Monday, July 30, 2012
Acknowldgement
The explanations in this blog are based on the text, Derech Mitzvosecha, the Root of the Commandment of Prayer, as explained by Rabbi Adin Even-Yisrael Steinsaltz in his weekly classes available online at http://www.hashefa.co.il/home/doc.aspx?mCatID=62997&mCatID2=60570. I also added my own explanations based on what I've learned and heard explained by other Chabad mashpiim (spiritual mentors).
Chapter 5: Kabbala and Downwards
In order to understand a tiny portion of the concept of Prayer, we must precede with what is known in the Pri Etz Haim [fundamental text of Lurianic Kabbala] the distinction between the Sh'ma prayer [Hear O Israel the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One (Deut. 6:4)] and Prayer itself [what is called the "Standing Prayer" consisting of 18-19 benedictions, repeated by a Jew thrice daily]. That through the Sh'ma prayer is brought about the unification of Father and Mother [Wisdom and Understanding] and through [Standing] Prayer is brought about the unification of the Small Face [Emotions] and its female counterpart [the Divine Presence]...to strip away from these ideas their physicality...
The Kabbalistic texts work by providing us with the basic formulas underlying the revealed aspects of Jewish life. Kabbalistic wisdom resides in a world of pure G-dliness - when we hear and try to understand the language of the Kabbalistic masters, it is as if we are attempting to bridge between two distant worlds. And so even though they speak in terms of objects that we can relate to - Mother, Father, Wisdom, Understanding, etc., these are merely metaphors for their more universal origins in the Higher Worlds.
As mentioned previously, one of the main ideas behind Prayer is that of bringing about Unifications. But before I can relate to the idea of Unifications, I must cleanse myself of my own preconceived notions regarding this topic, and also this word. This is called "abstracting" and is the first step towards understanding and relating to Mystical Wisdom or Kabbala. I must leave behind my limited conception of Father, and even my more expanded relationship with the concept of Wisdom, or Unification, and open myself to the idea that as much as I have thrown these words around my whole life, I don't understand or relate to them in their absolute sense.
A small child can also be taught complicated formulas but will have no grasp of the meaning of the words or the application of the underlying concepts. For instance, one may open up an Economics textbook and find there the description of diffrent formulas and curves. There he learns, superficially, that when the curve shifts in a certain direction, overall wealth increases. He may then conclude that in order to solve the world's economic issues, all he needs to do is draw a graph with the curve shifted outwards. But that is completely missing the point.
The Kabbalistic formulas are coming to bring simplicity and order to a complex reality, but these formulas are only graphs. In order to understand their significance I must learn to relate to them as I do to any other concept or theory, and not rush to understand them on the grossest level of interpretation.
The Kabbalistic texts work by providing us with the basic formulas underlying the revealed aspects of Jewish life. Kabbalistic wisdom resides in a world of pure G-dliness - when we hear and try to understand the language of the Kabbalistic masters, it is as if we are attempting to bridge between two distant worlds. And so even though they speak in terms of objects that we can relate to - Mother, Father, Wisdom, Understanding, etc., these are merely metaphors for their more universal origins in the Higher Worlds.
As mentioned previously, one of the main ideas behind Prayer is that of bringing about Unifications. But before I can relate to the idea of Unifications, I must cleanse myself of my own preconceived notions regarding this topic, and also this word. This is called "abstracting" and is the first step towards understanding and relating to Mystical Wisdom or Kabbala. I must leave behind my limited conception of Father, and even my more expanded relationship with the concept of Wisdom, or Unification, and open myself to the idea that as much as I have thrown these words around my whole life, I don't understand or relate to them in their absolute sense.
A small child can also be taught complicated formulas but will have no grasp of the meaning of the words or the application of the underlying concepts. For instance, one may open up an Economics textbook and find there the description of diffrent formulas and curves. There he learns, superficially, that when the curve shifts in a certain direction, overall wealth increases. He may then conclude that in order to solve the world's economic issues, all he needs to do is draw a graph with the curve shifted outwards. But that is completely missing the point.
