Beshalach – Exodus 13:17 – 17:16

Jan 24 to 30, 2021 | 17 Shevat 5781

Zachor: Remember

And you shall know that I am YHWH your G’d.

– Exodus 16:12

Beshalach, the first unique word of this week’s parsha, means “when (Pharaoh) let go.” With the power of G’d, Moses leads his people safely through the Sea of Reeds, provides sweet water and food in the form of manna and quail, and establishes Shabbat. When the army of Amalek attacks the Israelites in the narrow straits of Redifim, Moses prevails. How then could the Children of Israel question, “Is G’d with us or not?”

In a word, doubt. Doubt is the enemy that lurks in the rational mind and sets the conditions for Amalek to attack. Just as the neck separates the head from the heart, in the narrow straits of Redifim the battle between doubt and faith is fought; this time the Israelites prevail.

Despite all the assurances of YHWH, three times the Israelites are caught in the narrow straits of doubt:

Doubt at the Sea of Reeds when Pharaoh’s army marches toward them:

Indeed, better for us serving Egypt
than our dying in the wilderness!

– Exodus 14:12

Doubt in the wilderness when they are hungry:

Would that we had died by the hand of YHWH in Egypt… than death by starvation.

– Exodus 16:3

Doubt when encamped at Refidim where they have no water to drink:

For what reason did you bring us up from Egypt,
To bring death to me, to my children and to my livestock by thirst?

– Exodus 17:3

In this way, the Israelites repeatedly test YHWH’s presence and Moses’ patience. With their internal compass pointed toward doubt rather than faith, the battle with Amalek ensues. Prevailing, Moses builds a slaughter-site and names it: YHWH My Banner. Moses says:

Yes,
Hand on YAH’s throne!
War for YHWH against Amalek
Generation after generation!

– Exodus 17:15-16

Who is Amalek?

Amalek is apathy, cynicism and senseless doubt. And what antidote does Torah provide? The answer is expressed in a single word:

Zachor: Remember

From Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi: Faith is not something that must be attained; it need only be revealed, for it is woven into the very fabric of the soul’s essence. Faith transcends reason. Unlike the perceptions of reason, which are defined and limited by the finite nature of the human mind, through faith one connects with the infinite truth of G’d in totality.

Reflection: There is faith in G’d; and there is faith in ourselves to overcome obstacles toward happiness and fulfillment of our purpose for coming to earth. A purpose that exceeds the boundaries of our individuated selves. A purpose that serves others. Take a moment to gauge the quality of Imam – faith – you hold in this regard.

Point Your Internal Compass Toward Faith

As human beings, we determine our attitude. We get to choose our North Star. When pointed toward doubt, then doubt appears beyond every bend in the road, behind every trunk, beneath every rock. When we choose to hold faith in G’d, faith in our neighbor, faith in ourselves, then the door to real possibility opens.

In times like these, what helps you to draw from the well of your soul’s reserves of faith? Our faith in G’d and in our purposeful selves can get buried under “a mass of mundane involvements and entanglements”. What brings you into remembrance of that inborn faith which can meet our every challenge?

The Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan illuminates this question. Quoting from his book Healing And The Mind World:

Faith is so sacred that it cannot be imparted, it must be discovered within oneself; but there is no one in the world who is without faith, it is only covered up. And what covers it? A kind of pessimistic outlook on life.

And from the Bowl of Saki:

The soul brings its light from Heaven; the mind acquires its knowledge from earth. Therefore, when the soul believes readily, the mind may still doubt.

Reflection: We have a saying, “Take me from the unreal to the real.” When I find myself caught up in the involvements and entanglements of life, when pessimism toward fulfilling my purpose creeps in, I repeat this thought: Take me from the unreal to the real. And with a gentle indrawn breath I remember,

Breath is G’d.

G’d is breath.

Chesed and Gevurah

Kabbalah teaches us to balance loving kindness (Chesed) with discernement (Gevurah). From this union arises beauty, clarity, mercy (Tiferet). Thus, when offering loving kindness and compassion, remember your inner assignment is to be bold. Meaning, when you put your heart and soul into your purpose, you can do anything.

Reflection: When we meet external or internal resistance to inner guidance, our most fruitful response is resilience: to go forward. May you find direction with these words on the meaning of parsha Beshalach: Chabad, The Four Factions:

(1) Not to escape reality, (2) not to submit to it, (3) not to wage war on it, (4) not to deal with it only on a spiritual level, but to go forward. Do another mitzvah, ignite another soul, take one more step toward your goal. Pharaoh’s charioteers are breathing down your neck? A cold and impregnable sea bars your path? Don’t look up; look forward. See that mountain? Move toward it.

