Breath of God

In the Pirke Avot (Wisdom of our Fathers), Rabbi Jacob has said:
"If you are walking lost in wonder,
empty of self, and mindful of Reality,
and suddenly you interrupt this peace to exclaim:
'How beautiful is this tree!
How magnificent this field!'
you forfeit life.

The intrusion of self
and the imposing of judgment
separates you from Reality
and snares you in the net of words.

Be still and know.
Embrace it all in silence." (III:9)

Who knew that exclaiming about an incredible sunset would have that effect? But when you look at the world as ONE unified soul, with all these pieces that are connected to each other that make up that ONE unified soul, it reminds us to be without judgment. To not get lost in our minds and thoughts and JUST BE AT ONE WITH THE ONE.
Breathe into and out the Breath of Life that infuses you with the awe-inspiring Silence of HaShem, the ultimate peace and no-thing-ness of the universe. One day as I was preparing to meditate, I inhaled and thought "breath of God" and let it commingle with my breath, and my essence, then as I exhaled, I thought "Breath of God" with the added breath of our combined energies. I later learned this is similar to the breathing practice of Rabbi Abulafia, a Kaballistic rabbi from the 1500s in Safed. Check it out, it can bring you to ecstasy if done properly.

Hineni, Sh'viti

There are 2 Hebrew words that guide my life: Hineni and Sh'viti.
Hineni means Here am I. It's what Abraham said to God when he was preparing to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice as a test of his pure faith in HaShem. Hineni implies that you and HaShem are united as a force.... no expectations, no ego, be-ing in the present moment in the exact place and time you are. I say that word to myself often during the day, especially when I find myself drifting and not focusing on where I am. If you are lucky enough to remember your dreams, think about the state you are in while in a dream--you are completely focused on what is happening at the moment. What if you could live your life as you do in a dream? Completely focused, letting things unfold, taking action where appropriate, being in the flow. In the Here and Now.

Sh'viti means I put God always before me. The verse "Sh'viti Hashem l'negdi tamid" means I put Hashem in the forefront of my mind. There is a kind of mandala used by Kaballists that is meditated upon to put one in that frame of mind, to put one in the compassionate mode, if you will. Both of these words go together in my mind (and heart) because when I put God before me, I am in the present moment, coming into living with a compassionate heart for my self and others.

Light out of Darkness

The ancient Kabbalists say "There is no light a brilliant as the light which manages to emerge from out of the darkness" (Sefer Ha'Zohar). I endeavor to keep this in mind when I am faced with obstacles and challenges. When I am in pain, physical or emotional, it's difficult to know when that pain will ebb, but knowing that there is indeed a light at the end of that dark tunnel makes the suffering a bit less demoralizing. Opening to the Divine breath as I breathe, fully opening my heart, my lungs, my body seems to open the passage even more, and the pain isn't quite so bad.

Be Hole-y

It is so easy to be joyful when the good things come to us in our lives. But how difficult it is to find the joy in difficult situations? In Kaballah, we humans are seen as vessels of light and this light stays locked up inside of us until cracks and holes form in the vessel. What makes holes, you ask? Difficult situations break down our defenses, causing the vessel to crack. This is when our light bursts out and shines. Judaism is full of contrasts. By that, I mean that in the moments of our greatest pain and challenges, our light comes rising up and bursts open through the cracks, letting us fully realize HaShem's blessings upon us. In our pain, our true beauty and blessings can be more fully realized. That is why prayer is so important. It can help guide us through the challenges, knowing that The Creator wants us to be our most full, shining selves!

Body & Soul

The body is the home of your soul in your lifetime. It is the place where a part of the soul that is you right now resides. It's always amazed me that the conatiner for this soul is a finite, breakable vessel and doesn't last forever, where the soul is eternal. Does that mean our souls have occupied other physical bodies at other times? There are Jewish people who believe that. Kaballists believe in reincarnation, and that the part of our soul we need to "work on" to perfect will return in another physical vessel until our souls are perfected in each lifetime, and we then reside in the Eternal with HaShem and All That Is, in the No-Thing-Ness.
How can we keep our soul containers in the best shape, even when outside forces may harm our bodies? Besides eating well, resting, exercising, and all that, we can keep a positive frame of mind, deal with the things that seem to prevent us from progressing, dance, laugh, and spend time in nature. Every moment, even the unpleasant ones, is necessary for our souls to grow and reach perfection. Flex your soul's muscles, express yourself, move, sing, shout your joy. And don't forget to express your thanks for all that is in your lifetime.