There is no question in my mind that he does mean 'heart' as a synonym for the Hindu 'atman' as I stated. At least he did in the late 80's and early 90's when I talked to him personally about it. He did not use the word 'atman', that is my translation, but that is exactly what he was referring to.

But now for the clever bit, or dishonest bit, according to your inclination. You write:

My understanding of what Maharaji means by "heart" is just to feel your way through what he's saying, not think about it. The implication, of course, being that if your heart is open you'll "get it" and feel good about it. I never looked at it the way you just explained it. But as you say, he never gave any indication that's what he meant, so why would I?

...and that is the point of my post. By using 'heart' in this double sense, you the listener are free to use it however you like, since as you say, you never got any indication from him of what he really meant. You are left with a fuzzy warm feeling (at least, that is the idea) from a word that you can pick your own meaning to.

It is the same with 'knowledge' or any of a whole list of words that Maharaji uses with his own special meaning, which the cognescenti pick up on, while the uninitiated just have to get along with the common meaning, since they know no other. Two clues that this is happening, are: one, the use of the word 'that' in front of a common word, to cue that is being used in this way (that peace, that love etc); and two, the continuous chuckles and gasps of admiration from the premies in the audience to statements that to the uninitiated are fairly banal or common.

A further benefit of using common words this way, with special meanings, is that it makes it impossible to rationally discuss or provide any critique of one of Maharaji's talks. There are no exact meanings, only innuendo or meanings that you the listener provide yourself.

So you are exactly right, you have to 'feel your way through what he's saying, not think about it'. In fact, the mark of the premie or uncritical aspirant is just that - they 'feel' their way through it. If anyone does try to think critically or rationally about what was said, then that is probably for them the first step out of that Alice Through the Looking Glass world.

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'

'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'