Water evaporates.  When it heats, it turns to steam which quickly dissipates into the air.  Water falls from the heavens giving life to plants, animals, and everything else on Earth.  Water nourishes.

Evil does none of these things.  It does not evaporate, it does not come from heaven, it gives life to nothing, decays all, and when evil is heated it becomes the ultimate destroyer of things.

Evil and water, however, do have some commonalities.  Both accumulate in low places, and both add up little by little until the vessel that holds them is full.  And perhaps most importantly, it actually takes very little of either water or evil to cause one to drown.

Evil, darker influences, anger, hate, ill-deeds, selfishness, self-absorbsion–whatever you want to call it is one of the greatest plagues of our lives.  It is hard to resist, and even harder to battle when it is within ourselves.  But through careful thought and careful action, we may endeavor to master ourselves and work to create a better identity and a better world.

At times the burdens of our lives or our minds can become more powerful than we would like.  Often, they force us to feel uncomfortable to say the least, and they have the aptitude to assert a great deal of pain and misery in our lives.

Many have turned to meditation to relieve the pressure and anxiety caused by just these burdens.  But what happens when the momentum of your mind is too much?  What do you do when your mind can not be quieted, and you can not begin your meditation–or worse yet, your meditation is continually interrupted by your mind?

The trick is simple.  Use your distractions.  If you find that you are at war with your mind, make your enemy your friend.  Allow them to distract you–but do so on your terms.  While you are sitting in meditation, when a burdensome part of your life begins to enter into your stream of conciousness, do more than just acknowledge its presence.  To do so, will inevitably become ultimatetly distracting and counterproductive.  Instead, turn its presence into the meditation itself.

What is this burden that is upon your mind?  What is it doing to you?  Exactly how much of your brain is it occupying?  Where it in a laboratory, what kind of tests would you run on it, and what would those tests reveal?  Use those problems which appear to be plagueing your mind, and transform them into the actual meditation that you are undertaking.

Meditation need not always be a quiet, zen like stereotype, the likes of which we all picture occuring on a serene mountainside in Tibet.  It can be far more flowing, far more whimsical and free wheeling than we would expect.  Particularly when we use our burdens as mentioned above, we not only engage meditation practice on a whole new level, but we begin to grow a new awareness about ourselves, and how we react to the problems in our lives.  It is with this new mindfulness, that we may begin, slowly, to grow a new and increasingly constant awareness into our daily lives thus mediating our burdens and achieving greater peace.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The standard American-English alphabet is composed of 26 letters.  We put them together to make words, which are then put together to make statements, which are used to convey thoughts and ideas to both ourselves, and others.  There are, of course, other forms of communication, but by and large, the alphabet is utilized most frequently and most powerfully toward this end.  Without the conversion to words and statements, the English alphabet is of little use.  The letters that compose it are merely building blocks for the ideas that we create by putting them together.  And these ideas, constructed by our internal selves, form the blue prints for our external realities.

א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י כ ל מ נ ס ע פ צ ק ר ש ת

The Hebrew alphabet, the language the bible was written in, operates differently.  Indeed, the Hebrew alphabet serves the same function as its English counterpart, however, the Hebrew goes far deeper.  Within the Hebrew alphabet  one finds the inner workings of a mathematical language, and further the very letters themselves carry profound meaning and depth.  Hebrew words are constructed of a mathematical, three letter root system–the additions and permutations of which assert new meanings as well as subtle connotations.

Each Hebrew letter possesses its own unique characteristics, each has a life unto itself.  Each letter is carefully and mathematically woven into the text of the Bible.  For centuries, scholars and mystics have endeavored to extrapolate upon these meanings and nuances.  Great distance has been made in unlocking these secrets, however, their totality may never be completely or accurately realized.

As a self-proclaimed mystic, I too am utterly fascinated with the inner-workings and hidden meanings contained in the biblical texts.  This, however, is not something on which to build a life.  Nor is it a fully developed philosophical method of living.  In fact the truth could not be more different.

The real value of such endeavours, is not the secrets of G-d that can be ascertained (because those are mysteries that will forever elude humanity).  Instead it is the metaphysical engagement of our minds in an effort to gain knowledge and wisdom.  It is the process whose goal is to come closer to the eternal that is important.

Like all such things, the value is in the doing.  Life is the same way–there is value in the doing of it.  There may indeed be secrets to unlock, but these secrets are not about G-d.  They are about the awareness of study, of growth, and of the consciousness of life.  The real secret is to lean new ways and to be come deeper engaged in the awareness and living of life itself.  This is the real secret and the real gift of the Eternal.

In an earlier post, I asked you to make a list. The assigned task for this post is a little more involved. For this post, we will explore an active meditation that will open up our awareness and perhaps even our culinary talents.

First, go buy some beans. Every different kind and type of beans you can get your hands on.

