Perhaps, the most obvious element of this how phase is that he applied those two virtues externally, by having a talk with his boss. First, he was valorous enough to go to her office and second, he was humble enough to admit his shortcomings. By simply being truthful, he used valor again, to confront the issue of staying late for work. In the past, out of fear of disapproval, he would have made up a phony excuse to get out of the situation, but by learning to stay aligned with the heart, he felt more confident about being forthright.
Another aspect of the how phase is that he applied these virtues to himself. A third factor in the how phase is the order or sequence in which the virtues are applied. Which virtues we apply is one phase, but the how phase can also include the sequence in which we apply them.
The following list includes the most obvious ways of how the virtues can be applied to an encounter.
1. To the sequence of transfer. This is the order in which we transmit the virtues we have chosen. For example, if we feel we should work with humility, understanding, and compassion we use our intuitive insight to determine the sequence of transfer. Is the sequence H>U>C, or H>C>U, or U>H>C or U>C>H, or C>U>H, or C>H>U? This looks much more complex than it is. As we learn to work with the intelligence of the heart, these details will unfold naturally with our increasing sensitivity, experience, and intuition.
2. To oneself externally. This means that we express the virtues into our physical lives through some activity. The activity, in turn, reinforces that virtue and braids others into it. For instance, we take a walk in the local park and express our appreciation to nature. The natural setting reinforces our appreciation and evokes a feeling of humility. This experience triggers a desire to return home and listen to Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.
3. To oneself subjectively or internally. In this instance, we transfer particular virtues to ourselves for the particular situation in which we are involved.
4. To others externally at our physical location. We speak to others in our presence and express the particular virtues we feel are needed.
5. To others internally at our physical location. We subjectively send the virtues we believe will serve those present.
6. To others internally at a distance. We subjectively send virtues to a person or group in another part of the world.
7. To others subjectively no longer in physical life. In this case we send virtues to loved ones who have left the physical world, but who we believe are living in the next world, however you may define it.
8. To the past. We internally send virtues to encounters we have experienced or to situations that still require harmonizing.
9. To the future. We internally send virtues to encounters we may have or to situations that may develop.
10. To the activation of the Six Heart Virtues Grid Meditation in any encounter or situation—external, internal, self-targeted, other-targeted, past, present, or future.
The issue of transferring virtue energetics into the past and future may seem odd from the standpoint of our existence in the spacetime dimension. Nevertheless, if the higher self is beyond spacetime, then it is possible that our current alignment to the higher self, via the heart, allows us to send the heart virtues into the past and the future.
Another consideration is the dimension of an encounter. Is it focused at the physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual? It could be any combination of these. How we respond to an encounter may depend on how we have experienced it ourselves. I have included these dimensional perspectives in the examples that follow. It should be noted that these dimensional perspectives are themselves dependent upon the subjective experiences of each practitioner. Consequently, my particular choices cannot be definitive and are not meant to be.
Here are a few examples of the points listed above.
• Attending a public meeting, you work internally (5) by expressing understanding and appreciation into the meeting room. Because this is the first meeting you have attended, you don’t feel comfortable expressing these virtues at the physical level.
• Touring a World War II battlefield, you work subjectively with those killed (7) in a past war by expressing appreciation, compassion, and forgiveness into the battlefield. You feel this emotionally. You happen to notice two war veterans nearby and you physically express your appreciation for their sacrifice.
• During a prayer or meditation meeting, you visualize the future world’s people living in harmony (9) while subjectively transmitting the six heart virtues into the CHEF. This is expressed in a combination of spiritual, mental, and emotional dimensions. Afterwards, you mingle with your friends and physically express various virtues through your discussions and comments.
• Attending a university graduation, you practice number 10 in the present and also apply number 5 by expressing valor, understanding, appreciation, and humility. You then express the same virtues through the application of number 9. These transfers encompass the spiritual and emotional dimensions.
• Watching the news, you see a report about a particular group of people suffering the ravages of war. You apply number 6 by expressing compassion. This encounter is physically based, but your application is at the emotional dimension.
• Worrying about your sick child, you practice number 3 by expressing valor and understanding and numbers 4 and 5 by expressing compassion, understanding, and valor. This encounter includes the physical and emotional dimensions.
• Deciding to register for swimming lessons, despite your lifelong fear of water, you practice 2 by expressing valor. This is an expression at the mental and physical dimensions.
• Deciding to register for swimming lessons, despite your lifelong fear of water, you practice 2 by expressing valor. This is an expression at the mental and physical dimensions.
