It’s a paradox: The greatest revelations are to be found not in meditation, study and prayer, but in the mundane world
—but only if you would rather be meditating, studying and praying.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
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O. Turcotte
Cambride, MA
December 12, 2019
Makes most sense: after prayer and meditation, when we go into the world, we realize how fleeting and mundane everything is. Reply
Gavri Hanita Hazaka Abir Sellek 2nd
Canada
January 17, 2013
The Illusion A paradox: is only a paradox: when it seems to be conflicts with with a statement that has been made. It is the statement which conveys one thing or another and the first impression seem to hold an illusion. Our reality seems just based on the fact it is concert in a physical tangible world. But we know it's far more then just that for we understand and believe G-D created all things. Reply
Anonymous
January 17, 2013
Does this mean observing the "mundane" world through meditative and sensitive eyes? Reply
José Flávio Nogueira Guimarães
Belo Horizonte, MG/Brazil
August 28, 2010
Great words! Beautiful!!! I loved those! Thanks. Reply
Dr. Harry Hamburger
Miami, Florida
August 26, 2010
Engaging the world, a real paradox When we contemplate the Shema, and understand with the wisdom of our hearts and minds, we realize that there is in fact no world, just G-d. Yet G-d has chosen to create vessels to hold His energy, and a world. We truly engage th world when we see it as an extension of Him and ourselves. When we refine and elevate ourselves in the study hall, we can then refine and elevate the world. Reply
Well, obviously, the answer to this paradox is to perform a bit of both meditation and prayer. And while you are at it, one can pray for good meditation and meditate on what the prayers apply to. My prior comments on prayer (in a different place on the CHABAD websites), list the 6 different kinds of prayer. No other kinds are possible.