Enter Into Joy

Monday, January 3, 2011

Turn to God alone

The Weather Project video by Olafur Eliasson

January 3, 2011
Line 6

Starting December 27, 2010, I chose the following passage to “unpack” — line by line — as a daily practice to take me into the New Year.

And what is the “unpacking” process? It involves deep concentration on one line at a time, and then writing my response to that line – first with my dominant hand, and then with my non-dominant hand. There are plenty of references on the web to the process of dominant and non-dominant hand-writing. If you haven’t tried it, you may want to. I venture a guess that you will surprise yourself.

I’ll be interested to see what this passage has hidden for me.

Cast Aside What Limits You
— By Dov Baer of Mezherich

The human body is finite;
            the spirit is boundless.
Before you begin to pray,
            cast aside what limits you
            and enter into the world of the Infinite.
Turn to God alone
            and have no thoughts of self at all.
Nothing but God exists for you
            when self has ceased to be.

Dov Baer (d. 1772) was the chief disciple and successor of Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov or “Master of the Good Name,” founder of the Hasidic movement of Jewish mysticism, which places devotional prayer at the center of the spiritual life.

Right Hand:

“Turn to God alone . . . “

There is a problem . . .

I turn . . .

But not to:
            A husband
            A phone call to a friend
            The cosmetics counter at Neiman Marcus
            The online shoe store
            The refrigerator
            The glass of wine
            The shrink
            A movie
            The shoot out in my mind
            A replay of events.

But . . . to God.

And if there is discomfort with the name ‘God’ . . . I turn to the Source of all energy, to the Higher Self, to Wisdom, to Love, to Light.

Not so that everyone + everything outside this relationship is neglected, but so that the Love that grows can be given.

Left hand:
“Turn to God alone. “

Ask yourself:
            Who is your God?

I turn to the force of Beauty, Love, Light, Compassion + Wisdom in hope that some of that power will penetrate me, and melt all the petty entanglements that I hold on to.
— Karen Blessen


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