Next, clear off a table and spread out all your new beans, mixing them up as you go. Have fun and and be sure to make a mess of them on the table until they are completely mixed together and well spread out.

Now, take a step back and look at the beans. What color are they when you squint your eyes? How easy is it to discern each bean? Each type of bean? Allow yourself to become quieted and contemplative. Use this examination to relax and to begin to prepare your mind for meditation and introspection.

After you have quieted yourself and have thoroughly examined your beans, I want you to start a slow, arduous task. I want you to separate all the beans back into their respective groups–one by one. This will take a long time and is the bulk of the meditative process. Carefully separate each bean recognize the similarities the different types have as well as what makes them different.

Beans are essentially the reproductive hopes of their parent plants. They are continuation and in a way they are the hope of a prior generation. They signify what is new, and the possibility that that newness holds.

After you have sorted all the beans one by one, it is now your task to cook them. There are a multitude of websites with tens of thousands of recipes to choose from. Select one recipe per type of bean that you have and prepare the dish (using only one type of bean per recipe).

The delicious meal that you have just prepared (or perhaps will prepare) contains all the thought, effort, meditation, and learning that you endeavored to this point. Reconsider for a moment the process. Each bean has been used to make a nourishing and delicious (hopefully) part of a whole meal. Each type bean has its own unique properties, its own genetic make up, and if given the chance to grow into an adult plant, each type of bean also has its own potential. Yet, all the beans share many qualities and similarities. No matter what the type of bean, the representation of hope, nourishment, and life-renewed is the same.

Our individual bodies, the very same ones about to receive nourishment from the beans above, are the same way. They are a conglomeration of various parts–seemingly different, but yet are all composed of the same materials. And, just like the beans, we too have the opportunity to use our bodies toward hope, nourishment, and the renewal of life. We, however, have the ability to do far more with our bodies, than the beans. We have the conscious ability to choose to what purpose we will use our bodies. Will we use our bodies to nourish the world and create goodness around us? Will we be purposeful in our actions?

The bible, in its original language of ancient Hebrew, refers to three body parts as needing circumcision: Moshe’s (Moses’s) lips, the heart, and the penis. Judaic tradition holds that these three things are inherently impeded, yet upon circumcision of said organs, their use is freed and open. In this way, the circumcision becomes a reminder to be purposeful in speech, love, and reproduction.

In our contemporary lives, we must recognize that these three genres of life are relative. The idea of creation, however, is essential in each. We must use speech to create our reality. We must use love to create our existence. And we must use reproduction to not only create a new generation (much like the beans) but also to, in a sense, create anything physically new.

By being aware and purposeful with our bodies, we are given the opportunity to bring about positive change to ourselves and the world around us. Just like our meal of beans, our the various parts of our bodies come together to form a complete whole. A nourishing, purposeful, hope-bringing, whole “meal” of renewal–feeding the world with our actions while at the same time, enlightening our own paths.

May we all nourish and be nourished, hope and give hope, receive purpose and act purposefully for the good of all.

When G-d created human life as told in the book of Breishit (Genesis in the Christian texts), G-d breathed a holy wind into the human that had just been created, and in so doing, created human life. The word used in Breishit, the textual original, is רוח (ru-akh)–meaning wind. This Hebrew word also has the peculiar ability to also infer meanings spirit or soul. This of course affirms the classical Greek idea that body and soul are separate, but yet we see in the narrative that life did not exist until both body and spirit became inherently conjoined.

We must also note, how the first human attains life. It is through a gift from G-d. G-d is responsible for the ruakh that infuses the otherwise inert body with life. And it is here that we see just a small fraction of the immense value of the very sort of analysis described in part one of this entry.

Our bodies are intrinsically temporary. They are here now, but at some point they will be no longer. Our bodies will die and decay and return to the cycle of organic matter that nourished them and from which they essentially came. Our souls, however, are intrinsically divine. From the story in Breishit we are told that humanity is imbibed with a divine wind that we know as a soul–a direct gift from the Eternal. In this way, our bodies and by extension, our lives, are opportunities to experience the Divine. Life as we know it today, is constantly working against this. At every turn, our opportunities to meet the Eternal in this way are limited and preoccupied with other “more important” things. Endeavoring to experience G-d requires a mindfulness and awareness that is nearly impossible to attain without withdrawing from normal life into a life of monasticism.

It is such, that we must strike a balance between our endeavors to know G-d and our daily lives. In doing so, we have the opportunity to create daily practices that create mindfulness. We can do things to elevate the mundane and make them holy. The adherence to a set of dietary laws, turns the everyday task of eating into an event of holiness–if only in a small way. A daily meditation practice helps to create holy space and time into each and every day. The ways we can use our bodies to elevate our souls in very nearly endless. It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy life in an entirely new way while continuing down the path to enlightenment.

May we all develop new and positive ways to journey closer to the Divine.