The Kabbalistic formulas are coming to bring simplicity and order to a complex reality, but these formulas are only graphs. In order to understand their significance I must learn to relate to them as I do to any other concept or theory, and not rush to understand them on the grossest level of interpretation.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Chapter 4: What we can learn from Five Peas
The famous children's storyteller Hans Christian Andersen tells a story of Five Peas that are shot from a child's peashooter. Each pea ends up in a different situation and a different locale, until the last one of them lands in a crevice filled with earth near a window and begins to sprout. On the other side of the window, lies a sick girl whose mother has almost given up hope. But the girl takes notice of the pea sprouting outside the window and gains strength and hope from its growth process.
As the girl gains strength and eventually recovers from her illness through the inspiration from the pea blossom, the mother exclaims, “Our heavenly Father Himself has planted that pea, and made it grow and flourish, to bring joy to you and hope to me.” The belief that G-d cares for and is concerned about the minute details of our lives is stronger by the simple folk, the ones who walk all day with simple faith in the One Creator.
In order to pray to G-d, we must seek within ourselves that point of simple faith in our loving heavenly Father. However, those of us who are lacking in simplicity, who do not see the world and everything in it naturally as the handiwork of G-d, must make an effort in our priors to reveal that simple point of faith. By working to reveal, our innate desire for and awe of G-d, we can reach a similar perspective to that of the simple mother in the folk tale. Herein lies the labor of Prayer.
As the girl gains strength and eventually recovers from her illness through the inspiration from the pea blossom, the mother exclaims, “Our heavenly Father Himself has planted that pea, and made it grow and flourish, to bring joy to you and hope to me.” The belief that G-d cares for and is concerned about the minute details of our lives is stronger by the simple folk, the ones who walk all day with simple faith in the One Creator.
In order to pray to G-d, we must seek within ourselves that point of simple faith in our loving heavenly Father. However, those of us who are lacking in simplicity, who do not see the world and everything in it naturally as the handiwork of G-d, must make an effort in our priors to reveal that simple point of faith. By working to reveal, our innate desire for and awe of G-d, we can reach a similar perspective to that of the simple mother in the folk tale. Herein lies the labor of Prayer.
Introduction to the "Lonely" G-d
Prayer is a universal practice across almost all religions. It is the daily practice of a large part of the world's population to pray to the One Above. And yet how many of those who stand in prayer before G-d regularly or irregularly can lucidly explain what they are doing?
To state the problem more clearly: why does the all-knowing, all-powerful, compassionate G-d need me to apply to him on a regular basis, praising him, as well as beseeching him to fill mundane and seemingly insignificant needs. If he is all-knowing, he already knows what I need. If he is all-powerful why does he require my praise. If he is compassionate, why does he wait for me to pray to him before answering my prayer, and why is it that sometime my prayer goes unanswered?
This essay or discourse by the Tzemach Tzedek for the first time addresses and answers all these questions in an orderly fashion, describing in the process the network of spheres that make up the system of G-d's energy channeled down to this world through a series of contractions and manipulations. The Tzemach Tzedek also explains the relationship in the Jewish faith between the two poles of the prayer experience, the Sh'ma Yisrael and the Amidah prayer.
Most importantly, this essay discussed the kabbalistic concept of unifications ("yichudim") - how these unifications are an essential part of our relationship with G-d and how they guide our growth as spiritual individuals and as partners in the Creation.
To state the problem more clearly: why does the all-knowing, all-powerful, compassionate G-d need me to apply to him on a regular basis, praising him, as well as beseeching him to fill mundane and seemingly insignificant needs. If he is all-knowing, he already knows what I need. If he is all-powerful why does he require my praise. If he is compassionate, why does he wait for me to pray to him before answering my prayer, and why is it that sometime my prayer goes unanswered?
This essay or discourse by the Tzemach Tzedek for the first time addresses and answers all these questions in an orderly fashion, describing in the process the network of spheres that make up the system of G-d's energy channeled down to this world through a series of contractions and manipulations. The Tzemach Tzedek also explains the relationship in the Jewish faith between the two poles of the prayer experience, the Sh'ma Yisrael and the Amidah prayer.
Most importantly, this essay discussed the kabbalistic concept of unifications ("yichudim") - how these unifications are an essential part of our relationship with G-d and how they guide our growth as spiritual individuals and as partners in the Creation.
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