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Jewish
Meditation Living
in Divine Space
Basics in Jewish Meditation |
Part 2:
Seven
"Heavens"
and the "Earth" Beneath Them
The
primary structural model of Rabbi Ginsburgh's system of Jewish meditation is
based on the Talmudic teaching (Chagigah 12b) that the spiritual universe in
which we live comprises seven "heavens" and the "earth"
beneath them. In accordance with the Talmud's description of each heaven's
function, we may conceive of these seven heavens as levels of Divine
consciousness through which we may ascend to consummate knowledge of God and
union with Him, as follows:
-
Vilon ("the Curtain")--our
experience of God's continuous re-creation of all reality.
-
Rakia ("the Firmament")--our
experience of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet as channels of God's
creative energy and the building blocks of reality.
-
Shechakim ("the
Millstones")--our experience of God calling us by name and giving us a
mission to perform on earth.
-
Zevul ("the Abode")--our
experience of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple as they exist in the spiritual
realm, ready to materialize themselves in the physical realm.
-
Ma'on ("the Residence")--our
experience of the Divine forces that act in nature, enabling us to emulate
God in our lives.
-
Machon ("the Resting
Place")--our experience of God's ineffable Name Havayah, His
omnipotence and omnipresence, reflected in every aspect of reality.
-
Aravot ("the Heavens")--reaching
the ultimate state of true bitul
("selflessness")
in the experience of God alone, making us a "Divine chariot," a vehicle of
God, to fulfill His desire in creation.
The
"earth," situated below the seven heavens and upon which the seven heavens rest,
is the foundation of this meditative ladder. The meditation presented in this
article, "Living in Divine Space," corresponds to the earth, and is therefore
the most basic meditation, intended to infuse us with a consciousness of God in
this world as He reveals Himself to us through the means of the six constant
commandments of the Torah. We must first master this meditation, becoming adept
at "Living in Divine Space" before ascending to higher levels of Divine
consciousness. It is the ground, the general orientation of Divine
consciousness, from which we can learn to ascend.
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