Hayei Sara – Genesis 23:1-25:18

Nov 8 to 14, 2020 | 27 Heshvan 5781

Watercolor by Nurullah Anya Godwin

Life of Sara: As Above, So Below

This parsha begins with the death of Sara, as it is told, because she knew of the apparent sacrifice of her beloved son, Isaac. Then why is the parsha named “The LIFE of Sara”?

As above, so below. Sara’s life, legacy and lineage continue with the spared life of Isaac. Her name Sara, “Princess,” reflects her refined status. Her purity and wisdom continue right through to the present. Life does not end in death of the body.

And where was she buried? In the Cave of Mahpelah – the cave of multiplying. As her bones lay deep in the ground, Heaven holds her spirit, multiplying her station throughout the ages. The story of Isaac taking Rivka (Rebecca) into his mother’s tent where he loved her is one more echo of this continuance.

In this way, the new level of human compassion, generosity and purity of heart of both Sara and Avraham is preserved. Now as then, their lives crystalize the capacity for us to awaken in knowledge of the One G’d.  Even after her death, the intention she brought to earth continues to multiply. As above, so below.

Sacred Oath

In Torah, an unexpected word reveals volumes. Here’s a riddle: Why did Avraham tell his servant, Eliezer, to put his hand under his thigh to take the sacred oath of finding the right wife for Isaac?

Reading from the Kabbalah masters, because of the mitzvah of circumcision, Avraham’s body was the most sacred physical object in his tent on which to make the vow. And what does that say about ourselves? That our body is sacred.

In Sufism we have a practice that reminds us and deepens our awareness of our sacred selves. On the breath we repeat the phrase – “This is not my body, this is the temple of G’d.” We will include this in our practices for the week.

Wellspring of the Heart

Self-denial is not renouncing things, it is denying the self. And the first lesson of self-denial is humility. Rivka’s actions at the well highlights her humility. When I teach Hebrew school to 4th and 5th graders, we delight in the story of Rivka. It is the perfect segue to discuss humility, generosity and loving kindness. Elementary age children brighten in the exploration of these Midot — qualities of the soul.

This entire parsha can be read as the rising above self-interest to serve. Our modern paradigm of self-development, self-confidence, self- is a mental construct that serves us well as children and teens. But as adults, it is time our to shift away from a hyper-focus on “personal growth” to one that blends in concern for community and connection.

You are invited to listen to a delightful podcast on how we can grow through service. Starting Tuesday, please listen to this inspiring conversation with Marilyn Saltzman: Cultivating Soul Qualities in the Service of Others.

More Subtle Clues

Another small detail that speaks volumes is the way that Rebecca offers water to the servant and then to the camels. Again from the Kabbalah masters – Rebecca lowered the pitcher so that when the servant drank, his face was not close to hers, which would have been immodest.

And now, the pitcher had become impure by a stranger drinking from it. But to spill the water on the ground could have been insulting. Pouring the water in the trough for the camels graciously handles that situation, benefiting all, including the thirsty camels.

Reflect on a time when you have shown the same gracious thoughtfulness, and perhaps one time when you could have chosen a more balanced way to interact.

Balance Creates Beauty

Avraham’s servant traveled with many camels laden with gifts. Pulling water from a well is hard, heavy labor. Why did Eliezer watch rather than help Rebecca? At first it seems unkind. However, since this was the key to finding the right wife for Isaac, the mother who was to continue the seed of a new people, the test had to be severe.

In the Tree of Life, Hesed balanced with its polarity, Gevurah, unifies in Netzah. Meaning Loving Kindness balanced with Discernment creates Beauty.

How does this inform us today? To find a mate to balance Isaac, and thus continue the covenant, Rivka has the humility and service that would continue Sara’s legacy to this very day. And she would be the mother of Jacob, seeing that his gentle qualities would benefit the lineage of the Jewish people. But that’s the next story.

For this week’s practices, we will seek to open the door to divine guidance. To continue our progression from the external to the internal, and ultimately, to bring the two together, in the marriage of heaven and earth. This is how we can be in tune with the Infinite and the rhythm of life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing life. This life right now, right in the heart of all the uncertainty and fear. And yes, joy and laughter. As we listen deeply to the sound of silence, we come to know humanity as one body united in the One Being.

