the best time to be alone

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The difference between depression and a broken heart is that when you have a broken heart, you can be standing in a crowd of people and still turn around and say, "Master of the World!"

- Rebbe Nachman

The silent scream

You can shout and scream with a "still, small voice" without anybody hearing you. Everybody can do this. Imagine the sound of such a scream in your mind. Imagine the shout exactly as it would sound. Concentrate on hearing the scream in your mind until you are literally screaming with this soundless "still, small voice" - and nobody else will hear anything.

This is actually a scream and not mere imagination. Just as there are channels that bring the sound from your lungs to your lips, so there are nerves that bring the sound to the brain. You can draw the sound through these nerves, literally bringing it into your head. When you do this, you are actually shouting inside your brain.

When you imagine this scream in your mind, the sound actually rings inside your brain. You can stand in a crowd of people screaming this way and no- one hears you.

It could be that when you do this, a faint sound may escape your mouth. This is because the sound traveling through the nerves to the brain can also activate the vocal organs, and they may then produce some sound. But it will be very faint.

It is much easier to shout in this way without words. When you wish to express yourself in words, it is harder to hold the voice in the mind without letting a sound escape your lips. Without words, it is much easier.

Hitbodedut is best done outside the town in a place where grass grows, because the grass will awaken your heart.

How good it is to pray to God and meditate in the meadows amidst the grass and the trees. When a man goes out to the meadows to pray, every blade of grass, every plant and flower all enter his prayers and help him, putting power and strength into his words.

It is very good to have your own room where you can be alone and engage in study, prayer, meditation and private conversation with God. Even just to sit in such a room is also highly beneficial.

If you do not have your own room, you can still seclude yourself and talk to God. You can make your own room under your prayer shawl. Just drape your shawl over your eyes and speak to God as much as you desire.

You can also seclude yourself with God when you lie in bed under the covers. This was King David's custom, as it is written: "Each night I converse from my bed" (Psalms 6:7).

You can also sit down with some book and let others imagine you are studying when in fact you are speaking to God. There are many other methods you can use if you truly want to practice Hitbodedut . Nothing is loftier than Hitbodedut, which is the root and foundation of holiness, purity and repentance.

Awesome thread!

:awwtree:

Its my favorite time :)

ty bowman

Nice avatar !

thanks! i got banned from GLP yesterday so finally signed up. only took me about 5 hours to find a pic they'd accept

The sixth path . . . is suitable to those who practice concentration (hitbodedut), who wish to approach God, in a closeness such that His activity—may He be blessed—will be known in them to themselves.

- Abraham Abulafia

There were times when he became discouraged and let his conversations with God lapse for several days. But then he would remind himself that he should be ashamed for criticizing God's ways. He said to himself, "God is truly merciful and compassionate... He certainly wants to draw me near to Him." This was how the Rebbe was able to again strengthen his resolve. He would begin anew, speaking and pleading with God. This happened very many times.

You're very welcome :)

Oh, this is a good one.

I had some good quality solitude last night and the airwaves were certainly busy. There was much to process.


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me too, bowman. talk about a dark night of the soul

5 stars...Great thread OP...Thanks

Now that you registered you have the power to remove negative posts from your threads...just read under their names..

So good! Thank you for this.

Many thanks ~ and much love ~

Be still and know...

you are so welcome

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