Vayigash – Genesis 44:18 – 47:27

Dec 20 to 26, 2020 | 11 Tevet 5781

Photograph by Glenn Sackett

Cosmic Ladder of Our Lives

In the Yosef Saga, famine follows plenty. Is this our reality today? For a growing number, daily life is slipping toward lack: a famine of food, housing and social connection. Many freedoms we took for granted are now blocked, or risky at best.

As we retreat from the outer world, is this your invitation to open more fully to the inner worlds?

From a young age, Yosef understood his cosmic role. In contrast, the 10 sons of Lea did not awaken until later in life. Their eventual maturation becomes clear in the enactment of Yosef’s test. Had their hearts matured? Had teshuva begun? Yes, with Yehuda leading the way.

And He Drew Near

To briefly recap this week’s parsha Vayigash – “and he drew near”:

The Yosef Saga culminates in the reunification of the brothers and the migration of Yaakov’s lineage to Egypt. Having “discovered” his goblet in Benjamin’s pack, Yosef decrees that “the man in whose hands the goblet was found shall become my servant.” He releases the others to go home in peace.

Yehuda steps forward into his cosmic role and asks to speak with the one who is “like Pharaoh”:

“Now Yehuda came closer to him and said:
Please my lord,
Pray let your servant speak a word in the ears of my lord, and do not let your anger flare up against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh!

– Gen 44:18

After recounting the heart-felt story of his father’s fears and loss, Yehuda offers himself to be held captive instead of Binyamin. Seeing Yehuda’s transformation, Josef reveals himself to his brothers, telling them: Do not be pained and upset…

For it was to save life that G’d sent me on before you.

– Gen 45:5

Because of the famine, they must bring the family to Egypt . This is how the fledgling band of Jews left Canaan for Egypt. And as we say, the rest is history!

Connecting Heaven and Earth

While many themes arise in this parsha – destiny and choice, correction and self-transcendence, Tzadik and Teshuva – the expressed purpose is to bring spirit into matter: to connect Heaven and earth. First, let’s see how this is expressed in the parsha, and then we’ll look at this connection in our lives.

We witness the connection of Heaven and earth in the way that Yosef rises to power. We see it again as Yehuda steps forward in his kingship. And when Yosef intuits the deeper meaning of his brothers’ behavior. We find relief in Yosef-the-Tzadik, who shines with his foresight to prepare for the years of famine, and in saving many lives, protecting the fledgling children of the covenant.

Significance of the Neck?

Most dramatically, we see this connection of Heaven and earth in the way Yosef and Binyamin embrace:

He flung himself upon his brother Binyamin’s neck and wept, and Binyamin wept upon his neck.

– Gen 45:14

The neck connects the head with the body, the brain with the heart. From the Sufi Master Hazrat Inayat Kahn,

The mind is the surface of the heart; the heart is the depths of the mind.

We live in a universe of Light and vessel, Creator and creature. Daily we negotiate the challenge of living a G’dly life in a material world. To remember our divine inheritance despite the necessities and attractions of the physical world.

Reflection: In what ways do you perceive the commingling of heaven and earth in you? What is your longing? In an immature state, we act and react in self-interest. We see ourselves as separate, autonomous beings rather than as connected cells in an organism with deep purpose, patterns and rhythms shaping the multitude of outer form. How have you matured over time? 

Overriding Our First Impulse

Traditionally, the first born is the carrier of family responsibilities. In Torah, there are several stories where the first born cannot rise to the task and abdicates his role. Esav and Yaakov, Re’uven and Yehudah, and in the next parsha, Menashe and Efrayim.

Of what does this remind us? That our first impulse is not always our finest. When we see ourselves reacting out of fear, resentment, greed or similar self-protecting reaction, we can chose to step back and observe.

We can ask ourselves, “what is the most loving way to respond, the most inclusive way to react, the harmonious way of peace?” We need not be bound by our “first born” reaction. We can rise above and master ourselves in the moment.

Invitation to Listen In!

Who else is longing to smell the fragrance of the history that belongs to both Israelis and Palestinians?

Another set of brothers, Ishmael and Yitzhak, are perceived differently in Torah and in Koran. The question, “Who was the sacrifice?” could be a cause for religious divide among Jews and Muslim.

For a unifying perspective on the relationship between Ishmael and Yitzhak, listen to our podcast with the International Director of the Abrahamic Reunion, Sheikh Ghassan Manasra.

This conversation also explores the method for overcoming your “first born impulse” in favor of a more considered approach. Return to the present-day Holy Land and reconsider the relationship between Muslims and Jews, Arabs and Israelis –

Not only is peace possible, it is preferred.

Climbing Jacob’s Ladder

This week we will focus on practices designed to unite Heaven and earth within the individual consciousness. We will seek to build our capacity to create harmony in daily life — to continue our awakening to the internal worlds, and ultimately, to bring together the outer and inner realms, in the marriage of heaven and earth.

Through breath, light and sound we can be in tune with the Infinite and the rhythms of this life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing, all-pervading Life.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: And He Drew Near

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we awaken to the present in the fullness of our being. This crisp, embodied awareness becomes the portal to listen for divine guidance.  We step through this door via breath, light and sound.

Suggestion: Do one practice a day, or do all 6 consecutively. Remember… have your Journal nearby to jot down any insights that may arise.

Audio Recording – Coming Soon

BREATH

This week we will refocus our practice from last week, using breath to unite Heaven and earth in your individuated self. Our channels are these 5 qualities of being: Awareness, Personality, Will, Connection, Purpose.

