THANK YOU REITZA SARAH!
IF YOU WANT THE RECORDING FROM CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT aviva@aberman.net
AND I WILL IYH SEND YOU THE LINK.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FEEDBACK...
Monday, June 17, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Outline for Monday, June 17
Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh; Book 2
Chapter 18:
Fear due to perfection and building of the will:
Fear due to honor: this is easier if one has a very strong desire for honor. If not, the imaginative faculty is not strong enough in most of us to work at attaining this one. It is better to attain fear of punishment and skip to fear based on perfection.
Since we may desire to be close to Hashem, but not strongly enough to refrain from sinning, there are two facts we must know and internalize:
1. The purpose of life is to attain closeness to Hashem (and have strong ratzon-will/desire for it)
2. sin opposes the ratzon and prevents it
How to develop the ratzon differs in each person:
Our goal:
To awaken a strong inner ratzon to become close to Hashem.
1. how badly do you want to feel close?
2. how much do you want to want to feel close?
How can we arouse our ratzon to be close to Hashem?
1. Zohar: through self afflicted suffering (two issues with this a. may not really feel it b. may fall into a pit of despair)
2. opposite approach and perfect for our growth in this time period; devote an hour a day and pray for it: a. pray that you truly want to be close to Hashem, or even pray for the ratzon to want to be close to Hashem.
3. If you cannot arouse your ratzon to pursue Hashem, "go to tzadikim and listen to their words and admonishments until something cracks open inside of you...people who speak words of truth...the words that emanate from their hearts will enter your heart."
("the bitterness over lack of ratzon for closeness to Hashem is itself a great tikun/rectification")
Before starting to work on any area in self improvement, must really WANT it.
Once you feel your life depends on this improvement, you will have no trouble doing it over and over again- "a person delights in something he feels is vital".
Sefarim hakedoshim state: "the innermost level of ratzon is oneg (pleasure)"
So if you feel the oneg that comes from the ratzon i.e., the delight in closeness to Hashem and learning Torah, you pursue them because of the inner delight.
But problem is before we can feel the ratzon with oneg, we feel the ratzon without it, also called kaf hakela (the slingshot)=the frustration and pain one feels from unfulfilled desire.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: "every human being must experience the pain of unfulfilled ratzon." If you don't fulfill it in this world then it will be in next world chas veshalom.
Realize that this type of frustration is for our benefit, and use it to develop true ratzon to be close to Hashem.
"Each soul comes into this world to fulfill a minimum quota of suffering. One who understands that he cannot escape suffering prefers to willfully asume it by working to become close to Hashem without receiving satisfaction, rather than suffering in some other manner." eg of Yakov avinu who wished to dwell in peace
How do we know when we have a strong enough ratzon?
It must trouble you and live with you each moment, so the light of Hashem can rest on you and you feel the oneg.
Next week please read chapter 19.
In Forest Fields: (pgs 149-159)
What did Rav Shalom learn from his debts?
The problem Hashem sent him was a lever, to deepen his relationship with Hashem.
1. Thank Hashem for any problem you have. Rejoice in it. why?!?!?! it's a "prime stimulus to inspire your prayer and repentance."
2. Then speak about the specifics of the problem to Hashem
3. Suffering then evokes the feeling that all Hashem does is for the good.
Every movement of a Jew affects the higher worlds. So if we sing and dance amidst the pain in suffering, our thanking and singing mitigate all harsh judgements.
(examples of yehei shmei raba and aleinu page154)
Thanking Hashem is the ultimate goal because this life is ALL about a relationship with Him.
With emunah life's challenges become part of a beautiful journey to be close to Hashem.
"There are no mistakes...everthing that takes place is exactly what you need for your specific tikun...the yetzer hara tries to convince you that this challenge will kill you, when, in fact, it's the best thing in the universe for you...even when we fail, we make a mistake, learn from it, and become better people...negative character trait? good! makes you fight to get close to Hashem all the time."
