Dear Healthy Jew,
Many meditation traditions originate in the religions of the East, particularly the many strands of Buddhism. Therefore, you might have heard Jews say things like this:
“They” probe the depths of the psyche until somehow they decide all is nothingness. “We” serve the real God and live by His words, imbuing meaning to earthy living.
“They” escape the physical world. “We” sanctify it.
So do Healthy Jews have any business meditating? Or will this send us off to India in search of a cow to worship all the way to nirvana?
In yesterday’s online Healthy Jew workshop, I explained how meditation comes in two flavors:
“1” meditations prepare the mind to perceive the oneness and simplicity of God, building a conscious relationship between man and Creator.
“0” meditations calm and clear the mind, and in their more advanced forms can teach that their really isn’t any mind or self that exists.
Both of these types of meditation have a precedent in Jewish tradition, but in very different ways.
Thank you for reading Healthy Jew.
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I look forward to hearing from you!
Be well,
Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Naiman
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