On Chanting~ Page Three

Each of us faces obstacles to the emergence of Will, whether it be laziness, apathy, confusion, loneliness, despair, or cynicism. The trap of the Will is in feeling that we are in perfect control and all spiritual attainments are within the grasp of our effort. When we get so caught up in the power of the will, that our egos take over, we are in danger of inflation, a serious and destructive malady that eventually excludes the flow of Divine Grace and separates us from each other.

The main obstacle to Surrender is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of letting go, fear of not being "in control", fear of opening up to an insight that will compel us to change. The trap of Surrender comes in not being able to discern inner voices, of following blindly, and of rejecting the responsibility of becoming a partner with God rather then merely Her subject.

All spiritual practice brings us face to face with our particular resistance. In the facing we come to know ourselves, and in that knowledge comes the growth of compassion and spiritual power. It’s important to remember that resistance isn’t what keeps us from the work. It is the work. Sometimes what we yearn for the most is also what we are the most afraid of.

The practice of chant is powerfully effective in awakening that yearning, and in giving us the energy and courage to face our fears as well. The danger in spiritual practice is that each of us has our "blind spots" in regards to either the nature of resistance or our particular trap. Having either a spiritual friend or teacher to lend us a mirror for those difficult blind spots is important. Just knowing that those blind spots are there can help to keep us humble and careful.

Meditative Practice in Relation to Prayer

My chanting practice evolved out of my search for a form of prayer that would bring me to an experience of the Divine, and would continue to deepen and develop with practice. The experience of chant has enhanced and inspired my silent practice. I have what I call a "base" practice that remains the same and has become the foundation for other practices that evolve and change according whatever feels needed. That base practice is a silent 20 minute daily sit that I call D’vekut (cleaving).

It is a practice of intention. My intention is to be in God’s presence and to gently let go of all thoughts that come by, returning to my loving intention to just be in God’s presence. One of the purposes of this meditation is to develop an ongoing vital relationship with the Divine. That relationship then becomes the foundation for prayer. The deep silence that can be tasted in D’vekut becomes the wellspring from which a chanting practice can flow. I believe that different forms of Jewish meditation can strengthen one’s prayer life. When I work with a sacred phrase from the liturgy, exploring its meaning with the intuitive senses of the heart, letting that meaning expand and effect my inner life, then that phrase will always have power. The cumulative experience of using many phrases from the siddur in meditation gradually injects new life and depth into prayer.

The power of the chant can help to connect a group to one another. This is especially important in the context of a prayer service. It allows for the experience of praying in the voice of community as well as from an individual perspective. It is important to gradually connect one’s solitary meditative practice with formalized communal prayer, so that the spiritual benefit from one can inform the other.

In leading a chanting service, I study the Torah portion and look for the spiritual challenge that it presents. With that challenge in mind, I will build the kavana for the chants in ways that will inspire a "rising to meet" that challenge. A Chanting Service is a seamless process. The structure of the traditional prayer service becomes a vehicle for healing, self-expression, visioning, inner journeying, and connection- to oneself, each other, the community, the world, and to God.

God told Moshe, "Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness..."Chanting takes the song that is in our mouths and plants it deep in our hearts. There it can grow and flower and bring forth the fruits of constant remembrance.

January 2, 1997
Rose Mountain



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