“Meditation, Judaism, and Self-Mastery”
Let’s reclaim our spiritual heritage!
04-11-2021
We will continue our study of the Jewish idea of “enlightenment,” as understood by Rabbi Kaplan, and how it relates to meditation.
We will also discuss how to deal with problems encountered when meditating, such as stupor or dullness.
Student questions currently being researched:
“Can we wrestle / argue with / persuade God?”
“What do the Cherubim at the Garden of Eden represent?”
“I am curious why ‘purchasing / re-purchasing.’ How to better understand it? ‘Re-purchases’ from whom?”
“What does Judaism say about astrology (Mazalot?)”
“Can the Messiah be a woman?”
The Traditions: Enlightenment
Rabbi Kaplan – “Meditation and the Bible,” pp 17 – 24
Review, pp 17 – 20:
Structured vs unstructured
Goal
Psalms
Pure heart
Implications
Precise meaning
Etymology
Nefesh
Ruach
Neshamah
Ari
The Blower
Detecting God’s “spirit”
Not normally present
Fragrance
Highest level
Prophecy
Spiritual realm
Methods
Steps
How to live
New, pp 20 – 21:
Next level
Ramchal
Devotion and prayer
Not just Kabbalists
Universality
Sources, pp 22 – 24
Rambam
Ramchal
Best practices for meditation
Bhante Gunaratana, “Mindlfulness in Plain English,”
Problems, pp 97 – 107
Stupor or dullness, pp 106 – 107