Description: World of Tefillah 01
Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
Volume I Pages 92-93
We have discussed in the past weeks, how to develop our Emunah in hashgachah. We went from level to level, beginning with acknowledging that Hashem exists, He cares about the world and He runs it. Then begins the work of internalizing the reality of how every single thing works – what makes it work – why does it work? Seeing Hashem in every situation. We discussed how to combat frustration and anger using this outlook, and we demonstrated how this applies even when someone willingly and maliciously wrongs us – it is just the hand of Hashem.
The ultimate level of this Emunah is when we see Hashem in all objects around us, and when we interact with them we know we are interacting directly with Hakadosh Baruch Hu! All this is a monumental task to acquire, but at the same time, each step of the way yields amazing dividends. We will become closer to Hashem when we start to break down all the ‘mechitzos’ between us and Him. The more we see Hashem the more we think about Him and relate to Hashem – both with thought and speech. We will learn to channel our emotions properly and become truly holy people – ‘Am Yachid,’ the one and only nation in the world who understands the truth of ‘Hashem echad.’
Now we can enter the ‘World of Tefillah.’ We call it a ‘world,’ specifically, because we are not talking about merely davening three times a day. There is a world of Tefillah, which we need to enter. When a person lives in the ‘World of Tefillah,’ he is living a different life. Ultimately, the level we are talking about is when not 15 minutes pass by without us saying something to Hashem, asking for something, thanking for something. That’s the world of Tefillah – it’s not a set time of day – it’s a way of life.
Let’s understand this. True Jewish life – real living – is when we live in the constant company of Hashem. We learn Torah with Hashem, we do mitzvos with Hashem, we go to work with Hashem, we parent with Hashem, and so on. The catalyst which creates this kind of connection with Hashem – is davening. The true inner purpose of Tefillah is to bring about this connection – so that we can live with Hashem. If we understand that this is the point of Tefillah, it’s obvious that we can’t just daven three times a day. We need to form a constant connection with Hashem – how can we limit it to just three points during the day?
Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim, ‘Va’ani Tefillah.’ I am Tefillah. What does that mean? It means that his whole being, his whole life, thoughts, aspirations, actions, were lived through Tefillah. He lived every aspect of his life with Hashem – his connection was Tefillah. He became – ‘tefillah!’
The doorway into this amazing world of closeness, is the Emunah we have been discussing. If we don’t remember Hashem all day – we can’t start talking to Him! First we have Hashem on our minds, little by little, adding minute after minute, until He never leaves our thoughts. Then we bring it up a level, that we see how Hashem makes everything happen, He is mashgiach – He knows and activates all that we have and know and see – He is solely responsible for making everything happen – and nothing and no ONE else makes anything happen. When this has been firmly established in our hearts – Hashem has a true place in this world in our lives, then we can enter the world of Tefillah, and begin communicating and connecting to Hashem on a regular basis, becoming ‘Ani tefillah,’ living our lives through tefillah – constant, conscious connection to Hashem.
Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
Volume I Pages 92-93
We have discussed in the past weeks, how to develop our Emunah in hashgachah. We went from level to level, beginning with acknowledging that Hashem exists, He cares about the world and He runs it. Then begins the work of internalizing the reality of how every single thing works – what makes it work – why does it work? Seeing Hashem in every situation. We discussed how to combat frustration and anger using this outlook, and we demonstrated how this applies even when someone willingly and maliciously wrongs us – it is just the hand of Hashem.
The ultimate level of this Emunah is when we see Hashem in all objects around us, and when we interact with them we know we are interacting directly with Hakadosh Baruch Hu! All this is a monumental task to acquire, but at the same time, each step of the way yields amazing dividends. We will become closer to Hashem when we start to break down all the ‘mechitzos’ between us and Him. The more we see Hashem the more we think about Him and relate to Hashem – both with thought and speech. We will learn to channel our emotions properly and become truly holy people – ‘Am Yachid,’ the one and only nation in the world who understands the truth of ‘Hashem echad.’
Now we can enter the ‘World of Tefillah.’ We call it a ‘world,’ specifically, because we are not talking about merely davening three times a day. There is a world of Tefillah, which we need to enter. When a person lives in the ‘World of Tefillah,’ he is living a different life. Ultimately, the level we are talking about is when not 15 minutes pass by without us saying something to Hashem, asking for something, thanking for something. That’s the world of Tefillah – it’s not a set time of day – it’s a way of life.
Let’s understand this. True Jewish life – real living – is when we live in the constant company of Hashem. We learn Torah with Hashem, we do mitzvos with Hashem, we go to work with Hashem, we parent with Hashem, and so on. The catalyst which creates this kind of connection with Hashem – is davening. The true inner purpose of Tefillah is to bring about this connection – so that we can live with Hashem. If we understand that this is the point of Tefillah, it’s obvious that we can’t just daven three times a day. We need to form a constant connection with Hashem – how can we limit it to just three points during the day?
Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim, ‘Va’ani Tefillah.’ I am Tefillah. What does that mean? It means that his whole being, his whole life, thoughts, aspirations, actions, were lived through Tefillah. He lived every aspect of his life with Hashem – his connection was Tefillah. He became – ‘tefillah!’
The doorway into this amazing world of closeness, is the Emunah we have been discussing. If we don’t remember Hashem all day – we can’t start talking to Him! First we have Hashem on our minds, little by little, adding minute after minute, until He never leaves our thoughts. Then we bring it up a level, that we see how Hashem makes everything happen, He is mashgiach – He knows and activates all that we have and know and see – He is solely responsible for making everything happen – and nothing and no ONE else makes anything happen. When this has been firmly established in our hearts – Hashem has a true place in this world in our lives, then we can enter the world of Tefillah, and begin communicating and connecting to Hashem on a regular basis, becoming ‘Ani tefillah,’ living our lives through tefillah – constant, conscious connection to Hashem.