From Hazrat Inayat Khan:

Man mistakes when he begins to cultivate the heart by wanting to sow the seed himself instead of leaving the sowing to G’d.

Self stands as a wall between man and G’d.

In man’s search of truth, the first lesson and the last is love. There must be no separation. No ‘I am, and thou art not.’ Until man has arrived at that selfless cosciousness, he cannot know life and truth.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: As Above, So Below

Mastery does not lie in merely stilling the mind, but in pointing it toward whatever we desire. – Hazrat Inayat Khan

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we tap into stillness before setting our intention toward the qualities we desire. Let’s bring “Heaven on Earth” with our practice this week through our 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:

Sitting comfortably with an upright spine, breathe in and out through your nose. Inhale deeply. Exhale completely, eliminating all of the spent air in your lungs. Inhale deeply and focus on your abdomen. Exhale completely. Inhale and focus on your chest, then exhale completely. Once more, inhale and focus on your crown, and then exhale completely.

Breathing comfortably, imagine pure white Light entering through your forehead. On the next breath, imagine this clear light filling your head. On the next breath, filling your upper body. And then your torso to your legs and toes, and down your arms to your fingertips. And now, breathe in the clear light of guidance and exhale light all around you. As you continue to breath comfortably, feel this light of guidance as it enters through your forehead, fills your body, and radiates outward in all directions.

With eyes closed and mouth relaxed and open, breathe in and out through your mouth.  This is the purification breath of Air. Sense the spaciousness in your body. As you exhale, imagine all of your molecules being scattered far and wide. As you inhale, recollect yourself through your Heart center in a more loving, harmonious, beautiful formation. Your inhale is the same length as your exhale, rhythmic and gentle. You are spreading yourself throughout the cosmos as you exhale, reforming yourself in Divine Light as you inhale.

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 through the nose. Let your breath be gently and refined. Allow your breath to become shallow. Keep your body still. Breathe gently in and out through the nose.  This is the subtle breath of ether. In this refined state, imagine Light entering through the top of your head, your crown center. Breathe in Light through your crown, exhale Light through the palm of your hands. Allow yourself to receive any shift in awareness that happens. No effort; simply receive in stillness. When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe fully, deeply. Feel a sense of gratitude for the experience of stillness filled with Light.

Sound:

Similar to mantra, to practice Wazifa is to repeat a Name (quality) of G’d. The 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 focus on connection heaven and earth: Ya ‘Azim and Ya Jabbar. 

As a starting point, we can say that Ya ‘Azim (yaa ‘a-ḌḤEEM) means to experience the divine presence right in the midst of life – down to your bones. Ya Jabbar (yaa jab-BAAR) is an expression of divine power and healing strength that allows you to act in the world.

Inhale: Ya Jabbar

Exhale: Ya ‘Azim

As you inhale, hold and exhale, softly repeat each Name out loud, 33 times. If you are practicing daily, see the suggestion in the table below. Afterward, feel the 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:

Excellent! Now it’s time to return to the every day world, refreshed, renewed and reconnected.

When you wake up in the morning, recall this week’s practice. When do you feel most connected? When does self-grasping arise? The next time you feel you are in need of connection and renewal, practice the air purification breath. Breathe in and out through the the mouth, feeling the spaciousness of your breath. What affect does that have on your emotions?

Take a moment each day to quietly inhale ya Sami’, exhale, ya Basir. We are in the labyrinth of life, with the ability to see and hear in ways more subtle than the material world. What does your seeing, hearing heart tell you?

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!

Vayera – Genesis 18:1-22:24

Nov 1 to 7, 2020 | 20 Heshvan 5781

G’d Revealed: Be Not Far From Me

Vayera heralds a new era. In this parsha, we are instructed to leave the past behind, to honor the transformation in human awakening. Three angels arrive to give the improbable message of Isaac’s birth, the inheriting son of the covenant with Avraham, the seed of the moral human being. Clearing out the old ways of interacting continues with the destruction of Sodom.

