Jewish-Meditation-Comparative-And
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(SJOl!P3) !:>jTIZTIS 'W 7'/1 !!l{Sl '},. '!:>jillllH '},. NOLLV.LIG3:W NO A.Qfl.LS '1V:)I:)0'10H::>A.Sd QNV 3:AI.LV1IVdWO::> ~ CONTENTS Preface 1. Some Aspects of Medication 3 Y utaka Haruki, Yasutomo Ishii and Masao Suzuki 2. Meditation and the View of Nature in Ease Asia: 13 the Human Being As a Small Heaven and Earrh Yasuo Yuasa 3. Early Buddhist Medication and Mental Health 25 Padma/ de Silva 4. Yoga Medication 35 History and Philosophy of rhe Wisdom Traditions and Practical Contemporary Clinical Applications Mark \V. Blowi 5. Vipassana Medication 49 As Taught in the Medication Cemres Jniriared by S.N. Goenka Saroja Srinivasan 6. Zen and Health 57 Shoji Nakamura 67 7. Ajikan Medication ofShingon Buddhism Taiko Yamasaki 8. Chinese Qigong and Qigong Psychology 77 \Vang}i Sheng 95 ISBN 90-5166-483-4 9. Jewish Meditation: Concexr and Comem © 1996 by the respective authors Hiscorical Background, Types, Purpose Mark Verman and Deane H. Shapiro, Jr. Published in the Netherlands by Eburon Publishers 121 P.O. Box 2867 10. Medirarion in the Christian Tradition NL-2601 CW Delft Michael M. Del Monte v CONTRIBUTORS Herbert Benson, M.r 11. Travelling in the Footsteps of Horei: A Spiritual and 131 Mind/Body Medical! Scientific Journey Deaconess Hospital, 1 Mauri Is G. T. Kwee Mark W. Blows, M.l 12. Mindfulness Medication 161 Clinical Psychologist What It Is, What It Isn't, and Its Role in Private Practice, Ken Health Care and Medicine Jon !Gbat-Zinn M.M. Del Monte, Ph Seniot Clinical Psych 13. Application of the Meditative Method in Psychotherapy 171 St. Parrick's Hospica With an Emphasis on Transcendemal Meditation and Autogenic Training Jagdish Dua, Ph.D. Yosuke Sakairi Associate Professor i; Universicy of New E 14. A Technique of Medication Based on Yoga Philosopy and 185 Cognitive-Behavioural Theory Richard Friedman, F Jagdish Dua Mind/Body Medical Deaconess Hospital, 15. The Relaxation Response: Physiological Effects and Medical 205 Applications Yutaka Haruki, Ph.l Richard Friedman, Michael Steinman and Herbert Benson Professor of Psychoh Department of Basi( 16. An Experiment on Classifications of Meditation Methods 213 School of Human Sc On Procedures, Goals and Effects Fusako Koshikawa and Masaya lchii Masaya Ichii Research Assistant c Appendices 225 Department of Basi< School of Human Sc Y asutomo Ishii Professor of Psycho! Department of Psyc School of Literature Wang Ji Sheng Professor of Psycho! Institute of Psychol vi JEWISH MEDITATION: CONTEXT AND CONTENT Historical Background, Types, Purpose Mark Verman, Ph.D. is an ordained Rabbi and Adjunct Professor of Scripture, Department of Philosophy, St. Cloud State University. He re ceived his Ph.D. in medieval Jewish intellectual history from Harvard University and is author of The Books of Contemplation: Medieval Jewish Mystical Sources (1992). He is working on a forthcoming monograph on the history and varieties of traditional Jewish meditation (Aronson). Deane H. Shapiro, Jr., Ph.D. is a Professor In Residence, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, California College of Medicine, University of Califor nia Irvine. He is the author/co-editor of four books on medita tion, self-control, and psychological health, and over seventy scientific and professional publications. His two most recent works are a monograph: One Reality, Many Paths: Exploring the Universal/Particular Relationship (1993); and a psychological test to provide a multi-faceted control profile of the individual (1993a). His two forthcoming books are The Human Quest for Con trol (Tarcher/Putnam) and The Role of Control in Psychotherapy and Health Care (Wiley). Chapter to appear in Haruki, Y. Comparative and Psychological Study Qf Meditation. Tokyo: Waseda University Press. 9. JEWISH MEDITATION: CONTEXT AND CONTENT Historical Background, Types, Purpose Mark Verman and Deane H. Shapiro, Jr. ""Man stands on earth with his head reaching Heaven and the angels of God ascend and descend within him"1 Rabbi Y aakov Yosef of Polonnoye ""The World is a University for the Soul" Epstein "There is no One except God." OVERVIEW 1. INTRODUCTION This paper examines an attenrional training technique, medication, as practiced within the religious tradition and context of Judaism.2 The first section provides a brief historical overview of the purpose and practice of Jewish meditation. The second section describes several meditation techniques: on "oneness"; breach; 1 Cited by Elior, 1993, p.3. Please note that all spiritual traditions- Ease and West - are faced with a problem of sexism, and Judaism is no exception. We will keep the male pronouns, because chat is the way the texts were written. However, it should be understood that the authors believe that comemplative practices are nor the province of one sex, just as references to God both incorporate gender references (Adonai; Shechina) and cranscend gender (Ha-Shem; Ayn-Sof). 