“Meditation, Judaism, and Self-Mastery”
Let’s reclaim our spiritual heritage!
01-31-2021
We will explore the idea of “the Highest God,” as expressed in the Amidah. We will also discuss how to deal with problems encountered when meditating, such as pain, drowsiness, and inability to concentrate.
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Resource Room for Jewish Meditation
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The Amidah as meditation:”The highest God”
Rabbi Kaplan – “Jewish Meditation” pp 114 – 115
Internal focus – our emotions and experiences
Sensations and feelings
Above spiritual and physical
Cannot come close to His true essence
Connected to “Doer of Good Deeds” and “Owner of All”
How does this translate to our attitude about what is “ours,”and how we conduct ourselves?
Ref: Gen 14.1 – 22 – The War
(Kaplan p 61)
4 kings vs 5
Rebellion
The 4 kings win
The victors seize the spoils
Abram to the rescue
Abram returns the property
Makli-tzedek greets and blesses Abram – makes an offer
(Ref Rashi – Shem, son of Noah)
Abram shows allegiance to the Owner of All
Then a vision!
Malbim on 14.19: God keeps “purchasing continually,” pp 39 – 42
Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser (March 7, 1809 – September 18, 1879), better known as the Malbim (Hebrew: מלבי”ם), was a rabbi, master of Hebrew grammar, and Bible commentator. The name Malbim was derived from the Hebrew initials of his name. He used this acronym as his surname in all his published works, and became known by it in common usage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malbim
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We are renters – not owners.
Best practices for meditation
Bhante Gunaratana, “Mindlfulness in Plain English,”
Problems, pp 94 – 107
Physical pain