The contrast between Avraham’s ethics – the height of hospitality – and the rawness of the common culture is stark. Avraham wants to know G’d, while the inhabitants of Sodom want to “know” Lot’s guests. The door to Avraham’s hospitality is a signpost for G’d. In Sodom, the men tried to break down the door to assault Lot’s visitors.

Similarly, the Binding of Isaac revealed to the people of the day that child sacrifice is not what is being asked of us to dwell with the One G’d. We let go of the ties that bind and do not serve.

Sacred Duty of Hospitality

According to a midrash, when travelers would enjoy a meal in Avraham’s tent, for payment he would ask that they acknowledge the true provider of the food, the One G’d. Thus, Avraham is the key figure in raising the consciousness of the day.

And today? We are again in a pattern of chaos before a new consciousness takes hold. Like Lot’s family, we are being asked to let go of the past to prepare for the present, a closer relationship with G’d. When we doubt our underlying progress, please remember the ark of history is long.

We can see this clearly during the shutdown due to COVID. The human experience is changing. We will not go back to the old stasis. Far too outer-directed without reflection, it wasn’t a normal, balanced life anyhow. Inner eyes and ears tell us that we are again in the middle of major shifts. A new pattern is emerging.

Hineyni – Here I am

What is being asked of us today? Then as now, to hear and see signs of G’d. In life’s puzzling ways, we are not alone. We have inner light to help us navigate. Just as when we walk the path of a labyrinth, we set our intention, eyes and ears keenly alert to inner guidance.

Hineyni doesn’t mean “I’m coming” or “I was there”. Vayera envelops us in the here and now. Like Lot’s family escaping the destruction, we are not to look back, lest we get calcified in old ways of experiencing life. Hey, we didn’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil for nothing! By being present now, we prepare for tomorrow.

For this week’s practices, we will seek to open the door to divine guidance. To continue our progression from the external to the internal, and ultimately, to bring the two together, in the marriage of heaven and earth. This is how we can be in tune with the Infinite and the rhythm of life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing life. This life right now, right in the heart of all the uncertainty and fear. And yes, joy and laughter. As we listen deeply to the sound of silence, we come to know humanity as one body.

From Hazrat Inayat Khan:

Everything in life is speaking, in spite of its apparent silence.
Every action that we call life has sprung from a source we call silence.
I have seen all souls as my soul, and realized my soul as the soul of all.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Be Not Far From Me

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we set our intention to strengthen the movement of divine qualities in our lives. As a Jew and a Sufi, the teaching is to enter path to inner connection with G’d through the Heart. And here, the Heart that I speak of exists prior to our physical hearts. I am speaking of the center from which the physical heart is conceived, sustained and purified.

For our practices this week, we’ll draw from acts of LISTENING. Avraham, Hagar, Lot and Avimelekh (in a dream) all hear the voice of G’d. They listen, respond and act. So may we. The door of love opens outward through our hearts. To turn toward the door of the Heart, we will follow these practices of 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:

Sitting comfortably with an upright spine, breathe in and out through your nose. Inhale deeply. Exhale completely, eliminating all of the spent air in your lungs. Inhale deeply and focus on your abdomen. Exhale completely. Inhale and focus on your chest, then exhale completely. Once more, inhale and focus on your crown, and then exhale completely.

Breathing comfortably, imagine pure white Light entering through your forehead. On the next breath, imagine this clear light filling your head. On the next breath, filling your upper body. And then your torso to your legs and toes, and down your arms to your fingertips. And now, breathe in the clear light of guidance and exhale light all around you. As you continue to breath comfortably, feel this light of guidance as it enters through your forehead, fills your body, and radiates outward in all directions.

With eyes closed and mouth relaxed and open, breathe in and out through your mouth.  This is the purification breath of Air. Sense the spaciousness in your body. As you exhale, imagine all of your molecules being scattered far and wide. As you inhale, recollect yourself through your Heart center in a more loving, harmonious, beautiful formation. Your inhale is the same length as your exhale, rhythmic and gentle. You are spreading yourself throughout the cosmos as you exhale, reforming yourself in Divine Light as you inhale.

