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Chassidic Meditation

by breslov.org
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Now that the weather is warm and pleasant, (for most of us anyhow!) why not get outdoors and experience the beauty of creation. Nature is the perfect device to inspire committing to Rebbe Nachman’s life-changing path of Hitbodedut. Try it yourself:

Meditation is the highest path of all. One must therefore set aside an hour or more each day to meditate by himself in a room or in the field.

Meditation should consist of conversation with God. One can pour out his words before his Creator. This can include complaints, excuses, or words seeking grace, acceptance and reconciliation. He must beg and plead that God bring him close and allow him to serve Him in truth.

One’s conversation with God should be in the everyday language that he normally uses. Hebrew may be the preferred language for prayer, but it is difficult for a person to express himself in Hebrew. Furthermore, if one is not accustomed to speaking Hebrew, his heart is not drawn after the words.

However, in the language that a person normally speaks, it is very easy for him to express himself. The heart is closer to such a language, and follows it, since the person is more accustomed to it. Therefore, when one uses his native language, he can express everything that is in his heart, and tell it to God.

One’s conversation with God can consist of regret and repentance. It can consist of prayers and pleading to be worthy of approaching Him and coming close to Him in truth from this day on. Each one should speak to God according to his own level.

One must be very careful to accustom himself to spend at least one hour a day in such meditation. During the rest of the day, one will then be in a state of joy and ecstasy.

This practice is extremely potent and powerful. It is an extremely beneficial practice in coming close to God. It is a general practice that is all-inclusive.

No matter what one feels he is lacking in his relationship to god, he can converse with God and ask him for help. This is true even if one is completely removed from any relationship with God.

There will be many times that one will find it impossible to say anything to God. His mouth will be sealed, and he will not be able to find any words to say. Nevertheless, the very fact that he has made the effort and has prepared himself to converse with God is in itself very beneficial. He has tried, and is ready and prepared to converse with God, yearning and longing to do so, but he is unable. This in itself is also very good.

Actually, one can make a conversation and prayer out of this itself. He should cry out to God that he is so far from Him that he cannot even speak. He should beg that God grant him mercy and open his mouth, so that he will be able to express himself before Him.

Many great holy men have related that they reached their high spiritual level only through this practice. An intelligent person will realize that with this practice one can constantly reach higher and higher. Furthermore, it is a universal practice that can be used by great and small alike. Every individual can make use of this practice, and reach the highest levels. Happy is he who grasps it…

Likutey Moharan Tinyana 25

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3 comments

Benayaho June 10, 2016 - 10:11 am

B”H…This is very helpful especially we as a non-Jew who aspire how to come closer to Hashem Yisvorach with all our heart and soul. Rebbe Nachman influences me soooo much and I’m happy for this great opportunity that Hashem given me.

Reply
Hannah August 8, 2016 - 8:33 am

Do you always speak out loud with open mouth,
or in your mind?

Thanks

Reply
Yair October 13, 2016 - 2:30 pm

It is very much better to say the words out loud

Reply

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