Heart-Flow Analysis （心流）

Flow (psychology) - Wikipedia : a flow state, also known colloquially as being in the zone, is the mental state in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by the complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting transformation in one's sense of time.

Painters painted their best works, musicians played their best piece ever, archerers consistently hitting the bullseye under this state. This is a state of focus that allows the flow of inner energy (consciousness - 神) from your heart to accomplish (志) your wishes, targets, or anything you wish to achieve (意）(意志 = volition).

The flow can be extended to daily activities, allowing one to function optimally, live spontaneously and achieve peace of mind. To achieve that, one needs to have combinations of focus, mindfulness and moral conducts.

To focus means to keep your mind fixed solely on the activity (object) you are engaged in right at the moment in time. To be mindful means you are aware of every random thought that constantly pops in from nowhere as your mind wonders away from the object of your focus seeking sensations as it (mind) habitually does. The above description is synonymous with the process of meditation.With constant focus and pulling your attention back on the object/activity of focus whenever you are mindful of being distracted, you soon achieve some kind of flow or oneness with the object of focus. It is when inspirations or heart messages (both i shall referred to as wisdom) often arise.

How is having proper moral conducts necessary to achieve the heart-flow? The flow of heart is interfered, disrupted and misguided by emotions.

1) You can never be spontaneous and achieve full focus when you harbor agendas because your mind will always be working out a plan, plot or scheme to achieve your hidden agendas all the time. That includes being truthful and hiding lies.  Meanwhile, you shall always be suspicious of others for doing things you do not wish others to do upon you but that you had done upon others.

2) You can never be yourself if you are trying to please others all the time, that includes care about what others think about or judge you. If you cannot be yourself you can never connect with your true self (heart) with focus.

3) Our emotions (Greed, Anger, Fear, Grief, Jubilation) are powerful energies continuously charged in habitual vicious cycle throughout many lives. When emotion arises, we are disconnected instantly with the heart because it is taken over by emotions. Observing good moral conducts give us a peace of mind and prevent us from being tainted by emotions.

Remain and holding the heart-flow will ensure that you will never go wrong in life, this is the true meaning of listen-to-your-heart.  You never want to listen to your heart when you are emotional, you listen and follow your heart only when you are connected to it when attentiveness, focus and mindfulness.