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 through the nose. Let your breath be gently and refined. Allow your breath to become shallow. Keep your body still. Breathe gently in and out through the nose.  This is the subtle breath of ether. In this refined state, imagine Light entering through the top of your head, your crown center. Breathe in Light through your crown, exhale Light through the palm of your hands. Allow yourself to receive any shift in awareness that happens. No effort; simply receive in stillness. When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe fully, deeply. Feel a sense of gratitude for the experience of stillness filled with Light.

Sound:

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

To answer of inner call with “Hineni” (I am here) is not about physical location. It means being fully present, being truly here, ready to listen, see and act. This week’s Sufi practice with sound vibration will focus on hearing and seeing: Ya Sami’ and Ya Basir. 

As a starting point, we can say that Ya Sami’ (yaa sa-MEE’) calls on the quality of divine hearing. Ya Sami’ endows you with inner hearing so that you hear all sounds as sacred. Your heart becomes an ear to signs of G’d.

Ya Basir (yaa ba-ṢEER) is divine seeing that is complete in understanding and realization. Your heart become an eye to inner able to perceive signs of the divine presence.

As you inhale, hold and exhale, softly repeat each Name out loud, 33 times. If you are practicing daily, see the suggestion in the table below. Afterward, feel the 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:

Excellent! Now it’s time to return to the every day world, refreshed, renewed and reconnected.

When you wake up in the morning, recall this week’s practice. When do you feel most connected? When does self-grasping arise? The next time you feel you are in need of connection and renewal, practice the air purification breath. Breathe in and out through the the mouth, feeling the spaciousness of your breath. What affect does that have on your emotions?

Take a moment each day to quietly inhale ya Sami’, exhale, ya Basir. We are in the labyrinth of life, with the ability to see and hear in ways more subtle than the material world. What does your seeing, hearing heart tell you?

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!

Lekh-Lekha – Genesis 12:1-17:27

Oct 25 to 31, 2020 | 13 Heshvan 5781

Go To Yourself: Journeying into Essence

We, too, are Avram and Sarai. This parsha calls each of us to ask, “What is my purpose, and how can I move toward fulfillment in this moment?” From Or HaTorah, the expression Lekh Lekha literally means “go to yourself,” to your essence.

Let’s explore the Light this parsha shines on our capacity to journey from a multiplicity of outer forms to an awakened inner experience.

Go-you-forth from your land,

from your kindred,

from your father’s house. (Gen 15:1)

G’d is calling us to abandon our ordinary way of thinking, to ascend to a higher spiritual plane. Fortunately, we don’t need to leave home to do it. The door we stand before opens toward the One, uniting us with All.

Entering the Door of Trust

Already a spiritual adept seeking connection with the One Being, nonetheless, to deepen spiritually G’d called Avram (the Exalted) to leave the land of Haran, of ego-driven striving — ultimately, to enter the land of Unity (Israel). In the Journey from outer striving to trusting inner guidance, he becomes Avraham, the Exalted Father of Nations. And Sarai becomes Sara, the Princess. Name changes like these indicate spiritual transformation.

Be not afraid, Avram,

I am a delivering-shield to you,

your reward is exceedingly great.  (Gen 6:12)

You know the saying, “Trust in G’d and tie your camel?” In our modern, rational, goal-directed culture, more often than not we “tie our camel” but forget what’s most important, to trust G’d.

Seeing Beyond the Rational Mind

This parsha takes us beyond the rational mind to into the realm of direct experience – of Presence. Like Avram the smasher of Form, we are called to trust that which we cannot see. This invites me to contemplate, “What forms do I cling to, from material substance to mental concept?”

Occurrences out of the ordinary are a repeating theme in this parsha. When Hagar gave birth it was to be expected. But Sara giving birth in her 90’s could only happen through divine intervention. How many other examples of “beyond rational thought” are there in this parsha? Like Hagar, we are invited to touch the vibrational energy of Angels directly.

How can we connect with the interior world and, ultimately, bring this awareness into every day life?