Awareness: Focus on the simplicity of your breath. Simple awareness and gratitude of being alive. Visualize standing tall, confident in your presence on this earth. Your feet are on the gound; your crown opens to the sky. 

Earth Purification Breath: Breathe in and out through the nose, 5 times. Be aware of the solidness of your body, your bones, your hands on your lap, your feet on the ground. Your body connects Heaven and earth. The color is yellow.

Personality: Scan the factors that make you, you. Your personality, likes and dislikes, beliefs and values. Visualize holding bowl in front of your heart, empty and ready to contain the two rivers of receiving and bestowing. This is the quality of water.

Water Purification Breath: Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth, 5 times. Be aware of the liquidity of your body, your blood, the water in your tissues and organs. Feel water pouring over your body from head to toes, as if standing under a water fall or in the rain. Let the water dissolve any habits, traits and emotions that no longer serve you. Open to the flow of divine Love. The color is green.

Will: Pour energy into the aspect of you that decides and takes action. Visualize the bowl you are holding in front of your heart filling with light. Light fills the vessel. This is the quality of Fire.

Fire Purification Breath: Breathe in through the mouth, out through the nose, 5 times. Be aware of the heat of your body, your warmth, your digestion. Feel the sun on your skin (either imagined or in the moment). Feel the waves of energy from the pulsing of your heart. Feel your longing for union. Sip heat through the mouth, exhale light through the shoulder blades. Let fire burn away all form that casts shadows in the Light. The color is red.

Connection: Our most important connection, the foundation for our life, is Oneness. Can you allow Divine Grace to bless you? This is the quality of air – all pervading and essential to life.

Air Purification Breath: Breathe in and out through the mouth, 5 times. Be aware of the spaciousness of your body, your breath filling your lungs, the air circulating in your body. Exhale and scatter your molecules as far as you can imagine. Inhale and recollect yourself in a perfect refection. The color is blue.

Purpose: Breathing gently and rhythmically through the nose, rest in the refinement of your breath. Feel the beating of your heart, allowing it to be filled with unifying Love.

CONTEMPLATION

Following your breath, mentally recite these contemplations drawn from the words of this week’s parsha and from the Sufi master Hazrat Inayat Khan:

LIGHT

With eyes closed, breathe in and out gently through the nose. Balance your inhale with your exhale. Keep your body still. Breathe gently in and out through the nose. In this refined state, focus on the right side of your chest. Visualize white light filling the right side of your chest. Breathe in white light, exhale white light for 5 breaths.

Now focus on your physical heart. Visualize red light filling the left side of your chest. Breathe in red light, exhale red light for 5 breaths.

Now focus on the center of your chest. Visualize green light filling the center of your chest. Breathe in green light, exhale green light for 5 breaths.

When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe fully, deeply. What is your experience of this balancing practice?

SOUND

Similar to mantra, to practice Wazifa is to repeat a Name (quality) of G’d. Layers of meaning of the Name, which is encoded in the sound vibration, will be revealed to you through repetition and focus.

This week’s Sufi practice with sound vibration will bring together the previous two weeks of Sound practice. We will join the vertical and horizontal directions.

The horizontal direction engages us in a polarity that lends us a sense beyond time. Ya Awwal (yaa OW-wal) can be translated “the first,” and ya Akhir (yaa AA-ḳḥir) can be rendered “the last.” This is a mystical paradox. If G’d is infinite, how could G’d be first or last? For an explanation, visit the parsha Vayeshev and scroll to the practice with SOUND.

In the vertical direction, we develop our capacity to touch the hidden and bring it into manifestation. Ya Batin (yaa BAA-ṭin) is the most hidden treasure, the secret of secrets. Ya Zahir (yaa ḌḤAA-hir) means completely present in space, fully materialized, fully visible.

Recite these Names of G’d on the inhale and exhale, turning your head from left to right, then up and down:

Inhale: Ya Awwal (left)

Exhale: Ya Akhir (right)

Inhale: Ya Batin (up)

Exhale: Ya Zahir (down)

Rhythmically inhale and exhale, softly repeating each Name out loud 33 times. Afterward, feel the unifying effects of the sound vibration on your being.

ZIKR

Meaning “remembrance”, Zikr is the repetition of a sacred phrase with the intention of returning to the essence of Unity. Continuing from last week, we will repeat the central Jewish prayer known as the Sh’ma.

In Hebrew:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד

Shema Yisrael YHWH Eloheinu YHWH Echad

The Sh’ma can be translated as: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one”. LORD is the unpronounceable four letter word יְהוָה – YHWH, the Name of G’d that can’t be named. Instead, we’ll use the word “Adonai“, meaning Lord, or “HaShem“, meaning The Name.

When practicing Zikr, it’s best to use the original language in which the prayer was revealed. As you inhale and exhale, softly repeat out loud, 33 times. Afterward, feel the effects of the vibration on your being.

NATURE

With the shortest days of the year, be especially aware of the play of light and shadow in nature. Continuing the practice from last week, go outside and locate two trees with their backs to the sun. Standing between the two trees, step between the shadows of their trunks. Know that as you step forward, you are moving through a threshold. While standing in the light, ask yourself, how does the Divine Light work through you here-and-now?

For a direct experience of Sufi wisdom and insight, please listen to the podcast with Pir Shabda Kahn: Finding Happiness Through Gratitude

Shabbat Shalom!

After 6 days of practice, when Shabbat arrives, observe how this week’s practices shape your Shabbat experience. Be sure to check in Sunday morning for next week’s parsha.

You are invited to comment on how the contemplations and practices for this week have shaped your experience of daily life… any big Ah-ha’s? Please share your thoughts and feelings below.

חַיִּים
L’Hayyim…. To Life!