Yitro – Exodus 18:1 – 20:23

Jan 31 to Feb 6, 2021 | 24 Shevat 5781

Photography by Glenn Sackett

10 Words Pointing Our Compass Toward LOVE

Indeed, all the earth is mine,

but you, you shall be to me

a kingdom of priests,

a holy nation.

– Exodus 19:5-6

“As Viewed, So Appears.” These words of Padma Sambhava, the 9th century Tibetan Buddhist, capture the dimensionality of this week’s parsha. Yitro explores the self from different vantage points: How G’d sees us, how Moses sees us, and how we see ourselves. The essence is Love.

Yitro, the first unique word of this week’s parsha, refers to Jethro, Moshe’s father-in-law. Joining them at their encampment in the Sinai Wilderness, Yitro is concerned that Moshe will become worn out from meeting the daily demands of the Israelites. He advises Moshe to appoint a hierarchy of judges to assist him in the task of governing his people.

Later when Moshe tells the Children of Israel that G’d has chosen them to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation,” they no longer doubt. They proclaim:

All that G‑d has spoken, we shall do.

– Exodus 19:8

Yitro’s Addition

Yitro means “his addition.” What does Yitro add to Torah? A convert to the Nation of Israel, Yitro views the multitudes differently than does Moshe. He can see their every-day selves, as individuals with an overwhelming number of petty concerns. Wisely, he advises Moshe to teach Torah’s laws and preside over the major judgements, but to leave the vast array of legal matters to a hierarchy of judges.

You have the vision to select men from all the people,

men of caliber, holding G’d in Awe, men of truth, hating gain.

… Every great matter they shall bring before you
but every small matter they should judge for themselves.

– Exodus 18:20 – 22

Seven weeks after the Exodus, the new nation assembles at the foot of Mount Sinai for the Giving of Torah. Amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of the shofar, G’d appears on the mountain and summons Moshe to ascend. So that all can hear, G’d reveals the ethical code that points our compass toward YHWH.

The purpose is to create an ethical society — to love G’d and to love each other as ourselves. Although the Hebrew phrase eseret ha-devarim translates as the “10 Words” (Exodus 34:28), it’s reasonable to refer to them as “Commandments” because they are given to us by G’d.

Which Self?

Just as Yitro sees the Israelites in a different light than does Moshe, likewise, Moshe sees them differently than they see themselves. After hearing G’d speak directly to them, the people cry out to Moses.Hearing G-d’s voice is too terrifying for them to bear. They beg him to receive the Torah from G’d and convey it to them.

They said to Moshe:

You speak with us, and we will harken,

but let not G’d speak with us, lest we die.

– Exodus 20: 16

What’s going on here? We are witnessing the contrast of one’s temporal self and eternal being. Moshe sees them as transcendent in their capacity to receive G-d’s Words directly. But they are not ready. They see themselves from their ordinary, temporal perspective.

And how does G’d respond? Agreeing with his people, G’d tells Moshe to teach his people all that G’d instructs.

YHWH said to Moshe:

Say thus to the Children of Israel;

You yourself have seen

that it was from the heavens that I spoke with you.

From this point forward, G’d gives the Laws of the Covenant to Moshe to instruct the Israelites. For more insight into how we see ourselves vs. our true self, visit this Chabad article, Jethro’s Plan.

Alchemical Arch: Where Are We Now?

We have risen beyond doubt, purified ourselves, and have begun to ready ourselves to receive. In the Alchemical process, this represents Stage 2 in the Minor Mysteries. Continuing with the discussion begun in the Parsha Bo:

Stage 1: Separation

The contrast of one’s temporal self and eternal being culminates in the annihilation of the false ego.

• The Israelites accept the Covenant with YHWH and pledge to do all that G’d commands

Photography by Glenn Sackett

Living in the Land of Love Only

True happiness is in the love-stream that springs from one’s soul, and the one who will allow this stream to flow continually, in all conditions of life, in all situations, however difficult, will have a happiness that truly belongs to them.

– Sayings of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Gayan: Song, Chalas

This week we will choose practices that direct us toward Love. 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.

Photography by Glenn Sackett

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Compass Toward LOVE

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 point our compass toward LOVE.

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 breathing practice designed to awaken our hearts to Divine Love. 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.

Next, focus on your heart center in the middle of your chest at the hight of your physical heart. With a gentle, indrawn breath, what do you feel? On the exhale, feel your heart radiating light. Notice how far the light of your heart extends. Inhale and witness the qualities of your heart; exhale and radiate your light outward. Stay with this breath for a few minutes, keeping the inhale and exhale even. After awhile, you’ll feel your heart beating. Inhale for 4 heartbeats; exhale for 4 heartbeats. Inhale receiving life and exhale bestowing light.

With your attention on receiving and bestowing, do you feel the stillness? What do you feel? 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. As with the practice on breaath, focus on your heart center. Visualize emerald green light. Breathe in emerald light, exhale emerald light for 5 breaths.

Continuing to breath emerald light in through your heart center, exhale whispering, “Toward the One.” As you inhale, remain receptive and open to what comes. Stay with this concentration as long as you can peacefully, comfortably maintain it.

When you are ready, open your eyes and breathe naturally. Witness your experience of this practice. Do you feel the “greening” of your heart? What qualities arise?

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.

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

This week’s parsha Yitro invites us to consider the eternal nature of our true self. We are being reminded in whom we live and breathe and have our being.

To open the windows of the heart, we will practice the phrase, “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.” Bismillah literally means “I yearn for the protection in the Name Allah.” Its deeper meaning can be expressed as, “In saying bismillah, I invoke the actualization, the presence, of Allah.”

The first act of creation is sound vibration (In the beginning, G’d said…) The root of Bismillah, “bism” means sound. We begin in sound (Source: Physicians of the Heart by Pir Shabda Khan).

Note: Allah is the Arabic word for G’d, whether a person’s religion is Christian, Muslim or Jew.

Ar-Rahman is endless love: the infinite, unconditional reality of Love. Ar-Rahim is the embodiment of this Love which flows from the Infinite.

We recite Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim 33 times. To keep your focus out of your head and into your heart, you may find it helpful to put your right hand over your heart. And when you say Bismillah, slightly bow to greet and invoke the presence of Love. 

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 right hand. While moving through your life, when you wish to awaken in Love do this: with a gentle in-drawn breath, press your thumb and ring finger together. Think-feel Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

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, recall, or call to mind. Today we will offer Zakar in Hebrew and Zikr in Arabic. Simply click on the tab labeled “Zakar” or “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 emerald green in nature? What shades of green does the winter light reveal?

To be guided in two more nature practices – the Medicine Walk and the 360 Listening Practice – please listen to the podcast with Maria Rosa Galter: Answering Our Soul’s Longing to Connect in All Dimensions.

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!