Adult Education | Jewish Meditation

Jewish Meditation... A Jewish Journey into Stillness.

Meditation has a long history within Judaism. There are many allusions to its practice in the Torah. One can easily imagine the wandering Hebrews walking long hours, sitting under stars by their tents, gathering together in worship, contemplating the same questions we do: Who is God? How do I find Him? Who are we? What is our relationship to each other, to God?

Jewish Meditation is prayer, a time to be still and alone with God. It can also be practiced as a way of life, a way of being mindful through our day. It is important to understand something about the processes involved in meditation and how we might make our lives more spiritually satisfying and meaningful through its practice.

In Jewish life all activity is guided by our potential and actual relationship with God. We say potential, because our relationship must be both initiated and realized by at least one of two parties: God or us. We say actual because as we take each step along our spiritual path, we are in relation to the Infinite. Historically Jews pray three times a day, sometimes more. Prayer has a form, keva, but it also is approached with intent, kavanah. Meditation and prayer are really the same.

The form of meditation is in posture, both physical and psychological. The intent of meditation is yours with certain provisions. Intent is a frame; it should be left at that.

We will learn to practice the most simple, but direct meditation practices historically used by Jews as we come to God. Meditation is not easy. It requires discipline and faith. We will sit facing nothing, paying attention to everything.

Harvey So Daiho Hilbert-roshi

Our Contemplative Practices Group meets as follows: