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Many of the great rabbis reached their high levels through the practice of hisbodidus, meditation. It is something in which everyone, both great and small, can make use of, to draw them closer to G-D. Without this practice, it’s unforeseeable how even the greatest sage could come close to Hashem and grow spiritually. Therefore this method of hisbodidus should be a standard practice used by all.
Many people when first learning about hisbodidus, realize that they have been doing this for many years in their own natural way. During the day while walking they start talking to Hashem in their own words and express their troubles to Him. While sitting alone at night they start conversing with Hashem. Speaking to Hashem in ones own words is a very good thing to be doing but when one takes it further by learning the proper way to beseech Hashem, it becomes a very powerful and useful way to coming closer to Him.
Rebbe Nachman teaches that hisbodidus is the highest path of all. Therefore he teaches a person should set aside an hour or more daily to meditate by himself in a room or a field. This may seem difficult at first considering the busy schedule most of us have but the organization and productiveness one will have in their life thereafter will far out way time used for other matters.
Hashem created us to perform his commandments and do physical mitzvos, therefore, one could think of meditation as bittle z’man, improper use of ones time. This is not the case though as hisbodidus meditation is the secret key for mussar, character correction, and coming closer to Hashem. In fact one could even say that every moment of hisbodidus is very precious to ones service of Hashem.
It’s quite remarkable how a simple devotion such as this could lead a person to the greatest heights of purity. Hisbodidus is something that every person can do no matter how old or religious they are. Even if a person is completely removed from their Judaism, Hashem can still be found through practicing hisbodidus. An intelligent person will realize with this practice, that one can constantly reach higher and higher. (Hishtap’kuth Hanefesh, Outpouring of the soul #2)
This somewhat simple devotion is not below the practices of the greatest of Sages. In fact it is exactly how many reach their levels of self-control and unbelievable love of Hashem. As simple as it might be, there is still a basic criteria and way to go about ones hisbodidus.
Dovid Hamelech, King David, used to do a lot of his hisbodidus in bed under his covers as it says, “Each night I meditate on my bed”(psalms 6:7). In fact that is where much of the psalms were written! The Baal Shem Tov used to practice a lot of his hisbodidus in the forest where it is quiet and secluded. Rebbe Nachman teaches that it is very good to have a special room set aside for Torah and prayer. Such a room is very beneficial for mediation and conversation with Hashem (Sichos Haran 274). It is very good even to just sit in such a special room. Even if you just sit there and don’t do a thing, the atmosphere in itself is beneficial. If you don’t have a special room available, you can still meditate and converse with Hashem. A person can create their own special room under their tallis. Just by draping it over ones eyes they can seclude themselves to converse with Hashem. Before an open book one can speak to Hashem. You can let others think you are merely studying while you are really doing hisbodidus. This practice is the root and foundation of holiness and repentance, above all else. There are many ways of meditating but the best way is to do so in a special, secluded room (Ibid. 275).
Once one has accustomed themselves to set aside times for hisbodidus, it is not necessary but a good idea to try and meditate occasionally in a safe open field. It is taught every blade of grass has a malach, angel above overseeing it to grow. (QUOTE) When talking to Hashem in such a place surrounded by grass and thereby these malachim, it is a very special devotion. These malachim will help to elevate ones words and in a certain sense will join in ones prayer.
Deviate as you must but understand that the best way to get results from hisbodidus is to do it consistently at the same time daily. This is very important! The best time for hisbodididus is at night after chatzos, midnight. This time is very special in that the world is asleep but the gates of heaven are wider for our prayers to enter. Our minds are also clearer spiritually so we can think about our lives with the utmost of clarity. When the rest of the world is fast asleep the truly righteous are awake. We will go more into the reason for this in a later chapter.
One of the goals of hisbodidus is to nullify completely ones ego and selfishness. At first ones hisbodidus starts out in just the opposite way. A person should talk to Hashem about every little thing important to them trying to focus more so on their avodas Hashem, service of G-D as much as possible. They should talk over with Hashem, every one of their character traits that they must work to improve. After doing this for some time, their importance compared to Hashem will be completely null. This nullification is one of things to strive for in ones hisbodidus but it’s not something that comes overnight. It takes much practice and many sections of hisbodidus to come to this. Also, it takes a very strong will power and much humility. Boruch Hashem, blessed be Hashem, though, hisbodidus practiced the right way will lead a person to this level. Once there, ones heart will burn with love and fear of Heaven to such an extent that nothing will they let come between them and Hashem. A person’s mind will be focused with clarity that has never before been experienced. With their heart aflame, they will yearn to do mitzvos with a passion untouchable by their yetzer hara, evil inclination. Every day will be one of spiritual growth and purification. Why all this from a simple practice? It is because they will have taken time out to reflect on their actions and the Torah they have learned.
