HY Look at me!

HH

Imagine, whatever you ask HY, He gives you right away, but He won't look at you. He'll give you everything but won't look at you. Not very appealing. That's why in Shmone Esray before we ask for healing and livelihood, we ask HY, "Look at us!"

Awesome

According the Kabbala, there is a great unification that takes place when someone sees something, because that object is inscribed in the eye of the beholder, bringing them together. So by the very act of HY looking at us, we achieve an amazing unity with Him, as we are inscribed in His eyes.

The blessing continues, "and fight our battles," – imagine that, HY Himself fighting for us, against the evil inclination, and all our struggles.

Awesome.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman!

Touching Home Base

HH

A simple meditation before the Shmone Esray

The Shmone Esray is in the world of Atzilus, so upon saying the introductory verse before the Amida, Adonoy Sifusay Tiftach…. one should try to emulate this progression. Really all of the prayer leading to the Amida was to enact and raise the prayer to this world, however before the Amida it is highly conducive to briefly run through the stages so as to fully kick in to the Divine consciousness before him.

The first step is to acknowledge the nefesh – asiya, which is the body and the blood pumping in the veins and arteries. These are many, principally 248 limbs and 365 blood vessel. A person is a microcosm of the whole world, so included here is all of creation.

The second step is to pay attention to the ruach – yetzira, which is the spirit of speech, which emanates from all the body parts but already achieves a unity of expression.

The third step is to empower your thought over and throughout the nefesh and ruach. Your thought is focused and one, and now represents all of you, and all of creation for that matter, in unity.

The fourth step is to bind and conjugate the Divine Ein Sof to your thought. With a little work and practice, this should be enough to really blow your mind B"H.

To fully understand this one must read the Ramchal's instructions as to the proper tachlis of the kavanos of the prayer.

Na Nach Nachma Nachman MeUman