2135 INTRODUCTION TO THE HANDBOOK OF JEWISH MEDITATION (Print)

As a student of meditation techniques in a wide variety of spiritual disciplines--including, in addition to Judaism, Theravada Buddhism, Zen, Vajrayana, Hinduism and Sufism--I have found that many meditative practices are common in all traditions, despite the fact that each tradition clearly has its own style and methodology. Thus, a fair amount of meditation is generic. For example, sitting in silence is a universal practice, as is chanting repetitive phrases, one pointed concentration, being mindful of the present moment, or taking time each day for reflection (a practice many call prayer). These are all found in most traditions--only the language changes in how each practice is described.

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2141 RENEWING YOUR SOUL ON SPIRITUAL RETREAT (Print)

The purpose of a spiritual retreat is to do things that are different, to engage in experiences that will change our perspective of life and our role in it. Initially, these practices are not the kind of things we would normally choose to do during our free time. Some require strong concentration, some are repetitive, some necessitate great patience. On the other hand, many spiritual practices are intriguing, stimulating, provocative, and transformative. Although the introduction to spiritual practice is often an unusual experience, many of us discover that something within us opens, we gain new access to an inner voice, and we find ourselves looking forward to repeating and reinforcing the experience.

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2134 HOW TO HAVE A SPIRITUAL LIFE IN A BUSY WORLD (PRINT)

Judaism is built upon two fundamental wisdom teachings: a) there is no separation between Creator and Creation, and b) we need to "rest" from our normal, worldly activity if we wish to appreciate the truth of existence. Each of these teachings is in symbiotic relationship with the other. We learn the profound truth of the non-duality of creation when we are able to temporarily withdraw from our mundane lives, and when we experience the true meaning of ultimate oneness, our everyday lives take on an entirely new meaning.

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2131 CHESED: LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATION (Print)

Forgiveness-asking for it and giving it-is a basic Jewish practice. On the High Holy Days, Jews perform rituals and prayers that beg God for forgiveness for acts between ourselves and others as well as between ourselves and the Source of Life. This act of contrition has a deep healing effect and is used in many traditions. The following meditation has extraordinary power to heal psychic wounds, release negative energies, and bring a new sense of inner peace. In Buddhist tradition, this is called a metta (friendship) meditation. In Judaism, it could be called the chesed (loving kindness) meditation.

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2113 HEALING THE DEAD MEDITATION (PRINT)

Communication with the dead has been accomplished through dreams for thousands of years. Kabbalists frequently use active imagination to enter unknown realms. This process is based on the kabbalistic principal that our imaginations are connected with higher realities. Today we call this method "waking dreams," the process of actively engaging an altered state of consciousness that simulates the experience of dreams. In fact, this is an ancient method the sages used for contacting souls that have passed over the threshold of death.

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