Reply To: Jewish meditation resources

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yytz
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Rabbi Gutman Locks has a ton of interesting suggestions in his book on meditation (he also blogs about his kiruv activities at the kotel; a frum meditation book was recently reviewed there, I think).

Although Breslov is best known for hisbodedus in the sense of talking to Hashem, there are also Breslov teachings on silent meditation (see The Tree that Stands Beyond Space and also Rabbi Ozer Bergman’s book book about hisbodedus). This can involve, for example, closing your eyes and mouth and simply meditating on the concept of Ein Od Milvado or the fact that everything G-d does is for the good. (On that note, the Yerushalmi says we should always be saying, Lord of Hosts, Happy is the Man Who Trusts in You (a pasuk in Tehillim).

Quotes illustrating various historical Jewish views on meditation are collected on the blog solitude-hisbodedus, maintained by blogger Dov ben Avraham and Breslover rabbi Dovid Sears.

I don’t know the sources (perhaps Tanya?) but Chabadniks often talk about meditating on the greatness of Hashem.

The Bilvavi seforim, which are available to read online for free in English, have some interesting suggestions about feeling the presence of Hashem.

Try this: breathing in, visualize your soul extending upwards or outwards to Hashem in yearning and love (“to You, Lord, I lift my soul” — Tehillim 25) and when breathing out, visualize and feel Hashem’s love descending upon you.