Please finish this chapter for next week (159-163)
Jewish Meditation
Chapter 3: Techniques
"There are a finite number of ways in which a person can interact with his own mind, and these form the categories of all meditation=controlled manner of thinking."16
What you don't need: special surroundings, or particular body positions, nothing mysterious about it.
All you do: for a specific period of time, you think about something specific, rather than let your mind wander randomly.
What do you do when other thoughts try to creep in?
a. push them out gently
b. pull your mind back to the desired subject
Hashem is beyond us and within us. so there are two ways to discover Him:
1.Beyond us: reflect on questions such as: what is beyond time and space?How did this world come to be? What was before time?
2. Within us: delve into the self: "what do i ultimately want out of life? what gives my life meaning? what is the meaning of life in general? If i had my life to live over, what would i do with it? what ideals, id any would i be willing to die for? what would bring me more happiness than anything in the world?"
These two together show the concept that Hashem is above and beyond and within all at the same time.
Avrahom Avinu discovered Hashem by contemplating the meaning of life, then he began to have a dialogue with Him. (paradigm of how to begin a relationship with G-d)
To alleviate the problem of random thoughts popping up in your dialogue with Hashem, try speaking out loud: "Using oral conversation as a meditative technique is an ancient Jewish practice...stressed by Rebbe Nachman"
(How amazing that this is exactly what we are working on!)
Three things we learn to do in this type of meditation:
1. verbal : speech or thoughts rather than images
2. inner directed-the form of meditation comes from within rather than from external stimulus
3. unstructured: no idea which direction the meditation will take.
finish chapter 3 for next week, pgs19-24
avodah for this week:
1. the reading for the three seforim
2. speaking out loud to Hashem for six minutes, using the final minute to practice this form of meditation, by asking yourself the questions underlined above and listening for the answers.
a. first minute; thank Hashem for general-daily gifts
b. second minute; thank Hashem for specific last 24 hours
c. third minute; thank Hashem for any difficulty you have - and teshuva for last 24 hours
d. fourth minute; ask for clarity how to deal with it- any teshuva left from last 24 hours
e. fifth and sixth minute: begin asking the underlined questions to yourself, begin answering out loud. If you find the answers don't lead you to Hashem and feeling close to Him, begin from : "Hashem- please give me the ratzon to want to be close to You."
OKAY!
This is A LOT of work- I know you can do it- just set a timer for 6 minutes!
Love, aviva rus
Chapter 18:
Fear due to perfection and building of the will:
Fear due to honor: this is easier if one has a very strong desire for honor. If not, the imaginative faculty is not strong enough in most of us to work at attaining this one. It is better to attain fear of punishment and skip to fear based on perfection.
Since we may desire to be close to Hashem, but not strongly enough to refrain from sinning, there are two facts we must know and internalize:
1. The purpose of life is to attain closeness to Hashem (and have strong ratzon-will/desire for it)
2. sin opposes the ratzon and prevents it
How to develop the ratzon differs in each person:
Our goal:
To awaken a strong inner ratzon to become close to Hashem.
1. how badly do you want to feel close?
2. how much do you want to want to feel close?
How can we arouse our ratzon to be close to Hashem?
1. Zohar: through self afflicted suffering (two issues with this a. may not really feel it b. may fall into a pit of despair)
2. opposite approach and perfect for our growth in this time period; devote an hour a day and pray for it: a. pray that you truly want to be close to Hashem, or even pray for the ratzon to want to be close to Hashem.
3. If you cannot arouse your ratzon to pursue Hashem, "go to tzadikim and listen to their words and admonishments until something cracks open inside of you...people who speak words of truth...the words that emanate from their hearts will enter your heart."
("the bitterness over lack of ratzon for closeness to Hashem is itself a great tikun/rectification")
Before starting to work on any area in self improvement, must really WANT it.
Once you feel your life depends on this improvement, you will have no trouble doing it over and over again- "a person delights in something he feels is vital".
Sefarim hakedoshim state: "the innermost level of ratzon is oneg (pleasure)"
So if you feel the oneg that comes from the ratzon i.e., the delight in closeness to Hashem and learning Torah, you pursue them because of the inner delight.