Role of Conscience

The Covenant of Circumcision reminds us to “cut away” all that blocks our heart from connection with the One. The human capacity for conscience is a more subtle tool than simply discerning right from wrong. It is the fine-tuning that allows us to know whether or not we are acting from Love. Whether or not we are responding in Harmony to create Beauty. I see this as our Grand Mission and Purpose as human beings. How that plays out in each of us unfolds as we awaken and connect with the life beyond the duality of form.

The similarity of experience among mystical paths is striking. I wish to share with you the beautiful imagery of the Sufi poet, Fariduddin Attar. Living not far from Tehran in the twelfth century, he penned what is known as “The Conference of the Birds”:

O Goldfinch! … When you have burnt up your attachments the light of G’d will manifest itself more and more. Since your heart knows the secrets of G’d, remain faithful. When you have perfected yourself, you will no longer exist. But G’d will remain.

Rather than acting from willfulness, rather than striving toward a goal, we learn from this parsha to listen to divine direction. From the prayer Khatum, by Hazrat Inayat Khan:

Disclose to us Thy Divine Light, which is hidden in our souls, that we may know and understand life better.

For this week’s practices, we will seek to open the door to divine guidance. To continue our progression from the external to the internal, and ultimately, to bring the two together, in the marriage of heaven and earth. Individually and together, we can work to tame our willful self-centeredness that sometimes forgets, even denies, the world beyond our five senses. 

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Journey into the Unknown

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we set our intention to strengthen the movement of divine qualities in our lives. Experientially, we are actuating the Tree of Life within. For our practices this week, we’ll draw from the story Avram, who becomes Avraham, fulfilling his destiny to be the father of two great nations.

To open the door to the unknown and venture forth with a sense of trust and protection, we will follow these practices of 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:

Sitting comfortably with an upright spine, breathe in and out through your nose. Inhale deeply. Exhale completely, eliminating all of the spent air in your lungs. Inhale deeply and focus on your abdomen. Exhale completely. Inhale and focus on your chest, then exhale completely. Once more, inhale and focus on your forehead, and then exhale completely.

Breathing comfortably, imagine the light of the North Star, the clear light of guidance, filling your forehead. On the next breath, imagine this clear light filling your head. On the next breath, fill your upper body. And then your torso. And now, breathe in the clear light of guidance and exhale light all around you. As you continue to breath comfortably, feel this light of guidance enter through your forehead, and radiate outward in all directions.

With eyes closed, breathe in through the mouth as if sipping through a straw. Breathe out through the nose.  This is the purification breath of fire. Sense the warmth in your body. Focusing on the inhale, imagine you are breathing in light. Exhale through your nose, carrying away all impurities. 

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.

Visualization:

With eyes closed, breathe in and out through the nose. Let your breath be gently and refined. Allow your breath to become shallow. Keep your body still. Breathe gently in and out through the nose.  This is the subtle breath of ether. In this refined state, imagine Light entering through the top of your head, your crown center. Breathe in Light through your crown, exhale Light through the palm of your hands. Allow yourself to receive any shift in awareness that happens. No effort; simply receive in stillness. When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe fully, deeply. Feel a sense of gratitude for the experience of stillness filled with Light. 

Sound:

Similar to mantra, to practice Wazifa is to repeat a Name (quality) of G’d. The 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 focus on protection, shielding and connection wth G’d: Ya Wakil, Ya Qadir and Ya Wadud. 

As a starting point, we can say that Ya Wakil (yaa wa-KEEL) means to rely on G’d entirely. Ya Qadir (yaa KAA-dir) is the expression of divine purpose. Ya Wadud (yaa wa-DOOD) is divine love’s most intimate manifestation.

As you inhale, hold and exhale, softly repeat each Name out loud, 33 times. If you are practicing daily, see the suggestion in the table below. Afterward, feel the 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:

Excellent! Now it’s time to return to the every day world, refreshed, renewed and reconnected. Through out the day, in a quiet moment, ask yourself, “What is my purpose?”

