Body Centers

Each center contributes to the process of understanding. If the head center is functioning correctly, it means that space or emptiness is allowed. What is the significance of space and emptiness? When there is space in the mind, there is no self-image, you're not trying to stick to something in particular. You are not trying to go somewhere. The mind is allowing whatever is there to be there... The heart center’s contribution has to do with its central quality, which is the Personal Essence. The contribution of the Personal Essence is the diving movement, the actual living of the experience. You not only allow it, you're in the midst of it, you're one with it. You're really it, you let it happen, you feel it fully, you sense it fully, you experience it fully, right? That's the contribution of the heart center. The belly center has its contribution, which is represented by the self, the essential self. The contribution of the essential self is the disidentification, the turning away. When you are truly functioning in the belly, you are completely present, and being completely present, you're being yourself. So you are not identified with the usual activity of trying to get somewhere else. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 74)

Body Centers and attitude

No, it's not a matter of putting attention on any particular center. It's a certain attitude. In the head center, the correct attitude is to allow things to happen. In the heart center, the correct attitude is involvement, participation. In the belly center, the correct attitude is disidentification. So the awareness itself is enough. If you're aware that you're not allowing, you might see why you're not allowing things to happen. If you're aware that you're not participating, then you might find out what the resistance is, what the block against the participation is. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 78)

Body Centers and functioning

Yes, usually the belly center has to do with embodiment, with the capacity to sense oneself. However, the belly center is also the will center. In a sense, the ultimate function of the will is to surrender to what happens, surrender to the now. And to surrender to the now means not to hold onto something. The true function of the will is complete surrender to what is happening without holding on. That is will. The essential self, like all essential aspects, can function in any of the subtle centers. When one is being the essential self, its location is usually the heart center. However, when the essential self is functioning in relation to identifying or disidentifying from any content of experience, it becomes associated with the belly center. The essential self is more like a potential for experience, and it also manifests as the capacity for identification. One of the results of the capacity for identification is embodiment. Embodying something means you are identified with what is happening. An essential state is present. You are embodying it if you are it. The true self has the capacity to identify with something you are experiencing, but it doesn't have to. It has a choice; it has the freedom. When you are the true self, you can become completely what is there -- one hundred percent. If truth is present, you are truth -- "I am truth". But the moment something else arises, you become that. There is no holding on. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 79)