The Importance of Questioning, Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh 3,83 |
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The Importance of Questioning, Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh 3,83 |
Aug 6 2008, 08:32 PM
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83
In this manner, a person must speak to Hashem in very plain words, and say to Him, "If not for this pasuk, there would, chas veshalom, be a possibility of thinking that there was no Creator. But the pasuk clarifies for us that You created the world. A person should repeat this tens and hundreds of times, and even more, in order to implant and illuminate this simple emunah in his heart. He should say, "What did You create? The heavens and the earth." He should lift his hand, point to the sky, and ask, "Who created these heavens?" He should then answer his question, saying to Hashem, "You created the heavens! You, and no one else, chas veshalom." Likewise, he should point to the ground, as bnei Yisrael pointed when they said, "This is my God and I shall make a home for Him" (Shemos 15:2), and say to Hashem, "You created the earth. Was the earth made by itself? Absolutely not! Rather, You created it." In this way, a person should continue with those pesukim. For example, it says, "and there was light." A person should contemplate the light, and ask, "Who created the light?" He should respond as above, "You, Hashem, created the light." In this way, he should go through each detail, through all the works of creation, and consider all the individual creations he sees. Regarding each one, he should ask, "Who created this?" He should respond to himself (in the form of communication with Hashem, as will be described later), "You, Hashem, created this object." In this way, a person must strive for weeks or months, for about half an hour each day, each person according to his ability, and instill in himself the simple emunah that all was created by Hashem. (Translator's note: Although this work often mentions the need for about an hour devoted daily to these efforts, the author subsequently explained in person that those who find it difficult to devote a full hour can start with even a few minutes, and gradually add to the time, until it reaches an hour. The author also mentioned that ideally, this contemplation should take place at night.) http://bilvavi.net/content/view/282/32 This question-answer process is very important. Let me demonstrate: Why does the author say that we should speak to Hashem in first person, rather than about Hashem to ourselves in third person? In order to strengthen our awareness of the immediacy of His presence. The previous paragraph probably had a greater effect on you than it would have had I posted like this: THe author says we should speak to Hashem in first person rather than about Hashem in third person in order to strengthen our awareness of the immediacy of His presence. -------------------- "If they would allow one dead soul to visit an assembly of philosophers, that would be the end of all their teachings."
The Purpose Is Practice Updated 8 Teves 5769 |
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