| Kabbalah
and Education A Kabbalistic Approach to Spiritual Growth |
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| Kabbalah and Jewish Meditation |
Part
6 The
second phase of coming into the Land of Israel is the work of settling the
land. This is the vigorous labor of building homes, tilling fields, planting
trees, establishing government, etc. It is the toil of integration--the
process of sinking roots. Psychologically, this entails training every
aspect of the self--the physical as well as the spiritual--to adapt to these
changes. In Judaism, this is accomplished through Torah study, fulfillment
of commandments, and prayer. This
is also where the religious educator or spiritual mentor becomes most useful
to the student seeking meaningful spiritual growth. He can assist the
student by clarifying issues and giving encouragement. Frequently, such
advice is based on the premise that changes in character traits can be
facilitated by studying what the Torah teaches about the problem, as well as
strengthening and perfecting the specific spiritual task (mitzvah)
that relates to that quality or change the student is seeking to make. Of
immeasurable aid in this process is prayer. First, prayer is meditation that
arouses wholesome, rectified emotions. These emotions motivate healthy
behavior and thus exert a powerful cleansing influence on the student’s
character. Second, prayer is heartfelt devotion--both as expressed through
the formal liturgy and Psalms, and through the spontaneous outpourings of
the heart. (We will address this issue in detail in subsequent chapters.) Change can only be accomplished through hard work--both spiritual and physical. Yet, God guarantees that if we labor in good faith, He will bless our efforts and ensure their fruition in growth and change.
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