July 31, 2023

The Art of Mindfulness and Meditation: Unraveling the Power of 'Shema Yisrael' Prayer

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Season 4

Ever feel like your mind is a runaway train, darting from thought to thought with no control? What if I told you there's a way to find peace amidst the chaos and indeed be present in your whirlwind of life? This episode is all about the art of mindfulness and meditation. We delve into the ancient wisdom of the Jewish prayer, "Shema Yisrael," and the profound teachings it offers us. We explore how this simple phrase, often the first and last words uttered by many, can be a powerful tool for personal growth if we take the time to unpack its meaning.

We discuss how the teachings of Helm encourage us to protect ourselves from haphazard thinking with mindfulness, to consistently return to an idea, and exercise control over our minds. We also highlight the transformative power of seeing Hashem as the god of mercy and judgment, embracing the perfect unity of all. When internalized, this realization should inspire a love for Hashem and motivate you to strive against negative inclinations. So, tune in and learn how to find serenity in your daily life through the beauty of meditation.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



WEBVTT

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I've come to the realization that the art of meditation is a very fruitful practice.

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Mindfulness, they call it, has become quite popular, with our lives so hectic, so frantic, so many things to do and the ability to be in 17 different places at the same time.

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Well, to come back, to find peace, to find equanimity, to open up and be present is a very rewarding and fruitful practice.

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Really, the altar of Helm taught that it's impossible to advance in your knowledge of akadosh boruchu unless you protect yourself from half hazard.

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Thinking and meditation Can and should be used for this to keep returning to an idea and to really get into mind control and to not just let our minds wander to place it, but to keep coming back to the idea at hand.

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And I encourage you to try just to think about one idea for five minutes and see how many times it'll be forced to keep returning your mind to what you tried to think about.

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But really, from the beginning of time, we have been told to practice the art of meditation.

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That is that Moeshe Rabbeinu.

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He told us that shema yisroi, la shema lukene wa shema god, hero, israel, the lord, your god.

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The lord is one.

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And chazal tell us that twice daily we should meditate on this phrase, a phrase that we are taught when we are young school children.

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It is the last to leave our lips at the end of days and it can spark feelings of chula and even the most wayward soul, the depth behind it Even if we're to unpack it for years, maybe we still wouldn't get all the information and all the khachma behind it.

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But here we have this reminder that truthfully, twice daily to come back to say wow, sometimes I have Tsarist and I'm not sure how my day is going to go.

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But Hashem, who is the god of mercy, and Hashem elokeneu, which is a word for the god of judgment, they are Hashem echad, they are one, he is one, he is everything, it's all from Hashem and it's all perfect.

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They hear it.

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What's that mean?

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Shema Yisrael?

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And when you meditate on it, chazal say to take some time and to ruminate upon the words, both when you wake up in the morning, when you go to sleep at night time, and that should bring you to the Yahavta and to the love of Hashem and to really.

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This should give you motivation in your day to serve Hashem with love and to serve Hashem by fighting back against your Yates of horror and to make more money and more of your attributes, to develop them in order to further give that to the Almighty.

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And when you have this acceptance of sovereignty, this Kabbalah s'almah al-Khushmiim, this twice daily commitment, well then, this gives our striding forth, it gives it meaning it would become absorbed in the goal of creation.

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So I encourage you to meditate twice daily, to come back in the middle of your hectic day or schedule and to say with peace and serenity Shema Yisrael, hashem Elokeinu, hashem Ahad.