evolution
When we evolve, we change the cultural aspects of the Outer World even if those changes are imperceptible to us. (Confucius died thinking he was a failure.) This can happen in two ways.

First, we can influence the current systems either collectively or as individuals. Systems are simply people who work together and share a common goal (or goals). They act in predetermined ways that preserve or enhance the goal. Systems aren't corrupt or noble; people are. And people create and carry out those goals. Collective consciousness and group action impact systems and modify their goals. For example, what if everyone (except for a few bullies) decided not to go to war? War would not exist, except for a few bullies slugging it out.

An economic example is Wal-Mart. Small American businesses had filed suit in Congress against China for breaking trade treaties. That country was dumping cheap television screens on the US market and put most US manufacturers and workers out of business. In court, Wal-Mart sided with China. Activists also complained about the company's labor practices, citing how employees have a difficult time earning a living wage.

Additionally, community leaders charge that Wal-Mart puts many local stores out of business and funnels money from the community to Wal-Mart's headquarters. The huge company has an unfair — and undemocratic — trade advantage. The corporations manipulate and even create national laws that give them even greater advantages. Grass roots organizations found a solution: don't give them your money. Buy from community stores. As any businessperson can confirm, the Achilles' Heel of all capitalist enterprises is that if they're not fed (with money), they will perish. Conversely, the more they eat, the fatter they become.

I'm not suggesting that shopping, corporations, and capitalism are bad. Commerce is essential and capitalism is an effective system. But like anything, they can be misused. When they become destructive and work against humanity and the Earth, they no longer serve any spiritual purpose. They feed only greed and, for the employees, their work becomes devoid of meaning.

Evolutionary action means that when we interact with these systems, we play by our own rules as much as possible. We act honestly, which is radical for the Outer World, because part of its tendency is to camouflage ("spin") the truth. Truth, when revealed, stretches the reality envelope.

Science indirectly supports deception. It tells us that camouflage — a form of deception — is part of nature. It's natural. They give many examples, like walkingstick insects and white wolves. Even our leaders use this technique. They quote Inner World luminaries and say, "Love one another." In practice, though, they "bomb one another." However, just because deception works for some species doesn't mean it's the best strategy for ours. Komodo dragons and hedgehogs may eat their young, but for humans, it's unthinkable. Every species has its own requirements for survival and advancement. We need to rethink ours.

Second, we can build our own alternative systems. Our goals and means will invite spontaneity, creativity, and integrity. They will actively discourage greed, disrespect, and abuse of power. This is already underway in several areas. The progressive business models of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and Joseph's Cookies are excellent examples (and they produce yummy products!). In the computer sector, the Open Source movement is already well established. Here, programmers who love their work join with others to build software, which they give away for free. They've chosen not to work in unfulfilling corporate jobs and have found meaning and satisfaction in their work.

If enough people step forward and live like this, a new civilization will grow.

Biological Evolution
Changing our biological features will require the help of the Evolutionary Force itself. And unless a miracle happens, it won't occur for years, maybe centuries. (But who knows?) We may have to think beyond our lifetime. If the theory of physical evolution is correct, then a species can evolve through its interactions with the environment. This happens even if those evolutionary interactions are accidental, which I imagine they are, at least at the creature level.

With the help of the Evolutionary Force, we might consciously direct and trigger our own biological shift. This would, in turn, alter our psychological nature. Maybe our egos would evolve to a more refined state. Our compassion and ability to love could increase and we could shed the more primitive and negative habits of our reptilian and mammalian ancestry. What have been called the "jerk" and "psychotic" hormones — testosterone and estrogen, respectively — could become more chemically stable. And if you want to consider a radical Darwinian leap, eventually we could live off sunlight rather than having to kill and eat plants or animals. A transDarwinian possibility is that our next evolutionary step is to discard our physical bodies altogether. This is a highly simplified picture of the biological options, but I'll expand on it later.

If our consciousness is anchored in the Inner World, where reality is based on unity and love, then we can operate more effectively as spiritualized humans: evolutionary agents of the New World. We are drops of a planet-wide wave ushering in a new civilization and possibly a new species. As we transform ourselves, we are transforming the race.

Michael Lamas
www.starbuilders.org