But problem is before we can feel the ratzon with oneg, we feel the ratzon without it, also called kaf hakela (the slingshot)=the frustration and pain one feels from unfulfilled desire.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: "every human being must experience the pain of unfulfilled ratzon." If you don't fulfill it in this world then it will be in next world chas veshalom.
Realize that this type of frustration is for our benefit, and use it to develop true ratzon to be close to Hashem.
"Each soul comes into this world to fulfill a minimum quota of suffering. One who understands that he cannot escape suffering prefers to willfully asume it by working to become close to Hashem without receiving satisfaction, rather than suffering in some other manner." eg of Yakov avinu who wished to dwell in peace
How do we know when we have a strong enough ratzon?
It must trouble you and live with you each moment, so the light of Hashem can rest on you and you feel the oneg.
Next week please read chapter 19.
In Forest Fields: (pgs 149-159)
What did Rav Shalom learn from his debts?
The problem Hashem sent him was a lever, to deepen his relationship with Hashem.
1. Thank Hashem for any problem you have. Rejoice in it. why?!?!?! it's a "prime stimulus to inspire your prayer and repentance."
2. Then speak about the specifics of the problem to Hashem
3. Suffering then evokes the feeling that all Hashem does is for the good.
Every movement of a Jew affects the higher worlds. So if we sing and dance amidst the pain in suffering, our thanking and singing mitigate all harsh judgements.
(examples of yehei shmei raba and aleinu page154)
Thanking Hashem is the ultimate goal because this life is ALL about a relationship with Him.
With emunah life's challenges become part of a beautiful journey to be close to Hashem.
"There are no mistakes...everthing that takes place is exactly what you need for your specific tikun...the yetzer hara tries to convince you that this challenge will kill you, when, in fact, it's the best thing in the universe for you...even when we fail, we make a mistake, learn from it, and become better people...negative character trait? good! makes you fight to get close to Hashem all the time."
Please finish this chapter for next week (159-163)
Jewish Meditation
Chapter 3: Techniques
"There are a finite number of ways in which a person can interact with his own mind, and these form the categories of all meditation=controlled manner of thinking."16
What you don't need: special surroundings, or particular body positions, nothing mysterious about it.
All you do: for a specific period of time, you think about something specific, rather than let your mind wander randomly.
What do you do when other thoughts try to creep in?
a. push them out gently
b. pull your mind back to the desired subject
Hashem is beyond us and within us. so there are two ways to discover Him:
1.Beyond us: reflect on questions such as: what is beyond time and space?How did this world come to be? What was before time?
2. Within us: delve into the self: "what do i ultimately want out of life? what gives my life meaning? what is the meaning of life in general? If i had my life to live over, what would i do with it? what ideals, id any would i be willing to die for? what would bring me more happiness than anything in the world?"
These two together show the concept that Hashem is above and beyond and within all at the same time.
Avrahom Avinu discovered Hashem by contemplating the meaning of life, then he began to have a dialogue with Him. (paradigm of how to begin a relationship with G-d)
To alleviate the problem of random thoughts popping up in your dialogue with Hashem, try speaking out loud: "Using oral conversation as a meditative technique is an ancient Jewish practice...stressed by Rebbe Nachman"
(How amazing that this is exactly what we are working on!)
Three things we learn to do in this type of meditation:
1. verbal : speech or thoughts rather than images
2. inner directed-the form of meditation comes from within rather than from external stimulus
3. unstructured: no idea which direction the meditation will take.
finish chapter 3 for next week, pgs19-24
avodah for this week:
1. the reading for the three seforim
2. speaking out loud to Hashem for six minutes, using the final minute to practice this form of meditation, by asking yourself the questions underlined above and listening for the answers.
a. first minute; thank Hashem for general-daily gifts
b. second minute; thank Hashem for specific last 24 hours
c. third minute; thank Hashem for any difficulty you have - and teshuva for last 24 hours
d. fourth minute; ask for clarity how to deal with it- any teshuva left from last 24 hours
e. fifth and sixth minute: begin asking the underlined questions to yourself, begin answering out loud. If you find the answers don't lead you to Hashem and feeling close to Him, begin from : "Hashem- please give me the ratzon to want to be close to You."
