In Chabad there are three forms of hitbon'nut (contemplation, meditation):
(a.) Study-meditation: After mastering the concept thoroughly, one meditates on its profundity, until the intellectual element shines forth for him.
(b.) Meditation before davening: This is directed toward sensing the vitality of the concept learned, in contrast to sensing the intellectual element emphasized in study-meditation.
(c.) Meditation in davening: To sense the "G-dly element" in the concept learned.
These three are rungs on the ladder of sensitivity. It is only by G-d's kindness towards us that we may occasionally sense G-dhood spontaneously, without any avoda at all. This comes about by virtue of the quality of Ultimate Essential G-dhood1 within the soul. For avoda by one's own efforts, however, these three forms of meditation are essential.
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
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2 comments:
To sense the "G-dly element" in the concept learned. These three are rungs on the ladder of sensitivity.
I believe there are a few more forms hisbon'nut takes on. The notion of cheshbon hanefesh is essentially a meditation for the purposes of self-examination and self-improvement.
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