By Shneur Agronin, Arts & Culture Editor
Breathe in. Breathe out. Could these be the first words spoken on a journey into the heart of Jewish spiritual practices and the essence of what connecting to God is all about? According to Jewish Meditation, by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan z”l, the answer is a resounding yes.
There’s a prevailing assumption that meditation is solely a practice of Eastern religions (think Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and others). Considering this, the fact that the majority of Jews living in the Western world (i.e. the vast majority of us) associate meditation with belief systems which, according to traditional Judaism, are generally considered heretical, is not surprising. Based on this assumption, many might hesitate to study the art of meditation, deeming it nothing more than “spiritual mumbo jumbo” peddled by idolaters. R’ Kaplan points out however, that like it or not, Judaism is an Eastern religion whose most fundamental streams of thought and practice revolve around meditation.
In essence, meditation is nothing more than controlled thinking. Ever dedicate the totality of your mind to writing an essay or listening to a song? Congratulations, you’ve already engaged in a fairly complex and involved form of meditation! Ever found yourself taking in a scene of conspicuous beauty, such as a sunset or the starry night sky, and feeling lost in the experience? That, too, is meditation.
We are all quite capable of meditating and have even done so many times, so why might the idea of meditation seem so foreign? The answer is rather simple: we haven’t yet recognized the magnificence of our minds’ inner workings because we often don’t feel like our schedules permit it. We live in a fast-paced world, and achieving true mindfulness, or how aware we are of our own thoughts and emotions, is anything but a quick process. In order to behold the majestic sunsets and captivating multitudes of shimmering stars (or, to use R’ Kaplan’s terminology, the souls) within each of us, we must learn how to dedicate time to “looking” within ourselves at all.
Imagine the following. You’re a thoughtful, smart, and compassionate individual who feels disillusioned by society at large. You and everyone else around you feel paralyzed by the inherent limitations of human instinct. Wishing to break free, you isolate yourself from others and contemplate the questions which have gnawed at your spirit since time immemorial: what am I here for and why? Who gave me these tasks? Who made me? Who am I? You begin to meditate, and an inner monologue begins: “This complex world can’t be the result of randomness. Someone created it and, by extension, myself. My Creator imbued me with a desire to love and be loved, so they must ‘feel’ that same desire. Therefore, I know my mission: to love my fellow humans, who were created by God in His image just like me, and to bring them closer to Him. This will bring me closer to Him, too.”
Does any of this sound familiar? Whether or not this scenario resonates with you personally, it is indeed the very manner in which the Midrash describes how Abraham, our forefather, discovered God. In other words, R’ Kaplan clarifies, the first follower of the one true God in a world saturated by idolatry arrived at his eternally world-changing conclusion through meditation. Not so “mumbo jumbo” now, right?
Abraham uncovered the central tenet of Judaism itself – monotheism – through meditation, and thereby understood his own purpose. Following in his footsteps, we not only can but are obligated to do the same. Fortunately, meditation doesn’t require any fancy equipment, uncomfortable lotus positions, mind-altering substances, or rhythmically chanting “ohm” a few thousand times without interruption.
All you need is, well, yourself. Seriously, give it a shot. Find a peaceful, preferably secluded, location and assume a comfortable position (you can sit, stand, lie down, handstand, whatever floats your boat). Close your eyes and keep in mind one goal: breathe. Breathe in, hold that for a few seconds, and breathe out. Have your thoughts begun to wander yet? Probably, and that’s fine – gently and compassionately bring yourself back: breathe in, breathe out. Your mind can wander as much as it wants (and it will, a lot!). The goal is merely to notice when your thoughts stray and calmly redirect them. Chances are, you’ll probably feel pretty relaxed (I even briefly fell asleep the first time I tried this, and that was on a bench outside of Morg), and that’s the goal! But how does this turn into an experience of spiritual growth? Three words: do it again!
With time and consistency, R’ Kaplan explains, meditation gradually habituates us to living in the present moment. When we yank our heads out of both the unchangeable past and unknowable future, we grow more and more aware of how we think, feel, and are, right now. Think of it as getting to know ourselves better. As we meditate, we nurture a conscious awareness of our streams of thought, emotions, motivations, aspirations, and values. Once we’ve gained this awareness, we can take the second critical step in meditation: acknowledging all of the above without judgment. Do you feel sad and angry about your friend forgetting your birthday? Nervous and excited for a date you’ve got coming up? Confused and distressed because you’re not even sure how you feel at all? Embrace it. When we grant ourselves the opportunity to feel, we learn how to respond to those feelings with compassion instead of reacting rashly.
When we no longer feel the need to validate our generally uncontrollable emotions by allowing them (perhaps recklessly and destructively) to dictate our behavior, we find that both areas of our lives – actions and emotions – enjoy growth. By permitting ourselves to process and “live out” our emotions by treating them like welcome guests (no matter how rudely, surly, or upsettingly they may behave), then just like guests, they will leave on their own.
When the “inn” of our mind is no longer “overbooked” by emotions which we’ve failed to properly “check in,” we begin to find room for what we often feel unable to accommodate: rational, thoughtful decision making; an appreciation for the spiritual over the material; and a deep, genuine desire to connect with others, including God. When we feel, we heal, and when we heal, we can be real — with ourselves, with others, and with God. As human beings created in the Divine image, being “real” means being like our Creator and, in turn, how He created us: compassionate, honest, humble, just, and capable. Is this not God’s primary request of us as described by the prophet Micah, to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)?
The next time you find a few minutes to spare, consider occupying them with meditation, one of the greatest forms of self-care we can engage in. Paradoxically, by investing considerable time and mental resources in the pursuit of self-love and internal, unchallengeable validation, we discover the capability nestled within each and every one of our Divine souls to love and care for others. If you’re skeptical, that’s fine, too – a bit of meditation should do the trick.
Photo Caption: A Star of David in nature
Photo Credit: Unsplash