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A Holy Tabernacle in the Heart (from Life of the Future World) by Rabbi Abraham Abulafia (1240 - 1295?) Timeline English version by Jewish Theological Seminary Original Language Hebrew Jewish 13th Century However,      the breath which is      from the second one is a      holy      tabernacle in the heart. One ascends      with the Unique Name      to the sky      to depict with Unifications      the relationship between everything that      is difficult      in this      science of pronunciation. It alone is      life in the Name. It is remembered and sealed      in the Book of Life to make the individual live      with passion      which enlightens constantly, when      every thought,      every soul is concentrated on it.     -- from Meditation and Kabbalah, by Aryeh Kaplan Amazon.com   / Photo by Andréia /	Themes   Heart   Sky       Recommended Books A Big Jewish Book: Poems and Other Visions of the Jews from Tribal Times to the Present, Edited by Jerome Rothenberg The Dream of the Poem: Hebrew Poetry from Muslim and Christian Spain, 950-1492, Edited by Peter Cole Meditation and Kabbalah, by Aryeh Kaplan
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

Sunday evening begins Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement.

When we approach our own imperfections with honesty, integrity, and humility, we are surprised to find ourselves freed and able to make new, better decisions in the future.

Our mistakes rarely come from lack of will power. It's not usually that we didn't try hard enough. When we really look, we discover that most of our mistakes come from limited perception. We make poor choices when our awareness is clouded. The work, then, is not to be stricter with ourselves; instead, we need to see ourselves and our world more clearly. When we do that the best path of action not only becomes obvious, it is the path we prefer.

to make the individual live
     with passion
     which enlightens
constantly, when
     every thought,
     every soul
is concentrated on it.

===

There is an interesting connection in this verse that is easily missed. Rabbi Abulafia is, of course, saying something about the Kabbalistic practice of word permutations, as a way of discovering the foundational Word. This "Unique Name" becomes a ladder, allowing us to ascend to the heavenly realms, where we discover the interrelationship of things and the "Unifications" underlying reality.

But if we back up to the very beginning lines, he could be reminding us that this "science of pronunciation," the speaking of words rides upon the breath. And the breath emerges from the "holy tabernacle in the heart."

He is giving us a sacred formula:

Heart > Breath > Words > The Word > Heaven

Words without heart and breath, do they lead anywhere?

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.