The Ever-Present-Eternal doesn’t depend on anything. Beyond any concept, no beginning no end, now and now and now. This week we will practice the Art of Remembrance. Through breath, light and sound we will tune ourselves with the Infinite and harmonize with the rhythms of this life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing, all-pervading Life.

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Remembrance

The Soul Manifestation Process awakens us to the present in the fullness of our being. This gentle, embodied awareness allows the heart to begin to heal its wounds and unify the broken shards of separation. This week, we will work with breath infused with light and sound to remember the home of our soul.

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

Let’s begin with a simple breathing practice, one designed to integrate mind and body. Sit comfortably, with back straight but not stiff. Close your eyes. Relax your arms. Relax your jaw. Relax your tongue. Bring your chin slightly back and down so that your head is balanced on your neck, as needed. With a little practice, you can feel this sweet spot.

Now close your eyes. In this relaxed stillness, witness your inhale and exhale. Without changing anything, just notice the swing of your breath, in and out. Instead of thinking, “this is my breath,” realize “this is the breath.” All life breathes the same breath. Without breath, the body can no longer contain life. 

Let your exhale extend far and wide, beyond the confines of your body, your room, your neighborhood, community, city, state, country… extend, extend on the exhale. Inhale gently through your heart center, recollecting your location in time and space. When you are established in this expansive, rhythmic breath, add the following:

• On the inhale think, “Toward the One.”
• On the exhale think, “United with All.”

Explore and enjoy this expansion and contraction. All is well. When you are ready, return to your normal breath and open your eyes.

CONTEMPLATION

In this sacred atmosphere, contemplate these words drawn from 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.

Next, focus on your heart center in the center of your chest. Visualize clear yellow light. Breathe in yellow light, exhale yellow light for 5 breaths.

Now focus on your third eye, slightly above and between the eyebrows. Visualize deep blue light filling your forehead. Breathe in deep blue light, exhale deep blue light for 5 breaths.

Now breathe clear yellow light in through your heart center, thinking, “Toward the One.” Exhale through your forehead thinking, “United with All.” Stay with this concentration as long as you can peacefully, comfortably maintain it.

When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe naturally. What is your experience of this practice? Do you feel the unity of heart and mind, despite the narrow strait of the neck?

SOUND

This week’s parsha Beshalach teaches us to remember. Doubt arrises from a feeling of separation. To overcome this difficult state of mind, simply remember in whom you live and breathe and have your being.

Curious to know more about how sound becomes sacred language? Listen and receive a hint about the Mystic Sound:

The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah carry a sound code with the capacity to quiet our minds and open our hearts to Truth beyond concept. Through repetition, focus and intent, layers of meaning of the Name will be revealed to you.

To dispel all doubt, we remember the longing of the soul to return to its source. In Quran G’d says: “Remember me, and I will remember you.”

O Protector is Ya Hafiz (yaa ḥa-FEEḌḤ). We pair that with Ya Wakil (yaa wa-KEEL). Here we are relying on God entirely, because only God is worthy of complete trust in every affair (Source: Physicians of the Heart by Pir Shabda Khan).

We recite Ya Wakil on the inhale and Ya Hafiz on the exhale:

Inhale: Ya Wakil

Exhale: Ya Hafiz

With your eyes closed, focus on your breath. Feel your chest and abdomen expanding and contracting. Rhythmically inhale and exhale, softly repeating these names out loud 33 times.

Afterwards, let the sound of this practice reverberate in your being. Note how you feel.

Anchor this awareness in your body by pressing together the thumb and ring finger of your left hand. While moving through your life, when you wish to return to remembrance do this: with a gentle in-drawn breath, press your thumb and ring finger together. Inhale ya Wakil, exhale ya Hafiz.

ZIKR

Meaning “remembrance”, Zikr is the repetition of a sacred phrase with the intention of returning to the essence of Unity. Similarly, in Hebrew Zakar means to remember. Today we will introduce Zikr in Arabic. Simply click on the tab labeled “Zikr”. 

NATURE

This week as you take time to walk in nature, notice your life-giving breath. Can you coordinate your footsteps with the rhythm of your breath? Pay attention do the play of light. Where do you glimpse the color blue in nature? Where do you see yellow? Blue and yellow give rise to green. What shades of green does the winter light reveal?

For a communion with nature that delightfully engages us in the play of shadow and light, please listen to the podcast with Heart Whisperer Jennifer Reeve.

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!