Living the Life of Jewish Meditation: A Comprehensive Guide to Practice and Experience

by Yoel Glick

Overview

Meditation empowers us to transcend our material mind-set and touch the Infinite and Eternal.

"True meditation transforms the way we see reality.... It touches the place inside us where a spark of the Eternal dwells. Meditation unites us with our true Self."
—from the Introduction

The life of meditation is much more than the act of sitting for half an hour or forty-five minutes and looking inward. It is a whole way of life. Through meditation we learn to live in a heightened awareness and walk at all times in the presence of God.

Rabbi Yoel Glick brings wisdom from personal experience and Eastern traditions to illuminate and vitalize familiar Jewish rituals, vocabulary and imagery. He provides specific guidelines and practical techniques grounded in Judaism for each stage of the life of meditation, outlining the inner processes we encounter and the questions we face:

• How does meditation help us connect with the Collective Jewish Soul?
• What happens in our mind, body and soul when we meditate?
• How do we resist the pull of a material mind-set and live in expanded consciousness?
• What does it feel like to reach union with our spiritual source?
• How do we remain aware of God's living presence in our everyday life?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580238144
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	09/13/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Rabbi Yoel Glick, the director of Daat Elyon, an online center for spiritual training, is a renowned teacher of Jewish meditation and spirituality. He has been guiding seekers on the path for over thirty years. He has taught in the United States, Canada, Israel, Asia and Europe to audiences of all Jewish denominations as well as in a variety of interfaith settings. He is author of Seeking the Divine Presence: The Three Pillars of a Jewish Spiritual Life.

Table of Contents

Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiv
Introduction: The Path of Meditation xvi
A Note on Language xxviii

Part One: The Fundamentals of Daily Practice 1
1. Preparation
Readying the Body, Heart, and Mind for Meditation 3
2. Intention
What Is Our Focus and Goal? 17
3. Forging a Connection
How Do We Touch Pure Spirit? 29

Part Two: Techniques 43
4. Stilling the Mind I
How Do We Quiet Our Restless Mind? 45
Yogic / Kabbalistic Sefirot 48
5. Stilling the Mind II
Bitul: Self-Nullification or Surrender 57
6. Visualization
Using Our Creative Imagination 64
7. Concentration
Building Focused Spiritual Force 76
8. Mantra Recitation
Harnessing Spiritually Charged Sound 88
9. Contemplation
Inner Reflection upon a Transcendent Reality 115

Part Three: The Life of Meditation 137
10. Holding the Link
How Do We Keep Our Mind on God? 139
11. Merging with Our Spiritual Source
The Final Fulfillment of the Quest 156

Part Four: Broader Meditation Issues 183
12. Two Paths to the Supreme
Personal and Impersonal Meditation 185
13. The Dynamics of Inner Experience
What Happens When We Meditate? 188
14. The Psychic
The Danger of Delving into the Inner Realm 193
15. Individual versus Group Practice
Are We Better Off Meditating Alone or with Others? 203
16. Individual and Collective Evolution
Is Meditation a Selfish Indulgence or a Noble Endeavor? 209

Appendix A: Hebrew Transliteration Pronunciation Guide for Chanting 214
Appendix B: Further Reading on the Meditative Life 215
Appendix C: Index of Meditation Practices 217
Notes 219

Editorial Reviews

"Excellent.... 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

"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."
—Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (z"l), author, Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer

"[A] rare find.... Dares to step out of the habits of insularity by drawing on Eastern wisdom to illuminate the mysteries hidden in traditional Jewish practice. 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

“Theory, practice, example—it's all here.... A tapestry we all can trace.”
—Swami Yogeshananda, Trabuco Monastery; former director of the Vedanta Center of Atlanta

“Invites the Jewish seeker—every seeker—to meet our true selves, to nurture our souls and so ultimately live in service of the Holy One.... 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

“This book ... transforms us into divine instruments. I recommend this gem to readers of every religious background.”
—Dr. Maria Reis Habito, Zen teacher, Maria Kannon Zen Center; international program director, Taipei Museum of World Religions

“The best book I know of about meditation—Jewish or otherwise. Written with clarity and depth, [it] is destined to become a classic.”
—Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute; author, Like Dreamers

“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

“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 'lightbites' 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 guidance enhanced my own meditation practice, deepening my inner life and further uplifting me toward the Divine.”
—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; author, Mussar Yoga: Blending an Ancient Jewish Spiritual Practice with Yoga to Transform Body and Soul

“The most sensitive and complete book on Jewish meditation to date.... Presented in a logical and easy-to-read format.... 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

From the Publisher

Glick is the author of a new book, Living The Life of Jewish Meditation: A Comprehensive Guide to Practice and Experience (Jewish Lights), a passport into the inner world of sitting, breathing, silence and the soul. He quotes freely and poetically from multiple religious and meditative masters, particularly Hindu (as meditation has long been more of an Eastern cultivation), but this is a thoroughly Jewish book, rooted in Jewish sources, mantras and visualizations.

The New York Jewish Week - Jonathan Mark