Cor Rectum Inquirit Scientiam – A Right Heart Seeks True Knowledge
A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a College in Kerala. I couldn't make it, but this post has its roots in what I had planned to speak then.
When I first encountered the motto of Sacred Heart College, Thevara—Cor Rectum Inquirit Scientiam—it made me think, and it made me smile.
Simple. Truthful.
It suggests that a right heart—not a clever mind—seeks knowledge.
Not data. Not degrees. But wisdom.
In a world that often prizes performance over presence, this can feel like a quiet rebellion.
So let’s pause and ask:
What does it mean to have a right heart?
And what kind of knowledge does it seek?
This post is an invitation to explore those questions—gently, honestly, together.
Part I: The Inner World
1. What Was Written Into You?
Before we mastered exams, we learned how to earn love.
Before we could spell “career,” we felt the sting of comparison.
Childhood doesn’t just fade—it leaves samskāras - subtle impressions on our minds that shape how we see and react to the world.
Some of us learned that love comes with conditions.
Others were praised only for winning.
Some felt invisible.
And in those moments, a child scribbles a silent belief:
“I must be good.”
“I must be first.”
“I must hide.”
Let's Pause and reflect here:
What did you learn about your worth before you turned 7?
2. The Classroom Mind
Then comes school—our second challenge.
Here, identities take root.
We learn to chase approval, dodge shame, impress teachers, fear silence.
These moments deepen our vāsanās - tendencies born from those early impressions, quietly steering us to please, dominate, or withdraw.
I once had a classmate who always raised his hand—not to learn, but to escape the teacher’s frown.
His vāsanā was pleasing authority.
What we call “personality” is often just armor we wear to feel safe.
3. Naming the Patterns
Unconscious patterns aren’t wrong—they’re invisible.
We overwork to prove our worth.
We go quiet to avoid judgment.
We bristle at comparison.
The cycle hums along... until we notice it.
Naming these patterns is sacred.
It’s the first step to freedom.Awareness is not judgment. It’s remembrance.
4. From Wound to Wisdom
Here’s the beauty: samskāras aren’t just scars—they’re fuel.
What shaped you can set you free.
Pain can become presence.
Comparison can sharpen clarity.
Fear can forge honesty.
I call this Saṃskāra Recycling—turning inner history into wisdom.
Try this once you have given it some thought:
Journal about a recurring emotion. Trace it to its earliest root. Reframe it with kindness.
We don’t discard our past.
We heal it.
As we heal our inner world, we begin to see how it shapes our outer life.
Part II: The Outer World
5. Career Is Not a Personality Contest
Let’s be real:
You don’t need to “find your passion.” You need clarity.
Skill blooms in stillness.
Purpose grows from showing up, not overthinking.
And the real career killer?
Those unseen patterns trailing you to work.
Imagine a designer paralyzed by comparison, her talent stalled by self-doubt.
A people-pleaser burns out.
A perfectionist never finishes.
Clarity, not charisma, clears the path.
🌱 What do you bring to work without realizing it?
6. The Power of Collective Clarity
We obsess over competence—but collective clarity matters more.
In teams, skills alone don’t win—it’s the emotional climate.
Fear silences voices. Safety sparks truth.
The best groups aren’t just smart—they’re clear.
Your inner state is your gift to the room.
Try asking in a meeting:
“What unspoken feelings are here?”
It’s a small step toward shared light.
Our personal clarity ripples into the communities we build.
7. Emotional Intelligence Is Inner Hygiene
Forget jargon-heavy books.
Emotional intelligence is simple:
Notice your emotion.
Name it, no shame.
Let it pass through.
This isn’t control—it’s care.
Like cleaning a cut, you don’t ignore a feeling.
You tend to it.
A clean inner world isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
A Return to the Heart
So we circle back: Cor Rectum Inquirit Scientiam.
A right heart seeks knowledge—not to dazzle or conquer, but to live in truth.
Truth isn’t a trophy.
It’s a dance—between your inner world and outer steps.
And so, one question lingers:
Is your heart seeking truth—or running from it?
Carry this with you.
Let it whisper as you move forward.
🪶 Share your reflections in the comments. Or let this silence shape your next moment.
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