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.