Jewish meditation resources

Check out the book “Jewish Meditation” by Aryeh Kaplan.

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.

I don’t know if you ended up contacting an Orthodox rabbi experienced in kiruv. Until then I would suggest that while exploring more about Judaism through reading, you should probably refrain from innovating religious practices.

The Torah was given to us by Hashem to refine us, to make us worthy of the world to come and worthy of His closeness even on this world. It is not a tool of our own. While following the Torah is fulfilling, that is not our stated goal.

There is nothing wrong with the idea of meditating on true Torah concepts. But it is important to keep things in perspective; to keep the mundane and the sacred separate.

Tehillim / Psalms – 1 Vol Pocket Size

By Rabbi Hillel Danziger (Author) / Rabbi Nosson Scherman (Editor)

Catalog #: TEPP / Publisher: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications / Binding: Paperback or hardcover

Tehillim / Psalms – 1 Vol – Full Size

By Rabbi Hillel Danziger (Author) / Rabbi Nosson Scherman (Editor)

Catalog #: TEHH / Publisher: ArtScroll Mesorah Publications / Binding: Hardcover or paperback.

Generally meditation is not really a jewish thing,

I realize you are not in NYC, but you probably need to come visit, The Carlbach Shul might have some meditation.

You might also like the services there as well. There is alot of singing and Cantorology there as well. You also might find some people like yourself (Age and profession) both men and women.

In Ultra-Orthodox shuls there isnt much singing anymore and even more modern shuls there is alot less of it as well. Nowadays when there is a rare cantor, you usually hear groans in the audience that prayers will take longer because there is a Cantor.

You’re welcome! The book I was thinking of is Eye to the Infinite by R’ Aharon Rubin. I haven’t read it but it get good reviews (including the chassidim blogging at Mystical Paths). There are many other books on meditation written by frum Jews. R’ Aryeh Kaplan’s book on Jewish meditation is definitely worth reading. R’ Dovber Pinson has also written books on Jewish meditation.

When people think of meditation, they think of sitting there silently or repeating a phrase or something, but that’s only one of many different ways of Jewish meditation. Ideally, davening should be a form of meditation. Personal prayer, hisbodedus, is also an important form of meditation (in fact, in Likutei Eitzos hisbodedus is often translated as meditation). Brachos should also be meditations, making us aware of G-d’s greatness and kindness and the fact that everything we have comes from Him. Many people have written about these topics.

Tehillim, too, is a great form of meditation — it’s not just for praying for people who are ill or whatever. It is good to say a few chapters of tehillim a day, applying the words to your own life (references to evil people and battles and such can be understood as referring to your own evil inclination or negative character traits and struggles in life). I prefer the interlinear Tehillim myself, even for praying in English — the translation’s not bad, and it slows you down so you have better kavanah.

Meditation is neglected by many nowadays but it is important for many reasons. We are supposed to love Hashem, and serve him with every fiber of our beings, all parts of our mind and heart. How can we do this if our davening and learning is only in our heads? To really achieve simcha, emuna, bitachon, kavanah, some form of meditation is necessary.

Zahavasdad,

I’m sorry but you are incorrect but meditation is a very jewish thing. HOWEVER, it is resevered for those at a very high level of knowledge of Sod and purity. Most modern day meditaiton is not that and are from non-jewish sources many of which are actual A”Z like TM.

Rabbi Kaplan’s books say some things but of course hide a great deal. Please remember that the Shulchan Aruch states (RM”A) that you should only learn sod after 40 years old and when your stomach is full of Gemara and Halacha.