OKAY!
This is A LOT of work- I know you can do it- just set a timer for 6 minutes!
Love, aviva rus
Tomorrow, IyH, chaburah resumes
12 pm NY time.
Call in numbers:
US:
Call in numbers:
US:
- 424-203-8405
- ISRAEL:+972 (0) 76-599-0060
- Access Code:
- 535021
- Stay tuned for outline...
- :)
Monday, June 10, 2013
Outline and avodah
Bilvavi 2:
Chapter 17 The Ways to Acquire Fear of Punishment:
Gehinnom is a spiritual place so can only acquire this yirah through the neshama.
Either acquire this fear through tefillah or imagery.
In our day, the best way is through tefillah. It's in Hashem's Hand if we have fear, so we pray for His assistance in this. We use this method, when we are trying to separate the "darkness from within itself"; if we are about to do an aveira, yirah is the method to use to avoid it.
Tehillim 2:11 "Rejoice with trembling"; "make an effort to rejoice in the fact you are suffering"- meaning 1. Hashem is giving this to the person because of love 2. this is some sort of purification
Here is what to say to Hashem : (pg 146in my book)
"Master of the world, You have given me times of expansion and times of constriction. In times of expansion, You want me to serve You with a sense of Your greatness. At such times, I will surely rejoice. In times of constriction, You want me to serve You through the fear of punishment. Master of the world, just as I know that You want me to serve You with an awe of Your greatness in times of expansion, and that will give You pleasure, so it is clear to me that You will be pleased with my avodah of fear of punishment in times of constriction."
Harav Shach, zt'l, "a person who lives with the Creator can be bound with Him even in Gehinnom! There is no such thing as separation from Him."
So fear of punishment is actually fear of Hashem, "life has pleasant as well as difficult times, and they can all be utilized to enhance our closeness with Hashem". (see story of Rav Chaim of Sanz at end of this chapter)
Next week we will review this chapter and begin chapter 18 iyH.
In Forest Fields; pgs 139-149
"Gratitude is the most important element in personal prayer."
Begin with gratitude for fixed blessings (health, family, etc) and continue then with the blessings in past 24 hours.
"gratitude is more conducive to arouse Hashem's compassion than tears".
Gratitude leads us to the light of truth that everything from Hashem is for our good (even things that look like punishments).
So what does the Gemara mean when it says "the gates of tears are never locked"?? Sounds like it's best to pray with tears?!?!
"TEARS OF LONGING FOR HASHEM"
We can begin to see that what we see as negative is 1. making us spiritually greater and 2. feel closer to Hashem.
(see author's story on his debts and hisbodedus as a result to show this point- pgs 145-149)
For next week please read next ten pages.
Jewish Meditation:
Chapter 2:
Why Meditate?
1.develop the ability to transcend the way of thinking we learned as a child/ control the mind to develop full concentration.
2. enhance awareness and perception
a. eliminate static (background stimuli gets quiet)
b.turning up the volume (what's in front of you becomes heightened)
( see examples of Braille and tibetan medicine)
3. knowledge of self (removes the veil of ego so can really know who we are!)
4. awareness of the spiritual so that we actually can have a strong experience of the spiritual. (this is what nevi'im had)
5. Highest goal of meditation : to have an experience of G-d
Please read chapter 3 for next week.
This week's avodah:
1.the readings for next week
2. five minutes a day speaking to Hashem
a. begin with gratitude of fixed things, then gratitude for last 24 hours
b. teshuva on past 24 hours
c. clarity and feeling of closeness to Hashem and ask Hashem to feel proper fear of Him since we are working on this
3. one minute a day of noticing what you are thinking.
My advice is to set a timer to make sure this happens.
Looking forward to hearing how it is going for you- thank you for all the feedback, it's very helpful.
love, aviva rus
Chapter 17 The Ways to Acquire Fear of Punishment:
Gehinnom is a spiritual place so can only acquire this yirah through the neshama.
