Song title: "Hinei El Yeshuati" (Havdalah Song)
Devekut Jewish Meditation Workshops
Devekut Jewish Meditation Workshops offer participants an opportunity to experience and practice Kabbalistic Meditation combined with music, song, story-telling, healing and study of traditional Jewish mystical texts in order to create a joyous, open ,relaxed state of consciousness which will facilitate an inner spiritual awakening.
King David, so beautifully wrote in the Book of Pslams(#16), 'Shviti Hashem L'Negdi Tamid', which translates as "I place (or visualize) G-d's most precious name before me always." (Y)ismachu (H)a Shaymim (V)"tagel Ha 'aretz" The Jewish mystical tradition teaches that this refers to four Hebrew letters composing G-ds' most precious holy name. "Boruch Hu U"Boruch Sh'mo" Devekut meditation workshops guide the participants through Jewish spiritual practices including sitting meditation, deep learning, and visualization centered around the four letter Divine Name of G-d to bring them to an experience of "Devekut".
"Devekut" is the Hebrew word that describes an inner state of "One-ing" with the Divine Presence within ones own being. In modern Hebrew, the root of the word "devekut" is the same as the word "devek", which translates as, "glue".In other words "devekut" is the method by which we ,so to speak, glue ourselves to G-d. We become one with our own deepest inner-most self, where our individual ego merges with the divine presence within. This experience brings with it great joy, satisfaction and inner peace. It is state of consciousness that is attainable by all sincere practitioners of these techniques.
Learning how to "sit".... Although this my sound quite simple actually it is really a great "chachma" ( wisdom). In chassidic teaching there is a concept called "yeshuv ha'daat", which means to sit ones' mind down, or to settle ones' consciousness. This is much deeper than a mere sitting down of ones' body. In truth it cannot be given over in words as it is way beyond words. Nor can it be learned by reading books, teachings or philosophies, however exalted these may be. It is an energy that is given over from teacher to student and it happens quite unnoticed during the meditation session.
In devekut meditation not only is the sharing of energy between teacher and student of great importance but there is also the added importance of the group meditation. In group devekut meditation the group itself becomes the "rebbe" and all including the teacher receive from the energy that is being given over. This is quite a unique experience! The secret of sitting is shared by the entire group. This doesn't happen in words yet, little by little, it is "given over" from above.
A story , I heard from my Rebbe Reb Shlomo,may help to illustrate the point.
The holy Reb Mendele Vorke, brother of the first Amshinover Rebbe zt"l, was know as the "Silent Rebbe".He became a Rebbe when he was Bar Mitzvah (age 13). All his students were around that age as well. He was called the Silent Rebbe because he would sit with his Chassidim (students) for hours in total silence and at the end he would say "Blessed is the one who knows that G-d is One means G-d is One". On a word level he didn't say much but in truth, he gave over so much. This is not teaching, this is 'giving over"....
This is in essence..... "Devekut Jewish Meditation"!
Surrounding the "meditative experience" workshops include a wealth of music, song, stories and deep learning ,together creating a joyous happening for all!
Workshops in "Devekut Jewish Meditation", can vary in length from one until several hours, Shabbatons, or weekly full-day or longer "Retreats".
Devekut Meditation is suitable for anyone regardless of their knowledge of meditation ,level or preference of religious observance, gender or religion, in short, it is lovingly shared with all! Classes are geared and fitted to the needs of the groups' participants. Please feel free to "contact " Reb Yankala for more information and details.