When you wake up in the morning, recall this week’s practice. When do you feel most secure? When does fear arise? The next time you feel you are in need of courage and endurance, practice the fire purification breath. Breathe in the the mouth and out through the nose, feeling the heat of your body. What affect does that have on your emotions?

To develop trust, practicing gratitude turns the knob on the door. How can we recognize the support we receive now? Happiness is making a bouquet of flowers of those within reach. What’s in your reach right now? When we recognize the simple blessings – a comfortable bed, a full belly, a friend – the shift in perception is like the tuning of the harp. 

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!

Noah – Genesis 6:9-11.32

October 18 to 24, 2020 | 6 Heshvan 5781

Noah: Sheltering in Place

We are all too familiar with the classic flood story. Today, the world is not covered in raging waters, but in an invisible danger – COVID 19. How has your life changed? Unless you are an essential worker, like Noah’s kin, you have been sheltering in place. Our hectic, outwardly focused lives have turned inward, toward family and homebound activities.

Now is the time for retreat and re-evaluation of how we live our lives, our purpose for being.

“Noah was a righteous, wholehearted man in his generation, in accord with G’d did Noah walk.” (Gen 6:9)

In the Kabbalah Tree of Life, Hesed and Gevurah are two energies that balance each other. The first creation story in Bereshit represents Hesed, the flow of love and kindness. The parsha of Noah engages the quality of Gevurah: severity, judgement. Whereas Hesed expresses expansive love, Gevurah constricts and contains.

“God saw the earth, and here: it had gone to ruin.” (Gen 6:12)

G-d speaks directly to Noah, giving him detailed instructions to build the Ark with three floors. Referring again to the Tree of Life, the three floors represent Binah – the womb in which the three dimensions are born.

Sheltering in place, removed from our normal social patterns, heightens the interdependency of all life. In Noah we find this truth reflected. Not only are we descendants of Adam and Eve – we’ve all come from Noah and his family, the only survivors of the flood, a testament to our essential Unity.

Tower of Hubris

After the flood, a monumental act of defiance and hubris occurs. We can read the Tower of Babel as the story of man’s egoic nature attempting to establish and protect itself by building a tower that reaches to heaven. Flaunting inner truths, we all know how well that goes over.

This parsha culminates with the harbinger of hope, the birth of Avram and Sarai who are to become the patriarch and matriarch of the Jewish People, Avraham and Sarah.

For this week’s practices, we will focus on how out of necessity we, too, have retreated within. Let’s focus on building our own inner Ark, in accordance with G-d’s guidance. We can work to tame our willful self-centeredness that sometimes forgets, even denies, the world beyond our five senses.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Sheltering in Place

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we set our intention to strengthen the movement of divine qualities in our lives. Experientially, we are actuating the Tree of Life within. For our practices this week, we’ll draw from the Noah story when G’d instructs Noah to build the Ark and then bring his family inside and all they need to survive.

To develop peace of mind while we, like Noah’s family, must seek refuge from a novel threat, we will use breath, visualization and vibration to stabilize our mind and heart in a state of abiding calm.

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:

Sitting comfortably with an upright spine, breathe in and out through your nose. Inhale deeply. Exhale completely, eliminating all of the spent air in your lungs. Inhale deeply and focus on your abdomen. Exhale completely. Inhale and focus on your chest, then exhale completely. Once more, inhale and focus on your forehead, and then exhale completely.

Breathing comfortably, imagine the light of the North Star, the clear light of guidance, filling your forehead. On the next breath, imagine this clear light filling your head. On the next breath, fill your upper body. And then your torso. And now, breathe in the clear light of guidance and exhale light all around you. As you continue to breath comfortably, feel this light of guidance enter through your forehead, and radiate outward in all directions.

Now imagine your heart is a prism. As the light passes through your heart, see the clear light refract into the colors of the rainbow. Inhale clear light in the forehead, exhale rainbow light through your heart.

Contemplation:

Following your breath, mentally recite these contemplations:

Visualization:

With eyes closed, breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth shape in an “O”.  This is the purification breath of water. Focusing on the exhale, imagine a waterfall is flowing from your mouth, carrying away all impurities. Sense the water in your body. Feel your body being purified by the flow of water through your exhaled breath.

