Living the Life of Jewish Meditation , livre ebook

Praise for Living the Life of Jewish Meditation
Rabbi Yoel Glick reveals the way into the inner sanctuary of your soul and avails you to learn to utilize your Divine Intuition and Wisdom; to dwell in the Home of the One. It is miraculous how the vastness of the Divine Wisdom can be funneled into light-bites digestible to all. Rabbi Glick is such a miracle-maker!
- Reb Mimi Feigelson , lecturer in Rabbinics and Chassidic Thought, American Jewish University
Using the tools of meditation and the wisdom of ancient teachers, Rabbi Yoel Glick s written guidance enhanced my own meditation practice, deepening my inner life and further uplifting me toward the Divine.
- Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz , author, Does the Soul Survive? A Jewish Journey to Belief in Afterlife, Past Lives & Living with Purpose
Despite all of the positive benefits of meditation, most of us struggle putting it into practice. Rabbi Glick offers the wise guidance you need to start or restart a regular meditation practice for a lifetime of spiritual mindfulness.
- Edith Brotman, PhD, RYT-500 , yoga teacher and author, Mussar Yoga: Blending an Ancient Jewish Spiritual Practice with Yoga to Transform Body and Soul
This is the most sensitive and complete book on Jewish meditation to date. Combining traditional Jewish sources with the wisdom of Indian teachers such as Ramakrishna and Ramana Maharshi, it shines a light on the similarities of meditation techniques and outcomes.... A wonderful book that is a necessity for every meditator s bookshelf.
- Avram Davis , founder and codirector, Chochmat HaLev; editor, Meditation from the Heart of Judaism: Today s Teachers Share Their Practices, Techniques, and Faith
Rabbi Yoel Glick opens doors in our soul that connect us to the power and beauty of the Jewish tradition and the wider expanses and all-embracing love of a universal vision. His book offers clear practical guidance, profound experiential insights, and a whole range of inspiring practices to nurture the inner life of any spiritual seeker.
- Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi ( z"l ) , author, Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer
This book is an excellent guide for those who wish to more fully integrate meditation and spirituality into their lives. Grounded in the Jewish tradition, it includes understanding from other spiritual sources, making it an especially rich and wise resource for the seeker.
- Nan Fink Gefen , author, Discovering Jewish Meditation: Instruction and Guidance for Learning an Ancient Spiritual Practice
Theory, practice, example-it s all here. Rabbi Yoel Glick has woven various strands of meditation theory and practices into a tapestry we all can trace.
- Swami Yogeshananda , Trabuco Monastery; former director of the Vedanta Center of Atlanta
There are many wonderful books about meditation, but it is quite rare to find a book that understands meditation not merely as a practice we do to enhance our lives but also as a key to how we live the whole of our lives in connection with God and the holiness that is our true essence. [This book] dares to step out of the habits of insularity by drawing on Eastern wisdom to illuminate the mysteries hidden in traditional Jewish practice. Rabbi Glick has created a masterpiece of bold erudition and passion that is both beautiful and comprehensive.
- Rabbi Shefa Gold , author, The Magic of Hebrew Chant: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love
Savoring the beauty and clarity of each sentence in this book, one enters a spiritual space that deepens our awareness of God and transforms us into divine instruments. I recommend this gem of a book to readers of every religious background, who will be greatly enriched by the Jewish sources and meditation techniques not available elsewhere.
- Dr. Maria Reis Habito , Zen teacher, Maria Kannon Zen Center; international program director, Taipei Museum of World Religions
In this rich and detailed guide to meditation, Rabbi Yoel Glick offers the Jewish seeker-every seeker -instructions for building a life of meditation. On the way, he also invites us to meet our true selves, to nurture our souls and so ultimately live in service of the Holy One, our ultimate purpose on earth. How fortunate are we to have such a gentle, well versed and compelling guide.
- Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater, DMin , codirector of programs, Institute for Jewish Spirituality; author, A Partner in Holiness: Deepening Mindfulness, Practicing Compassion and Enriching Our Lives through the Wisdom of R. Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev s Kedushat Levi
The goal of meditation is to control the thought waves of the mind and divert that one-pointed mind to God. Rabbi Yoel Glick explores various spiritual traditions along with his Jewish faith and points out that goal wonderfully.
- Swami Chetanananda , monk, Ramakrishna Order; minister, Vedanta Society of St. Louis
This is the best book I know of about meditation-Jewish or otherwise. Written with clarity and depth ... destined to become a classic.
- Yossi Klein Halevi , senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute; author, Like Dreamers




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For Nomi-life partner, best friend, and companion on the path




Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Path of Meditation
A Note on Language
Part One: The Fundamentals of Daily Practice
1. Preparation
Readying the Body, Heart, and Mind for Meditation
2. Intention
What Is Our Focus and Goal?
3. Forging a Connection
How Do We Touch Pure Spirit?
Part Two: Techniques
4. Stilling the Mind I
How Do We Quiet Our Restless Mind?
Yogic / Kabbalistic Sefirot
5. Stilling the Mind II
Bitul : Self-Nullification or Surrender
6. Visualization
Using Our Creative Imagination
7. Concentration
Building Focused Spiritual Force
8. Mantra Recitation
Harnessing Spiritually Charged Sound
9. Contemplation
Inner Reflection upon a Transcendent Reality
Part Three: The Life of Meditation
10. Holding the Link
How Do We Keep Our Mind on God?
11. Merging with Our Spiritual Source
The Final Fulfillment of the Quest
Part Four: Broader Meditation Issues
12. Two Paths to the Supreme
Personal and Impersonal Meditation
13. The Dynamics of Inner Experience
What Happens When We Meditate?
14. The Psychic
The Danger of Delving into the Inner Realm
15. Individual versus Group Practice
Are We Better Off Meditating Alone or with Others?
16. Individual and Collective Evolution
Is Meditation a Selfish Indulgence or a Noble Endeavor?
Appendix A: Hebrew Transliteration Pronunciation Guide for Chanting
Appendix B: Further Reading on the Meditative Life
Appendix C: Index of Meditation Practices
Notes
About the Author
Copyright
Also Available
About Jewish Lights Publishing
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Preface
My search for God began in my late teens, though my father would say that I always was a dreamer. It is true that the big questions of life have always interested me. However, it was not until I was nineteen that I began to see a connection between these inner questions and how we live our lives. That was an eye-opener for me! It never occurred to me that God, the soul, and our inner reality had anything to do with my everyday existence. When this insight dawned, it totally transformed my life.
This insight did not happen without a number of external factors coming into play. My search began in earnest at a time of crisis in my life. My mother was ill and dying. Our family structure and the reality I had known since childhood was falling apart.
At the same time, a powerful new presence entered into our family dynamic. The renowned singer, composer, and Hasidic master Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach married my father s youngest sister, Elaine, one of my favorite aunts. My mother s illness made me seek a new understanding and a stronger anchor to hold on to in my life. Reb Shlomo s teaching and music provided a powerful answer to my call.
In the world of the Carlebach chevreh (community) I found a spiritual home for my soul. His Hasidim were warm and open people. They were also searching for greater meaning and purpose in their lives. My Jewish day school education suddenly took on a whole other level of meaning and importance as I began to study the sacred texts of our tradition. The wisdom of the Talmud and the insights of the Hasidic rebbes filled me with excitement and exhilaration, fueling a new passion for learning and a commitment to practice.
Inspired by my new life, I decided to become a rabbi and went to Yeshiva University to study Talmud under the great Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and to earn my semikhah -rabbinic ordination. My relationship with Shlomo, who was now my guide and teacher, developed even further during this period of my life. Our bond became so strong that I asked