28 June 2024
Question
I meditate daily and it has brought me much peace of mind and focus. I used to attend classes at a local centre, but stopped a while ago, as I was uncomfortable with the eastern religious undertones. I know Jews are not meant to worship idols. So I have continued meditating on my own, saying my personalised mantra which they taught me. Now I have discovered that the mantra
is the name of a Hindu god. But it works. I have done it for years and it has saved my life. I can’t imagine letting it go. What should I do?
Answer
There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that the mantra is problematic. It does come from an idolatrous source. The good news is that the mantra is not personalised and has no special power.
Some of these meditation schools are scams. They give you a mantra and tell you to keep it a secret. That’s so you shouldn’t discover that your mantra isn’t unique to you. It’s arbitrarily given based on your age when you sign up.
Your teacher looked up a simple chart with a set mantra for each age bracket. It’s nothing personal. Everyone the same age receives the same mantra.
Dishonest practices can't be good for a seeker of truth. And even a hint of idolatry is not good for a Jewish soul. It's time to move on. Not that you should quit meditating. You just need to replace your mantra. And here’s the real secret: any word will do.
Meditating on “applesauce” or “cheese puff” will provide you with the same calming effect you experienced with your old mantra, minus the idolatry. On the other hand, that may cause you to put on weight.
So here’s a healthier option, that will make your meditation meaningful, personal, and true to who you really are:
Meditate on your Hebrew name. Make that your focus word. Because it actually is.
Your Hebrew name is the name of your soul, a description of your mission and an illustration of your personal spiritual energy.
The various facets of your name - its letters, their sound, shape and numerical value, the meaning of the word, and the souls of the past who share the same name - uniquely combine to fit you and you alone.
So rather than meditating on the name of some idol, or your favourite dessert, focus on your name. This is deeper than applesauce. It’s your true source. It’s your soul.
