Monday, June 21, 2010

On Positive Thought, Tefilla & Dan Brown

I recently read the book The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.

In it, he discusses a theme that is prevalent throughout Judaism and history at large, but that most people pass by without proper consideration and understanding (myself included).

He writes of modern science's findings that human thought has quantifiable effect on matter. To the mind that considers itself 'enlightened' or 'modern'- this is laughable. The idea that we can- through thought or speech- affect the world around us is difficult to contemplate for those educated in the 20th century.

Still, it is interesting that it is so hard for us to believe in our own abilities given that history is replete with stories of people affecting nature. We tend to think of them as miracles or outright falsehoods. Why is it beyond us to imagine that we were created with an ability to affect the world we were given? Weren’t we charged with being stewards? How can we fulfill this role without powers to do so?

Judaism is full of references to words being agents of creation and change- both through prayer and through speech. I never understood why God tells Moshe- Enough! And forces him to stop asking to be let into the Holy Land. I was taught that it was because if Moshe had asked one more time, God would have to allow him to enter. And I’m thinking- wha?? Scuze me? God is God and God can do whatever God wants- that’s what it means to be God! Who could force God to let Moshe in if God says no?

Who indeed? It could only be God’s own rules.

The rules created as an intrinsic part of the universe at the moment of conception.

What if, within the laws created into this universe, there was a certain prescribed amount of praying where that prayer HAD to be answered positively? What if enough concentration and thought on something inevitably caused that outcome? I’m thinking this is the case- otherwise why force him to stop?

Leah- Leah cried day and night- constantly- that she not be forced to marry the evil Esau. We are all taught that Leah teaches us the power of prayer and we listen and nod and say how amazing she was that she altered her future and we agree that we aren’t ‘on her level’ and we move on.

BUT what if the amazing thing about her wasn’t intrinsic? What if what was amazing was that she RECOGNIZED the laws of nature (made by God) for what they were and grasped on to them and committed herself to using them to change her destiny??

Wouldn’t that mean a very different thing to all of us who read the story and feel that we can’t emulate her because we aren’t ‘on her level’? Wouldn’t it mean that we can do the same thing? Rules are rules. Whether you are Moshe or Leah or Shosh

It certainly is an epiphany to me.

In Hebrew, the word for 'word' is the same as the word for 'thing' and the Hebrew names for things reflect their inherent characteristics. They aren’t random letters thrown together.

God created the universe with words- Everything came into being through speech- God said- 'Let there be light.' And there was light.

We are created in God’s image- what does that mean? We know God does not have two legs and eyes- God loves, gives and creates. However, while God creates from nothing, we create from something- using our God given minds to ponder how things can be better, we improve, we invent. We wanted to fly- we fly. We wanted to connect instantaneously with others across the globe- we tweet.

Speech as Power

There are many references to the power of speech throughout Judaism- the power of the tongue for both good and evil.

Abracadabra is pretty much a morphed phrase from Hebrew/Aramaic- the language of the Talmud- Abayra K'Dabayra- meaning “I will create as I speak”

There is significant emphasis on prayer and speech throughout Judaism- on both the words and on the intent ('kavana' which means both to concentrate and to direct) we imbue into them.

Clearly, an almighty, omnipotent being has, by definition, no needs. So why do we pray? Many answers are given, including that the prayers are for our benefit- and they are. But what if its more than that? What if the world, the collective consciousness, the energies we all share- whatever your choice of label- is positively affected and shares that positive effect with all it touches and influences?

If we each believed that our thoughts and actions had real effect on the world- would we work harder to be positive? To speak less negatively? To judge less harshly?

If we knew that we had the ability to affect our world, would we take advantage of it, put it to good use? Would we spend our free moments thinking of positive changes we'd like to see- less suffering, peace and calmness, an end to violence- instead of pointless TV, idle chatter and wasted hours at the computer?

Instead of griping as we wait in line (or on hold!) what if we whispered a prayer or directed good thoughts towards a friend in need?

In the Torah, there are Mitzvot having to do with loving one another- not hating in one's heart- of judging favorably- and I always found these very internal mitzvot hard to grasp. How and why did it matter if I hated in my heart if I didn't act on it? One could say that it isn't really possible to hate in your heart and not have it affect your actions- and this may well be true, but the Torah already prohibits acting on it, why prohibit the thought- especially as thoughts are instantaneous, how is it fair to prohibit something reflexive?

Aren’t we creatures of thought? Souls with bodies?

Well, what if thought isn’t reflexive? What if hatred in our hearts is outlawed because the thoughts themselves have ramifications -negative affects on ourselves and the world at large? What if emotions/thoughts can be trained, directed- ruled by us and not the opposite. Is that what we are meant to learn from the prohibition? That it is a choice to hate? To think poorly of someone- even one who has harmed us?


I admit to hating Hitler/Nazis/Rapists etc- … what should I do about it? Maybe the hatred needs to be channeled into positive action- not passive negativity- maybe I need to write, teach, ‘spread the love ’- Dunno exactly, but I welcome suggestions.

Brown references something I saw- and was fascinated by- years ago. There is a Japanese scientist who runs experiments with water. He basically exposes water from various sources to positive and negative thoughts, words and varying types of sound. He then freezes and takes a picture of the H20 molecules after this exposure. His findings are fascinating. Those water molecules exposed to calm, positive thoughts become symmetric and beautiful. Those exposed to negative, angry aggressive- thoughts or sounds are asymmetric, and sick looking.

So here’s the thing- We are 80% water ourselves. The Earth is ¾ water- the sky is made of water- God first created with water- the waters above and below were separated before anything was created on this planet- it’s the basis for all life… you see where I’m going with this?

Jews have been making blessings over everything we ingest- even water- for thousands of years. Blessings of gratitude to the One who provides it- coincidence? I think not...


WE WERE CREATED TO AFFECT OUR WORLD, OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER.

It is our duty to use these abilities for good and positive effects on the world. To direct our energies and thoughts to beheficial outcomes.

I am not saying don’t get angry (hello, kettle, its me pot)- I’m saying get angry at the right things. Injustice. Evil. Suffering. And think about fixing it. Think about changing it and making it better. Don’t give up because you aren’t in a position to do something- You can do something now right where you are this very second!

We all can.

We don’t need a large gathering (though wouldn’t that be nice) we all just need to be aware and conscious of our influence and the potential of our thoughts and directed prayers.

Just try it- a little a day. See how it goes and what it influences. I know what I’ll be asking for. I may not be Leah, but I can learn from her not to accept what others see as inevitable. Not to give up.