2 Virtually all of the material that we shall discuss regarding Jewish Meditation comes from Hebrew sources. Accordingly, the English Word "medication" does nor appear in any of these rexts. In fact, seldom are any technical terms utilized, though hitbodedut (self-isolation/secluSion) appears with some frequency. It seems appropriate, nonetheless, to chaiacterize Certain spiritual exercises developed by authoritative Jewish teachers over the last two millennia, as Jewish meditation, insofar as these practices fit the general characterization of meditation. COMPARATIVE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY ON MEDITATION JEWISH MEDITATION: CONTEXT AND C~NTEN..!__ __·--··-----~ 97 fi;tl,i%]i;C chancing; light imagery; and hearc. The third section discusses topics of prepara Further, by describing Jewish medication, an invitation is afforded to compare ·.' (including the role of intensity, motivation, community) and body positi the goals and practices of this approach to other traditions. The final section briefly explores questions about ·a the experience of oneness vs. duality; the experience of Oneness as the highest goal; 2. PURPOSE AND PRACTICE: A BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW c future directions: comparison of techniques and purpose across traditions. The purpose of Jewish medication is dear: co increase an individual's underscan This exploration of Jewish meditation is timely for two reasons. First, it is ding and experience of the Divine. Meditations were developed as techniques co impossible to consider Jewish meditation as a technique without also exploring inhibit the constant flow of everyday thoughts by replacing random, mundane the purpose and intention of the meditation: che sacred and spiritual context musings with focussed contemplation of the Ultimate. This concentration on Within which the technique is practiced. In rhe past thirty years there have been the Divine helps the individual gain wisdom and understanding (hokhmah and several books and several hundred articles examining. the physiological and binah); liberates rhe individual from the egoistic self; creates an emotional psychological aspeccs of medicacion (Shapiro, 1980; Shapiro and Walsh, 1984; transformation in which evil inclinations are decreased, and opens the heart ro Wesc, 1987; Murphy and Donovan, 1988; Kwee; 1990; Kabac-Zinn, 1990). In healing the world (cikkun clam) - through compassionate service ro ochers, the majority of these studies, the original philosophical and spiritual framework social justice, and ethical living. At its deepest level, the mystic "reaches a scare has been ignored, and meditation has been investigated as a technique for irs in which the mizvor (biblical commandments) are performed as if God perfor effects as a self-regulation strategy in addressing stress and pain management med chem chrough" che person (!del. l988a, p. 70). and enhancing relaxacion (cf. Kabac-Zinn, 1982, 1985; Shapiro & Giber, 1978). For almost 4,000 years, since rhe rime of the biblical figures, Abraham and ."Some studies have explored meditation's effects in helping individuals gain Sarah, the focus of Judaism has been Ha-Shem, (literally "The Name," i.e. che increased insight and self-awareness (cf Goleman, 1981; Kutz, Borysenko & ineffable and sacrosanct name of God chat is unutterable and inscrutable.) This Benson, 1985). Very few studies have examined the issue of selfliberacion I Hebrew name can be rranslirerared YHVH. It connotes eternal existence and is compassionate service (Shapiro, 1992) - rhe original impetus for the practice of commonly rendered in English translations of rhe Hebrew Scriptures as "Lord." meditation. The Hebrew Scripcur'es are replete with directives, which have and continue co 1, : In previous work, the necessity of carefully examining the framework within form rhe basis of Jewish meditation. "For you, who adhere co ?Ha-Shem? your _which meditation is practiced and taught has been discussed. It was pointed our God, are all alive today" (Deur. 4:4). From this verse the Rabbis deduced char 'chat from a scientific viewpoint, there are certain advantages of focusing on attachment (?devekut?) to God is lifesusraining.3 meditation as a technique without the spiritual context, bur char we may also be The seminal, biblical formulation for achieving devekut is ascribed co King losing something quire valuable by denuding meditation of irs original religious David, "I have continuously placed (shivici) Ha-Shem before me; He is ac my and sacred milieu (Shapiro 1993b; 1994a). This essay demonscraces che value of right hand so char I shall nor falter" (Psalm 16:8).4 The ancient Rabbis cited chis exploring the spiritual context and purpose of Jewish meditative practices. verse as indicating that "one who prays should perceive the Divine Presence ,__,: ·Se'cond, most medication research scudies have involved an investigation of before him" (B. Sanhedrin, f. 22a). This verse also gave rise to various medicative ·frieditative techniques either 'developed within an Eastern philosophical and techniques in which the Divine Name is visualized, as illustrated in section 2:4. 'fdigkiUS context, such as Buddhism (Vipassana, Zen) and Hinduism (TM), or In addition co directives, there are indications chat specific biblical figures developed within a scientific comexr (e.g., Benson, 1975; engaged in medication.