Sound:

This week’s Sufi practice with sound vibration will focus on the Water of Life flowing from the Source of All. Similar to mantra, to practice Wazifa is to repeat a Name (quality) of G’d. The meaning of the Name, which is encoded in the sound vibration, will be revealed to you through repetition and focus. Since this parsha tells the story of the flood, we will explore three qualities blessing that flow from Source: Ya Wahhab, Ya Razzaq and Ya Fattah. 

As a starting point, we can say that Ya Wahhab (yaa wah-HAAB) is the continuous flow of divine blessings which comes from Source. Ya Razzaq (yaa raz-ZAAḲ) is the flow of our daily sustenance. Meaning victory, as well as to begin and to open, Ya Fattah (yaa fat-TAAḤ) is the key to finding the G’d within.

As you inhale, hold and exhale, softly repeat the three Names out loud, 33 times. Afterward, feel the 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:
Excellent! Now it’s time to return to the every day world, refreshed, renewed and reconnected. It’s helpful to end your meditation by rubbing your hands together briskly, feeling the heat, and then cup them gently over your closed eyes. You can repeat this motion a few times to welcome yourself back into the physical world.

Through out the day, notice when you feel a sense of being home. When do you feel most secure? When does fear arise? The next time you feel overwhelmed or bit shaky with our changing world, practice the water purification breath. Breathe in the the nose and out through the mouth as if your whole body was being gently bathed in warm water. How does that affect your emotions?

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!

To learn more about The Soul Manifestation Process, simply…

Bereshit – Genesis 1:1-6:8

October 11 to 17, 2020 | 29 Tishrei 5781

Why Does This World Exist?

This year opens to a “New Reality” – COVID, BLM, Global Warming, and ___________ (add your own top concern) … all these and more have swept out from under us our old concepts, habits, and assurances. Where can we find new ground to stand on? We need not lose heart. Like the ocean, the surface of life is ever changing, even tumultuous. And yet, the depths remain calm and unperturbed.

Turning to scripture for a sense of purpose and courage can be our guiding light, our North Star. From a Jewish perspective, what happened then is happening now. We swim in the same moment in time. So let’s start at the beginning.  

What Is Its Purpose? Why Am I Here?

To answer these perennial questions of Why and What, the first parsha Bereshit narrates two creation stories. These are not stories of how G’d came into being. Before the world begins, G’d exists. As you’ll notice, Bereshit, the first Hebrew word in the Torah, begins with the second letter Bet, because Aleph, G’d, exists a-priori. And what was the first act of creation? 

G’d said, “Let there be light! And there was light.”

Genesis 1:3

Here we see INTENTION is the means of creation. The first manifestation is Sound (“And G’d said”), followed by Light in its essence, even before the sun comes into existence. And what do the 6 days of creation represent?

From Kabbalah we discover that G’d created One Soul with 6 Qualities. These qualities appear in the Tree of Life: Hesed (Loving Kindness), Gevurah (Judgement), Tiferet (Beauty), Netzah (Endurance), Hod (Grace), Yesod (Foundation). As human beings (Malhut) we can draw from these divine qualities to consciously express them in ourselves.  

Adam and Eve: The Great Awakening

In the second creation story, G’d creates Adam, then the animals, then his companion Eve, a side of Adam. As such the first man and the first woman were not yet separate from G’d. They had no self-awareness or agency. Something had to occur to establish this individuation.

Enter the Snake, enticing Eve to doubt and eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. To eat a piece of fruit, one picks it off the tree, visibly separating fruit from source. This is the unfoldment of the purpose of creation. To sever the umbilical cord and live as separate creatures. 

All the while, at root is our desire for Unity. When I taught Hebrew school to 8 to 10 year olds, I’d ask them to look around the room, seeing each student in a separate seat. Then I’d show the fingers of one hand with the other hand covering my palm. Like each child, each finger appeared separate.

Slowly, mysteriously I’d reveal my palm, showing how we are all held together from the same root. We are not separate as we appear to be. The children would look around the room at each other, seeing their friends with new eyes. 