Either acquire this fear through tefillah or imagery.
In our day, the best way is through tefillah. It's in Hashem's Hand if we have fear, so we pray for His assistance in this. We use this method, when we are trying to separate the "darkness from within itself"; if we are about to do an aveira, yirah is the method to use to avoid it.
Tehillim 2:11 "Rejoice with trembling"; "make an effort to rejoice in the fact you are suffering"- meaning 1. Hashem is giving this to the person because of love 2. this is some sort of purification
Here is what to say to Hashem : (pg 146in my book)
"Master of the world, You have given me times of expansion and times of constriction. In times of expansion, You want me to serve You with a sense of Your greatness. At such times, I will surely rejoice. In times of constriction, You want me to serve You through the fear of punishment. Master of the world, just as I know that You want me to serve You with an awe of Your greatness in times of expansion, and that will give You pleasure, so it is clear to me that You will be pleased with my avodah of fear of punishment in times of constriction."
Harav Shach, zt'l, "a person who lives with the Creator can be bound with Him even in Gehinnom! There is no such thing as separation from Him."
So fear of punishment is actually fear of Hashem, "life has pleasant as well as difficult times, and they can all be utilized to enhance our closeness with Hashem". (see story of Rav Chaim of Sanz at end of this chapter)
Next week we will review this chapter and begin chapter 18 iyH.
In Forest Fields; pgs 139-149
"Gratitude is the most important element in personal prayer."
Begin with gratitude for fixed blessings (health, family, etc) and continue then with the blessings in past 24 hours.
"gratitude is more conducive to arouse Hashem's compassion than tears".
Gratitude leads us to the light of truth that everything from Hashem is for our good (even things that look like punishments).
So what does the Gemara mean when it says "the gates of tears are never locked"?? Sounds like it's best to pray with tears?!?!
"TEARS OF LONGING FOR HASHEM"
We can begin to see that what we see as negative is 1. making us spiritually greater and 2. feel closer to Hashem.
(see author's story on his debts and hisbodedus as a result to show this point- pgs 145-149)
For next week please read next ten pages.
Jewish Meditation:
Chapter 2:
Why Meditate?
1.develop the ability to transcend the way of thinking we learned as a child/ control the mind to develop full concentration.
2. enhance awareness and perception
a. eliminate static (background stimuli gets quiet)
b.turning up the volume (what's in front of you becomes heightened)
( see examples of Braille and tibetan medicine)
3. knowledge of self (removes the veil of ego so can really know who we are!)
4. awareness of the spiritual so that we actually can have a strong experience of the spiritual. (this is what nevi'im had)
5. Highest goal of meditation : to have an experience of G-d
Please read chapter 3 for next week.
This week's avodah:
1.the readings for next week
2. five minutes a day speaking to Hashem
a. begin with gratitude of fixed things, then gratitude for last 24 hours
b. teshuva on past 24 hours
c. clarity and feeling of closeness to Hashem and ask Hashem to feel proper fear of Him since we are working on this
3. one minute a day of noticing what you are thinking.
My advice is to set a timer to make sure this happens.
Looking forward to hearing how it is going for you- thank you for all the feedback, it's very helpful.
love, aviva rus
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Good Shabbos!
Look what my cook book just showed me! (pg 93: Naturally Breslov Cooking)
It reminded me of our chaburah and how much thunder we are generating by speaking out loud to Hashem for five minutes a day.
Furthermore, I want to thank you because in this week's parsha, Korach, Moshe teaches yehoshua the difference between power and influence. Korach was seeking power, whereas Eldad and Meidad, were looking to influence. (see article by Rav Jonathon Sacks in chabad.org)
The outcome of power is like that of a king, it dies when he does. However, influence (like that of nevi'im) spreads, even more so after the death of a kadosh person.
My dear chaburah sisters, all that you share with me about your growth in avodas Hashem is creating a tremendous influence on me. I feel so lucky to be a part of your inner -soul- circle. (some of your words; "this avodah is like following a recipe"; " I can see how the more one does out loud the more " real" the relationship could feel")
Thank you and may your influence shake the world around so everyone can feel the love of Hashem with the same passion as you,
love, aviva rus
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Avodah: and see the bottom for information on future classes.