The ancient Greek world completely changed the face of Western Civilization. It was the Greeks that devised the idea of mind, body, and soul, as separate entities contained within one being. Before such a philosophy became common place, many parts of the world believed in a more interconnected, unified whole. Ancient semitic peoples from whom civilization itself sprang, made no distinctions between body and soul. Illnesses (of both the physical and spiritual nature) were treated comprehensively. If one had a stomach ache, not only would one chew a sprig of mint, but one would also naturally pray or engage in some sort of proto-meditation. This form of medicine is unfortunately rejected by the mainstream, and as a result we currently live in a society that treats symptoms with little distance gained in actual real cures.

As a method of self analysis however, the Greeks by far and away outpaced the ancient Hebrews and their contemporaries. The idea of dividing body, mind, and soul into distinct parts of an overall whole was revolutionary in its time. It has fundamentally determined how many of us think and interact with ourselves. This too is unfortunate when we allow such an examination define us–as we must realize that we, as individual human beings, were conceived as, and exist to this day as unified wholes. Recognizing such divisions as inherently and invaluably interconnected, while using them for self reflection and to analyze our world view, is of immense value and importance.

What do you own? Think about it, take out paper and pen, and compose a list. That is correct, I want you to make a list of everything that you own–all of it. To be sure, most are physically and mentally unable to create such a comprehensive list. Yet, nevertheless, the effort is paramount.

Look at your list. Now, take out a bright red pen and begin the editing process. I am not advocating a great purge of possessions, but I am asserting that a re-evaluation needs to take place.

What is it that we own? Perhaps more importantly, I should ask what are the things that own us? And moreover, do we really own them? Central to this discussion is freedom. When we make a new purchase, we instantly give that purchase power and authority over us. A new sweater has a part in defining how other perceive us, a new car demands upkeep and attention, even the gifts we buy for others create a situation that requires both responsibility as well as action. We are not, however, shackled by the things we possess. Instead we engage in an exchange with them. Their authority over us is not outside our influence and direction. The sweater may define us, but it may do so in the way that we choose; and more importantly, it provides the very fundamental usage to which all clothes provide. The car, while in need of periodic maintenance, gives us, in exchange, transportation from one point to the next.

More so than owning our “possessions,” we are in a relationship with them. Our language would deny this, however, in so far as is conceptualizes our contemporary views of ownership. “That is mine.” “This is yours.” How we conceptualize, or envision, ownership and possession is unilateral, but the reality is far different. The Hebrew language asserts a different vision. It asserts usage, not literal ownership. In the theological sense, G-d is the only true owner of anything. “That is mine” becomes “That is to me.”

True freedom begins when we begin to acknowledge that life is made of relationships, not unilateral actions. We do nothing in solitude, and we own nothing. We are in need of all that is around us and we are only passing through this world. All that we own and all that owns us will, at some point, mean nothing. Living an interconnected life based on one’s relationship with all things is the basis of created true freedom for one’s self. To recognize and give gratitude to those things and those people around us that help us achieve all that we want–be it a teacher in a school, or a simple salad for lunch–we begin to experience life in a more mindful, enlightened, and free way.

Blessed are those who are mindful of our places in the world.

In this the inaugural post of this blog, I would like to discuss beginnings.

To some, the very existence of a “beginning,” elucidates the cyclical nature of the world. For, if there is a beginning, there must also have been an end that came just before. Others assert one grand beginning that eclipses all others–a universe created from nothingness. The vast majority of humanity, however, has no theory. Their thoughts focus on the daily activities and happenings that they all must endeavor to maintain their existence.

The true nature of a “beginning,” as I would assert it, lies in the third statement. There may very well have been one grand start to all things, however, no one will ever truly elucidate its evidence. All life may very well exist in cycles, but such concepts too have their flaws. The simple endeavor of living, however, unlocks a far truer tale. An infant comes into the world, the first moments of that child’s life, the child’s first undertakings, are fresh and new. And yet, when that child moves from one year of education to the next we see the cessation of one year and the beginning of another–a cycle is renewed.

Theories about life abound throughout humanity. Often they seem completely contradictory, and yet such is very rarely the case. Far more things are compatible than we think. Were we only to consider the actual workings of the human endeavor, we would see a far greater amount of fluidity and peaceful coalescence of philosophy than our theoretic minds would ever allow.

This is not to speak against analysis and extrapolation of philosophies are of a lesser value, and that true life theory is found in the people–quite the contrary. Great dignity and value are found in all academic exercises, all meditations, and in every acquisition of knowledge. Indeed this very blog may at times propose ideas and thoughts that seem to contradict prior statements. Life is, however, an endeavor. It is a process, an undertaking. Every lived moment allows for greater wisdom and enlightenment. Seemingly contradictory ideals are nothing but beneficial if we use them to enrich our lives. They are not entire methods of living unto themselves.

Unity abounds would we only allow it. All our endeavors are unified, and all existence is one.