Recently, I had the honor and privilege of traveling throughout New Zealand.
There I had the opportunity to visit a sacred and beautiful limestone outcropping called Castle Hill. It was here, in 2007, that the Dalai Lama described this magical area as the Spiritual Center of the Universe. Needless to say I found this description to be quite enticing, and set out for my own experience.
Traveling with a young guide named Sarah, we allowed several hours to explore this site. When it was time for lunch, we chose a rock in the center of an ancient gathering place. While we were setting up our luncheon spread, we noticed a Maori woman walk by with a simple and beautiful drum.
When our meal was finished, we laid back on the rock and set out to enjoy a comfortable and quiet silence. Our goal was to be open to whatever spiritual energy the Dalai Lama had spoken of. Within a few moments I heard the sound of a drum. It was a perfect and beautiful sound that seemed to travel directly to the center of my heart. No matter how strange it might seem, I felt the sound resonating in my heart, and not in my ears.
After several minutes of being entranced by this magic, I opened my eyes and looked at Sarah. “Sarah”, I asked. “Did you hear the drum?” After she responded with a quick “yes,” my questioning continued. “Did you feel it within your heart or with your ears?”, I asked. Again, a quick “Yes, I could really feel it activate my heart,” she responded.
Later that evening, I couldn’t help but reflect on what happened. I wondered whether these magical limestone formations actually activated our heart centers.
Was this what the Dalai Lama experienced?
Did he feel the enhanced energy of his own loving heart?
And last but not least, I asked myself,
”Could our Loving Hearts be the gateway to the Spiritual Center of the Universe?”