Speak out loud to Hashem five minutes a day:
Begin with one minute of gratitude (even thank Hashem for our troubles which we know bring us closer to Him- page 139 In Forest Fields).
Then move on to teshuva.
Finally, ask for clarity
(and for help on working on fear of Hashem-see Bilvavi 2 end of chapter 16 for advice on what words to use)
Quieting the thoughts:
One minute a day:
Use any of the three ideas we learned to begin to become aware of your thoughts and see if you can quiet them for even a few seconds!
Reading for next week:
Bilvavi 2: /chapter 17; The ways to acquire fear of punishment
In Forest Fields: pages 139-149
Jewish Meditation; Chapter 2: Why Meditate?
Over the next few weeks, I am unable to teach the class. However, I will continue to post the outlines and avodah so that everyone can keep progressing, IYH. Feel free to email me with any questions and i will iyH post the questions answers as well.
I am so sorry. aviva rus
IMPORTANT: If you have any questions for Rav Schwartz (author of Bilvavi) - He will iyH be giving another class via phone, please email all questions to me in advance so that the chaburah can be run more efficiently. Date and time is not yet decided.
Begin with one minute of gratitude (even thank Hashem for our troubles which we know bring us closer to Him- page 139 In Forest Fields).
Then move on to teshuva.
Finally, ask for clarity
(and for help on working on fear of Hashem-see Bilvavi 2 end of chapter 16 for advice on what words to use)
Quieting the thoughts:
One minute a day:
Use any of the three ideas we learned to begin to become aware of your thoughts and see if you can quiet them for even a few seconds!
Reading for next week:
Bilvavi 2: /chapter 17; The ways to acquire fear of punishment
In Forest Fields: pages 139-149
Jewish Meditation; Chapter 2: Why Meditate?
Over the next few weeks, I am unable to teach the class. However, I will continue to post the outlines and avodah so that everyone can keep progressing, IYH. Feel free to email me with any questions and i will iyH post the questions answers as well.
I am so sorry. aviva rus
IMPORTANT: If you have any questions for Rav Schwartz (author of Bilvavi) - He will iyH be giving another class via phone, please email all questions to me in advance so that the chaburah can be run more efficiently. Date and time is not yet decided.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
REMINDER and outline
Monday at 12 (tomorrow!!) we will iyH have class number two- together.
Call in number: 424-203-8405 access code: 535021
recording info: 209-255-1099 access code: 535021 #4#
Here is the outline of what we will iyH cover;
Bilvavi 2:
Chapter: 16: YIRAH
Fear and love of G-d
review of the four stages of avodah so far:
1. remembering there is a Creator
2. sensing His presence
3. internalizing faith in Divine Providence
4. offering tefillah for every detail of life
After having an awareness of Hashem, then start on the next stages, ahava and yirah.
Yirah:
Five levels: (first three are avodah for one's own sake- place yourself in the center, not Hashem)
1. fear of punishment- gehenim, and kaf hakela (turmoil for the soul)
2. fear because of one's honor- shame when pass away and reach gan eden
3. fear because of the drive for perfection-desire shleimus, closeness to Hashem
---
so concerned about Hashem's honor, don't want to demean it in any way
4. fear of haromemus-fear due to Hashem's greatness; while engaged in learning Torah or mitzvos
5. yiras hacheit- true fear of sin- feels all the time that Hashem is right near by, so he fears he may not be acting properly before Him.
The difficulty with attaining even number 1 (fear of punishment):
Gehinnom is in spiritual world and can only be sensed by the soul- This type of fear is very necessary when we feel un-inspired, disconnected, and about to sin. It gets us moving because it's the same response to save ourselves from a burning fire. If you can, use visualization, but this can take many years to attain the fear and-
How do we safely navigate this type of fear?
Balance! Rav Yechezkel Levenstein zt'l; by delving into this type of fear, we can learn how to reach closeness to Hashem!
