B"H
כל הנשמה תהלל יה The Secret of Breath -
The breathing process is very significant in all meditations, not just for the relaxation level.
Within the meditations themselves, breath is essential to bring into ourselves the content of the meditation, and to expel any undesirable energies found within. Breath is the most general tool for meditation and we must learn how to harness it throughout the various stages of meditation.
Preface: (translated from Eisa Aiynai- R' Yitzchak Ginsburg)
Every breath is composed of four actions:
1) Inhale
2) Hold
3) Exhale
4) Rest
In each breath there can be many different intentions and focuses and each breath can accomplish many different things. Below are a few examples of such:
1) Rhythm-
It is very important to keep a steady rhythm to the breath. A suggested pattern is to inhale for a count of 8, hold for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 6 and rest for a count of 5. We call this "Breathing Joy" because 8-4-6-5 is equivalent to (Chedvah), meaning joy. חדוה
2) Breath to purify senses-
While we inhale, we purify the sense of smell (Keter). Holding purifies the sense of sight (Chochmah). Exhaling purifies the sense of taste (Daat). Resting purifies the sense of hearing (Binah).
3) Breath to Energies the Soul-
The action of breathing is sometimes compared to the analogy of mining. During the breathing process, we "mine", as it were, the holy Hebrew letters which are found in the "shaft" of the air of this world. We then clarify and refine these letters (gems) and draw them down into the limbs of the body.
Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet is a vessel for a spiritual energy which gives life to the various components of the body and soul.(As explained in Sefer Yetzirah) As we breath we draw specific letters to the associated limb which facilitates its power. The drawing down to the limb of this new energy arouses the power which is connected to the letter.
When we connect this process to the four steps of breathing described above we have:
- Inhale: Mine the letters as a base material from the air in which it is hidden.
- Hold: To form and polish the letter in the minds eye.
- Exhale: Draw the letter down to its specific limb.
- Rest: The letter is now rooted as an inner light in the specific limb, and it arouses its corresponding energy within the person.
Subject of Meditation:
In Sefer Yitzirah it explains that each month has its own letter which is the vessel to bring down the Divine light associated with that month. We have been taught in Kabbalah that there are twelve senses, each one connecting to one of the 12 constellations (and by inference to the twelve months of the year as well).
In our meditation, we would like to arouse the energies connected to the month in which we are currently holding, the month of Adar. To do so, we will work ,קwith its corresponding letter, sense and Mazal. For Adar these are: the letter Kuf- (the sense of laughter), and the Mazal Daagim (Aquarius). צחק
:צחקThe sense of
True happiness and laughter come only after great darkness. Our Sages have "light is revealed from the darkness". The darkness of ,"נקר האור מתוך החושך taught us
the soul can be expressed as fear, worry, jealousy, hatred, or any other bad character trait. True joy comes when we are able to transform these dark energies into powers of light.
The way to do this is to identify the root of the darkness, and then, once its source is know, to find a way to cut off its nourishment from these negative sources and find a way to replant its energy towards a positive Divine purpose.
An example of this process may be seen by looking at a person who is consumed by a fear of what people say and think about him. Such a person experiences great fear whenever he is required to interact with society. While looking at the root of his fear (of society judging him), we see that it is stemming from an oversized ego. He thinks so highly of himself, he can't bear to think that other people may find a fault in him. For him to break this fear, he would have to perform an action of Shtus Dekedusha (an illogical act for a holy purpose) in front of the people of whom he is afraid. In this way, he is transforming the external fear (of society) to a fear of the Will of G-d which he exercises by performing the act of Holiness in an illogical manner. This action on his part breaks the world of darkness.
In our meditation, we will strive to find our deep inner fear, the root of our internal darkness, and imagine how we will break it and change it over in a holy way, to light, creating in the place of darkness joy and laughter.
The letter Kuf:
The Zohar explains that the letter Kuf symbolizes the monkey- Kof- who actually tries to imitate human behaviors, pretending to have all the qualities and abilities found in humanity. The way to work with this energy in a holy way is to pretend to think and behave like a Tzaddik, although one in reality is very far away from this level. And, as explained in Tanya, in the end, this person may have the merit that his soul will be connected to the soul of a true Tzaddik and thus be uplifted.
The Maazal Daagim:
The Zohar tells us that the reason the fish is the symbol to fight the Evil Eye is because their eyes are never closed. This is analogous to the Eyes of G-d which observes all, even in the darkest places of the soul. He sees all and is there to support and help me. This awareness gives one the faith that, actually, the bad found within him actually is the source of his ultimate cure.
Practical Work:
1) Relaxation (as explained)
2) Entrance Niggun – Tzomah Lecho Nafshi
3) Breathing Chedvah (as explained above)
4) Breathing to Energies the Soul -Working with the letter Kuf
ק
As we breathe in, we are intending to mine the letter Kuf from the air. As we hold, allow the form of the letter Kuf to become clear and polished before your eyes. As we exhale, we send this Kuf to its limb in the body the spleen. While we rest, we feel how its light is infusing our spleen with renewed energy and spirit.
Creating a true Sense of laughter צחק 5) Breath normally for a few breaths now, and think about the situation in which one experiences real fear. As you continue to breath, find within yourself what is the negative power nurturing your fear. Remember the power of Adar, and find a way that you can pull away from this unhealthy source. Now imagine yourself performing an actual holy act which counteracts your fear and redirects its energy to its G-dly source. Go through all he steps of performing this act, and experience the sense of laughter and relief which is born through this Nahapachu. Meditate on the positive reality which one has imagined, as born through the power of Chodesh Adar, until we are totally one with this reality, and we feel within ourselves that this is the true reality.
6) Joyful Niggun- V'Nahaapachu
As we start to sing, we pray to Hashem to help us to have the power not only to run away from the darkness but to also turn it over into light. We pray that we be able to bring the actions we have imagined into reality to shatter are fears and leave in its place true laughter and joy, and we take a good resolution to fulfill the G-dly actions we have imagined. We feel the light of Adar infusing us with the strength to do so.
