Vayishlach – Genesis 32:4-36:43

Nov 29 to Dec 5, 2020 | 19 Kislev 5781

Photograph by  Glenn Sackett

Soul Wrestler: Reconciling the Irreconcilable

The nature of life is to put us off the right tone and rhythm. Every moment is that struggle. From the first moment one gets up in the morning one has to meet with this struggle, even for a saint or sage.

– Hazrat Inayat Khan

A brief recap of the parsha Vayishlach, “And he sent” –

As Yaakov nears his twin’s land, his scouts report that Esav is headed toward him with 400 men. “Exceedingly afraid and distressed”, Yaakov divides his camp into two for their safety. He leads them across the Yabbok river, while he stays by himself, not yet having crossed over – allegorically significant. In the night he tenaciously wrestles with what is most likely the soul of Esav:

And Yaakov was left alone –
And a man wrestled with him until the coming up of dawn.

…

Then [the man] said:
Let me go,
for dawn has come up!
But [Yaakov] said:
I will not let you go
unless you bless me.

…

Then he said:
Not as Yaakov/Heal-Sneak shall your name be henceforth uttered,
but rather as Yisrael/G’d-Fighter,
for you have fought with G’d and men
and have prevailed.

– Excerpts of Gen 32:25-29

Having prevailed over the soul of Esav, the next morning when the brothers meet, they embrace. There is a truce, although not a merging of camps. They go their separate ways. Yaakov, the rightful holder of both blessings, remains the progenitor of the Israelites and Judaea; Esav is the father of the Edomites.

Holder of Polarities

Who is Yaakov? He is the love child of Rivka and Yitzhak. In the Tree of Life, he embodies Tefiret – Beauty, which balances Hesed and Gevurah. The chart below illustrates several polarities that harmonize in Yaakov:

For the world as we know it to exist, there must be both qualities of Expansion (light, love) and Contraction (vessel, discernment). The balance of these expresses Beauty – Tiferet, reconciling the irreconcilables in the heart center.

Before Yaakov wrestles in the night, as Esav approaches with 400 men, he uses this power of polarity to protect his family. He divides them into two camps. This is one of many examples where Yaakov faces life head on and overcomes challenges with discernment, humility and grace.

Reflection: In what ways do the qualities of love and discernment find their balance in you? By combining these two polar opposites, you are harmonizing with your surroundings. It is through harmony that you can keep rhythm in life, by mastering your breath — your “Nafs” — keeping your equanimity despite circumstances.

Why Did Yaakov Receive Both Blessings?

Tohu is the chaos of the void, the world of scant vessels that shatter rather than hold light. In Sufism, Nafs is the breath, manifesting as our egoic nature. Here the reference is to the “Nafs-e-Ammara”, breath driven by self-centered willfulness. Through practice, Nafs can be refined.

Tohu + Nafs = Esav
Chaos + Ego = Willfulness

Had Esav succeeded in refining his Nafs, had he been more disciplined and inclined to consider others, our history might have been different. As the firstborn, he was destined to marry the elder sister, Lea. Then Yaakov and Esav would have been our forefathers. Because of his recklessness, the blessing of the first born – material dominion – is stolen from him to protect the balance of creation. Consequently, he marries Canaanite women and becomes the forefather of the nation of Edom.

Serve in Teshuva or as Tzadik?

Another pair of polarities which Yaakov embodies is to serve in Teshuva and as a Tzadik. By nature, Yaakov is the Tzadik – a saintly man. He does what is just and correct, the holy servant of G’d. And yet, as the holder of both blessings, material and covenant, he must also toil in the service of Teshuva.

This plays out in his relations with Lavan, Lea and Esav. In the service of Teshuva, Yaakov toils in Harran, multiplying Lavan’s wealth — as well as his own — through skilled shepherding and market activities.

To serve in Teshuva is to repair some torn aspect of the world that confronts you. You needn’t go looking for opportunities to serve in Teshuva. In this way, you are bringing spirituality into the world to heal the broken shards of Tohu — the primordial chaos. Like the Sage who acts in the world, Teshuva allow for the healing process to work in the world.

Why does Yaakov to take on both wives and both roles, Teshuva and Tzadik?

Yaakov’s nature is the Tzadik. By subduing Esav in the subtle realms, he is ready to take on his new name and role of Yisrael the Tzadik – the righteous one who can mend the shards without toiling in the world. He attains inner perfection as a human being, attuned to prayer, contemplation and direct knowledge of G’d. Underscoring this, he receives his new name twice – once from the soul with whom he wrestled, and again confirmed directly by G’d.

Let’s look at Teshuva and the Tzadik to understand their expression in the world. What light to they shine on our lives today?

Spirit Before Matter

Thus, one of the primary messages of this parsha is the capacity of the human being to heal the world on the inner level. This is best done first, and then circumstances in the everyday world will play out more harmoniously.

And [Yaakov] bowed low to the ground seven times, until he had come close to him, to his brother.
Esav ran to meet him,
he embraced him, flung himself upon his neck, and kissed him.
And they wept.

– Gen 31:3-4

Rhythm of Life

This week’s practices will take us deeper into this inner journey of service in Teshuva and as the Tzadik. 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, Sound and Light, we can be in tune with the Infinite and the rhythms of this life. This beautiful, chaotic, ever changing, all-pervading Life.

Watercolor by Nurullah Anya Godwin

WEEKLY PRACTICES: Reconciling the Irreconcilable

With the Soul Manifestation Process, we listen for divine guidance before setting our intention toward fulfillment.  The door opens through 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 I’d like to share with you the Sufi practice of Qasab. This breathing practice balances the breath on the right and left sides, harmonizing and quieting the mind, centering us in the heart. The Tree of Life reflects these polarities: Chesed (Loving-kindness) and Gevurah (Severity); Netzach (Will) and Hod (Receptivity).

With your right hand, use your thumb to close the right nostril. You will use your ring finger to close your left nostril. Touch your middle finger to the 3rd Eye for its balancing effect. Begin by closing your right nostril with your thumb and breathe in through the left to the count of 4 heartbeats. (If you can’t feel your heartbeat, imagine that you are breathing in to the count of 4 heartbeats). Close both nostrils, hold your breath, and count 4 heartbeats. Now release the thumb and exhale through the right nostril for 4 heartbeats. Practice this breathing pattern 3 times.

Now, do the reverse: Again with the right hand, close your left nostril with your ringer finger and breathe in through the right to the count of 4 heartbeats. Close both nostrils and count 4 heartbeats. Now release the ring finger and exhale through the left nostril for 4 heartbeats. Repeat this breathing pattern 3 times.

Finally, breathe through both nostrils: With the right hand in the same position, keeping your middle finger on the third eye, release both nostrils and inhale to the count of 4 heartbeats. Close both nostrils and count 4 heartbeats. Now release both fingers and exhale through the both nostrils for 4 heartbeats. Repeat 3 times.

Rest your hand in your lap or by your side if you’re standing. Feel the balancing effects of this breath. Do you feel more peaceful and centered?

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. 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 developing our capacity for healing wisdom and discernment, Al-Hakim and Al-Hakam.

We recite Ya Hakim (yaa ḥa-KEEM) to invoke the universal manifestation of healing wisdom, bringing all experience into balance and harmony. Combined with Ya Hakam (yaa ḤA-kam) – the one who discerns and who makes wise decisions. With this pair, we begin to see from the eye of the heart by means of the light of G’d.

Inhale: Ya Hakam

Exhale: Ya Hakim

As you rhythmically inhale and exhale, softly repeat each Name 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:

This week, be aware of polarities in your life. A good way to being is to observe polarities in nature: night and day, for instance. Pay particular attention to the transitions: sunrise and sunset. Feel the rhythmic, balanced interchange of all life. We are in autumn now, the transition from summer to winter. How is the darkness of the longer nights affecting you?

Consider your life. Where are you in transition? In what ways do you daily balance and harmonize with your inner and outer landscapes?

For a direct experience of Sufi wisdom and insight, please listen to the podcast with Pir Shabda Kahn. He speaks on balance in life and the need to face problems head-on, internalizing the mantra, “This is what is happening right now.”

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!