First ask yourself: who created gehinnom?(Hashem! when He created the world)
Who burns the wicked in gehinnom?
This is the healthy way of looking at Gehinnom is to recognize Hashem is the One Who punishes! a tool is gehinnom, so you fear Hashem in actuality- that way you are never separate from Hashem.
(read out loud the paragraph how to speak this out loud to Hashem - my book page 137/8) Ask Hashem to help you fear His punishment.
In Forest Fields:
steps in speaking out loud:
1. gratitude
2. daily teshuva (you begin to recognize everything is from Hashem, and therefore, for the best) must do this step in order to acquire proper emunah
3. ask Hashem to give you clarity to see how it is all for the best
How can we thank Hashem for our pain and anguish? logically that makes NO sense.
Rav Nachman says there is no despair in the world....WHAT?
Well....if we know without a doubt (EMUNAH) that Hashem loves us, we know that any aveira we may have done can be wiped away, no matter how terrible it seems, and we know that every moment Hashem is listening to us and trying to pull us close; then there is only joy and hope.
The Torah lists 98 curses that can fall on the Jewish people if...we didn't serve Him with joy and a willing heart. (devarim 28:47)
(Yehudi- lehodot)
page 132: Educating to say thank you:
brachos and tefilah are there to heighten our sense of appreciation to Hashem.
A niggun, melody, is a powerful way to arouse our heart. (see story pg 133)
It's amazing how we call everyone to rejoice in tefilos, yet we don't ourselves!
"if only we'd sing to Hashem and thank Him sincerely, all our troubles would be null and void. Diaspora would give way to redemption, for all of life's difficulties are rooted in out lack of joy and gratitude in our service of Hashem."
Daily: speak to Hashem, learn Torah to fully appreciate Hashem, learn halacha- absolute necessity for correction of the soul- to know what is permissible and what is not, learn emunah.
(story- pg 135)
Gratitude is what brings us to true emunah which is what makes us feel deveikus, closeness, to Hashem. Thank Hashem for the bad too. Everything Hashem does has spiritual value for us, cleanses the soul, and allows us to feel closer to Him.
(we see what complaining does from the meraglim)
"if a person is undergoing harsh trials and tribulations, the very best thing he can do for himself is to begin thanking Hashem, and thanking, and thanking...."(139)
Jewish Meditation:
Chapter 1:
What is Meditation?
"thinking in a controlled manner. It is deciding how one wishes to direct the mind for a period of time, and then doing it."
step 1: don't take thoughts for granted:
exercise number 1: stop thinking; become aware of your thoughts by trying to stop them.
How long did it last?
exercise number 2: close your eyes, relax, notice kaleidoscopic flashing images in the mind's eye. When you try to concentrate on them, they will disappear.
exercise number 3: depict a letter A, aleph, in your mind's eye. (imaging technique) try to hold it there.
There are two parts to the mind: conscious and subconscious. One of the goals of meditation is to "gain control of the subconscious" part.
This is why so many disciplines use breathing exercises ( consciously control the subconscious breath)
"The experienced meditator learns how to think what he wants..when he wants...be in control of the situation..resisting psychological pressures that work on the subconscious...also in control of himself, never doing something that he knows he really does not want to do...In many schools, this self mastery is one of the most important goals of meditation."7
Looking forward! aviva rus
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Here is the outline of what we will iyH cover;
Bilvavi 2:
Chapter: 16: YIRAH
Fear and love of G-d
review of the four stages of avodah so far:
1. remembering there is a Creator
2. sensing His presence
3. internalizing faith in Divine Providence
4. offering tefillah for every detail of life
After having an awareness of Hashem, then start on the next stages, ahava and yirah.
Yirah:
Five levels: (first three are avodah for one's own sake- place yourself in the center, not Hashem)
1. fear of punishment- gehenim, and kaf hakela (turmoil for the soul)
2. fear because of one's honor- shame when pass away and reach gan eden
3. fear because of the drive for perfection-desire shleimus, closeness to Hashem
---
so concerned about Hashem's honor, don't want to demean it in any way
4. fear of haromemus-fear due to Hashem's greatness; while engaged in learning Torah or mitzvos
5. yiras hacheit- true fear of sin- feels all the time that Hashem is right near by, so he fears he may not be acting properly before Him.
