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!