All the mussar sefarim in the world will do nothing for a person unless they reflect after on how they can apply this learning to themselves in a productive way. One hour a day of reflection, of thinking and speaking to Hashem about ones life and the world around them. This is how we will all become tzaddikim and complete each of our tasks in this world. There might be other ways to become a great human being but this is how Dovid Hamelech, Baal Shem Tov, Rebbe Nachman, Moshe Rabbenu, and so many others made Hashem and Torah aflame in their hearts. It says in Chumash that Moshe went out at midnight and spread his hands to Hashem. Chana was a barren woman. She cried for children to Hashem, with tears of supplication, also in the form of hisbodidus. As you see, hisbodidus has been around since the beginning of the Torah and Boruch Hashem one of Rebbe Nachman’s main tasks in this world was to bring to our attention the importance of this overlooked, important devotion. He said, “One who does not meditate cannot have wisdom. He may occasionally be able to concentrate, but not for any significant length of time. His power of concentration will remain weak, and cannot be maintained. A person who does not meditate won’t realize the foolishness of this world. But one who has a relaxed and penetrating mind can see that all around him is vanity”. (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #47)
For some of us, talking to Hashem in our own words is easy. While for others it can be a grave struggle. At certain times during our lives, we will find it difficult to set aside time and talk to Hashem. Some days we will sit down in our special place for hisbodidus and draw a blank as what to say to Hashem. We might find that the spot in which we did our hisbodidus previously only brings us to a lack of concentration. So switch places when this happens and don’t loose hope. Even to just sit there and repeat the simple words, Ribono Shel Olam, L-rd of the Universe it is very good. (QUOTE) If a person can only say one word, he should remain mentally strong. He should repeat that word over and over again, countless times. He can spend many days meditating with that single word, this in itself is very good. If he is persistent and continues to repeat this word countless times, Hashem will show his mercy and open his mouth so that he should be able to express his thoughts (Likutey Moharan Tinyana 97).
My friends, I know from the bottom of my heart that if I personally did more hisbodidus, my life would have more meaning. The little things I get stressed out over I would glide by with ease. I have fallen into the common trap of knowing something very truthful which could help me tremendously, yet I am too lazy at the moment to properly practice what I preach. So I sit here talking not only to you my friends but also myself. Keeping set times for hisbodidus is something that will do wonders for my soul and yours as well. Emunah and betachon will not be something lost some place in my heart but it will be evident in a place I could find it. I know this because there was a time in my life where I didn’t let sleep and laziness make me too impatient to do hisbodidus. During the times I did hisbodidus my Torah study and self-purification increased. It was a time for me when I did not fear or complain over the hardships of my life. All difficulties and struggles I was experiencing I got off my chest during hisbodidus. This made me content with my family, friends and myself. If I committed a sin, that pain thereafter I removed from my shoulders by confessing it to Hashem during my hisbodidus. My health and emotional stability both improved. I felt nullified compared to Hashem and this helped me realize that my life was devoted to Hashem and Him alone.
Important devotion’s which bring a person close to Hashem, even though simple become much more difficult. This is especially true of this practice. Therefore, we much be prepared and be stern to not let it slip away. Hashem helps a person to follow the path they want to follow. If the path in your heart is Torah then Hashem will help you follow it and nothing will stand in your way. Push your self for one hour a night to do hisbodidus even a couple of times and you will be successful. I say this without a question or doubt. Hisbodidus is one of the most important practices you could ever perform. It will bring such happiness and contentment into your life that one hour a day won’t be enough so you will want to add another hour during the day. Then you will want to teach this important secret to the world as I, and Im Yirtza Hashem you will. When Reba Noson z’l first heard this teaching from Rebbe Nachman, he said, “I’m going to go out and scream this in the streets and tell the world that I know the secret how to come close to Hashem”. The Rebbe responded, “They won’t listen to you, you have to teach it carefully”. My friends, I understand the apprehension you might have previously had about hisbodidus and I hope I have removed all doubt from your mind. Let this not just be another lesson to learn and forget. The Jewish people knew that the Torah and commandments were true and so they said, “We will do as we have heard”(QUOTE). Don’t just take my word for it but see for yourself how you’re affected by trying hisbodidus. Let us now educate ourselves more on how to realistically talk to Hashem in our personal meditation.
The Great Assembly when creating the prayers we say always tried to start out by praising Hashem and only then beseeched him for things. So we must start out in the same way. For example, “Hashem, thank you for creating me a Jew and giving me the opportunity to serve you. There is so much Hashem that you do for me that I overlook and take for granted. Even when I sin, you still sustain me and give me time to repent. There aren’t enough words in the English language sufficient enough to praise you. If all the sea’s were ink and all the land paper, I could not possibly write down all the praises I owe you”. This is just a short example of how many people begin their hisbodidus. Your personal hisbodidus should be of your own words from the recesses of your heart. Begin in the way I have showed you with praises to Hashem, and end your hisbodidus in the same way. Similarly, during the mincha prayer we start out with Ashrei, which is full of praises of Hashem. Then every prayer service we end also with praises by saying the prayer of aleinu lishabeach, which means it is our obligation to praise. stop
There are a few main topics one covers during their hisbodidus. These would be self introspection, repentence and prayer for ones physical and spritual needs.
A person must pray for everything. If a person’s garment is torn, and they have no money to replace it, they should pray for a new one. This should be done for all of a person’s needs.
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