Higher Than Higher

Dear Rabbi,

Thank you so much for your response. Before I thought that this too was the most wonderful message of the Jewish faith, particularly in the Shema, until of course I lived in New York and met a lot of Jewish people who nicely corrected me. Then I read Joseph Campbell's book Thou Art That and was surprised that it was after all a Buddhist belief.

Then I read it plainly here and wondered if you also see the similarity.

I guess ignorance is a global issue, beginning from mine.

My apologies.

Best Regards

This inspiration fits nicely with the consistencies of :

Your article " Two into One " on marriage, extrapolate as G-d is our ' Bride '

Modeh Ani - innermost essence to innermost Essence, like talking to ourselves/G-d in unison

The Shema - putting ourselves withinin Hashem's perspective on High. Using the Barch Shem Kavod line to bring ' us ' from our Earthly perspective.

These are personal interpetations. Hopefully they are valid as stated.

As always, Thank you.

There are probably several others. These three examples serve best for me.

That the soul is aware of a reality that the mind cannot fathom is a wonderful definition of faith. What a simple, yet freeing statement! Another reminder to get the intellect out of the way to experience the joy of oneness.

Dear Rabbi,
"The sense that this is my G-d and I am His. That we are one. That there is nothing else" is Buddhist sounding.

Although I do understand it from a Jewish perspective, (Eli after all spells out as G-d "I".)it does in idea, sound like the Buddhist belief that the human Self is an expression of the larger Self, the eye of all that is.

I find that very few people (rabbis included )believe this though or understand as such. G-d to most people is a separate and external entity. I find it a bit isolating that although I find validation here, it seems not very many people can accept this nor fathom it.

The simplicity of this Wisdom needs to be founded upon such complexity before it is understood by a person. In other words, I sometimes feel that only those who have done "the work" can appreciate its depth.

In contrast to the Vatican Press, Chabad dares to have leanings that includes the validity of other religions. It's brave to put things that are tricky. I guess its wisdom.

My mother, the most intelligent woman I have known, said to me on many occasions when we discussed problems I was having a similar version of waht you have stated here. It was the all powerful reason I had nothing to fear. There have been times when I have forgotten that advice, for sure. From nowhere it seems, those words come to my psyche with great force to balance my thought and action..

thankyou... how beautifully written. blessings and love x