The difficulty with attaining even number 1 (fear of punishment):
Gehinnom is in spiritual world and can only be sensed by the soul- This type of fear is very necessary when we feel un-inspired, disconnected, and about to sin. It gets us moving because it's the same response to save ourselves from a burning fire. If you can, use visualization, but this can take many years to attain the fear and-
How do we safely navigate this type of fear?
Balance! Rav Yechezkel Levenstein zt'l; by delving into this type of fear, we can learn how to reach closeness to Hashem!
First ask yourself: who created gehinnom?(Hashem! when He created the world)
Who burns the wicked in gehinnom?
This is the healthy way of looking at Gehinnom is to recognize Hashem is the One Who punishes! a tool is gehinnom, so you fear Hashem in actuality- that way you are never separate from Hashem.
(read out loud the paragraph how to speak this out loud to Hashem - my book page 137/8) Ask Hashem to help you fear His punishment.
In Forest Fields:
steps in speaking out loud:
1. gratitude
2. daily teshuva (you begin to recognize everything is from Hashem, and therefore, for the best) must do this step in order to acquire proper emunah
3. ask Hashem to give you clarity to see how it is all for the best
How can we thank Hashem for our pain and anguish? logically that makes NO sense.
Rav Nachman says there is no despair in the world....WHAT?
Well....if we know without a doubt (EMUNAH) that Hashem loves us, we know that any aveira we may have done can be wiped away, no matter how terrible it seems, and we know that every moment Hashem is listening to us and trying to pull us close; then there is only joy and hope.
The Torah lists 98 curses that can fall on the Jewish people if...we didn't serve Him with joy and a willing heart. (devarim 28:47)
(Yehudi- lehodot)
page 132: Educating to say thank you:
brachos and tefilah are there to heighten our sense of appreciation to Hashem.
A niggun, melody, is a powerful way to arouse our heart. (see story pg 133)
It's amazing how we call everyone to rejoice in tefilos, yet we don't ourselves!
"if only we'd sing to Hashem and thank Him sincerely, all our troubles would be null and void. Diaspora would give way to redemption, for all of life's difficulties are rooted in out lack of joy and gratitude in our service of Hashem."
Daily: speak to Hashem, learn Torah to fully appreciate Hashem, learn halacha- absolute necessity for correction of the soul- to know what is permissible and what is not, learn emunah.
(story- pg 135)
Gratitude is what brings us to true emunah which is what makes us feel deveikus, closeness, to Hashem. Thank Hashem for the bad too. Everything Hashem does has spiritual value for us, cleanses the soul, and allows us to feel closer to Him.
(we see what complaining does from the meraglim)
"if a person is undergoing harsh trials and tribulations, the very best thing he can do for himself is to begin thanking Hashem, and thanking, and thanking...."(139)
Jewish Meditation:
Chapter 1:
What is Meditation?
"thinking in a controlled manner. It is deciding how one wishes to direct the mind for a period of time, and then doing it."
step 1: don't take thoughts for granted:
exercise number 1: stop thinking; become aware of your thoughts by trying to stop them.
How long did it last?
exercise number 2: close your eyes, relax, notice kaleidoscopic flashing images in the mind's eye. When you try to concentrate on them, they will disappear.
exercise number 3: depict a letter A, aleph, in your mind's eye. (imaging technique) try to hold it there.
There are two parts to the mind: conscious and subconscious. One of the goals of meditation is to "gain control of the subconscious" part.
This is why so many disciplines use breathing exercises ( consciously control the subconscious breath)
"The experienced meditator learns how to think what he wants..when he wants...be in control of the situation..resisting psychological pressures that work on the subconscious...also in control of himself, never doing something that he knows he really does not want to do...In many schools, this self mastery is one of the most important goals of meditation."7
Looking forward! aviva rus
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