As the desire to rediscover this Unity awakens in our hearts, we begin to seek to perfect ourselves with Love (Hesed) and Discernment (Geverah), creating Beauty (Tiferet) in our actions. With growing awareness of our essential Oneness, we become more able to connect, heal and uplift. By exploring inner nature beneath the surface waters, we find G’d.  

The Surface and the Depths

Continuing with Bereshit, this parsha tells the story of the first act of jealousy, when Kayne kills Havel. Kayne represents the identification with the individuated self. (Kayne offered G’d “some” grain.) Havel represents connectivity and bestowal – the desire to give. (Havel offered G’d the best of his flock.) It become which G’d prefers:  

G’d had regard for Hevel and his gift,

for Kayin and his gift he had no regard.

Genesis 4:5

This parsha ends 10 generations after Adam and Eve, culminating with the birth of Noah. Seeing much wrongdoing on the earth, G’d vows to blot out humankind. But Noah finds favor in the eyes of G’d. 

Then as now, with the birth of Noah (a name meaning rest, comfort) comes the vision that the world can improve. Today, as more of us are awakening to our inner life, we become the archetypal Noah: offering comfort, making wise choices and listening to the voice within.

To learn more about The Soul Manifestation Process, simply…

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Touching the Depths

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we set our intention to strengthen the movement of divine qualities in our lives. Experientially, we are actuating the Tree of Life within.

For our practices this week, we’ll draw from the first part of Bereshit when G’d creates the world in 6 days, ceasing from work and hallowing the seventh day. We will use breath, visualization and vibration (sound) to ask the questions: Who am I? Why am I here?

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:

Sitting comfortably with an upright spine, breath in and out through your nose. Simply notice your breath: your inhale and your exhale. Is it deep or shallow? Rhythmic or irregular? Pay attention to the slight pause between the inhale and exhale. Notice how your lungs expand and contract around your heart. Can you feel your heartbeat? Don’t not evaluate or judge. Simply observe your breath. When you have observed every aspect of your breath, begin the contemplation.

Contemplation:

From Stillness, the first vibration was G’d’s commandment, “Let there be light.” What preceded this initiation? Can we sense the stillness before creation? To do the practice, following your breath, mentally recite these contemplations drawn from the words of this week’s parsha. (Note: G’d, who contains All, is beyond gender. Please feel free to recite the phrase using she or he, her or his.

Light:

With eyes closed, instead of sensing light coming from a single source like the sun, visualize the light surrounding you, the “All-pervading Light”. Do you feel light on your skin? Imagine you are breathing in this light through every pore. On the exhale, experience the silence, stillness.

Sound:

Now let’s begin our first Sufi practice with vibration using sound. Similar to mantra, to practice Wazifa is to repeat a Name (Quality) of G’d. The meaning of the Name, which is encoded in the sound vibration, will be revealed to you through repetition and focus.

Since the parsha focuses on Light, we will explore two aspects of Light: Ya Nur and Ya Munawwer. As a starting point, we can say that Ya Nur (yaa NOOR) is the Light in every soul. Ya Munawwer (ya moo-NOW-were) is the One Who Illuminates.

As you inhale and exhale, softly repeat out loud, 33 times. Afterward, feel the effects of the 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. Not until Deuteronomy 6:4 do we find the central Jewish prayer known as the Sh’ma. Nonetheless, let’s choose this prayer to be our Zikr because of its centrality to Jewish prayer. 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:

Excellent! Now it’s time to return to the every day world, refreshed, renewed and reconnected. It’s helpful to end your meditation by rubbing your hands together briskly, feeling the heat, and then cup them gently over your closed eyes. You can repeat this motion a few times to welcome yourself back into the physical world.

Through out the day, notice the play of light on surfaces. What is the quality of light? How does light touch your mood and experience? Sound (vibration) precedes light. What sounds do you hear? Be aware of tone of voice – yours and those around you. Can you hear nature sounds? Mechanical sounds? How are you responding to the sounds you hear?

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 tomorrow 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!

To learn more about The Soul Manifestation Process, simply…