Praying With The News
Mit den Nachrichten beten-von Rabbiner Yael Levy
Der 17. des hebräischen Monats Tammuz leitet eine dreiwöchige Trauerzeit ein, die zu Tischa b'Av führt, dem Tag, der an die Zerstörung der Tempel in Jerusalem im Jahr 586 v. Chr. und 70 n. Chr. erinnert.
Die Tradition lehrt, dass der Tempel zerstört wurde, weil der Hass in der Gemeinschaft zum Prinzip wurde. Der Hohn, die Verachtung und die Geringschätzung, die den täglichen Umgang miteinander kennzeichneten, veranlassten die göttliche Gegenwart zu fliehen und den Tempel angreifbar zu machen.
Die nächsten drei Wochen fordern uns auf, über den Hass nachzudenken, dem wir erlauben, in unseren Herzen Wurzeln zu schlagen. Die Weisheit der Tradition erkennt an, dass Hass sich manchmal anregend und "so richtig" anfühlen kann, aber wenn wir ihm erlauben, unseren Körper zu füllen und unser Handeln zu leiten, führt das zur Zerstörung.
Vor vielen Jahren wurde mir beigebracht, wie man mit den Nachrichten betet. Ich habe sie im Laufe der Jahre weitergegeben und komme in dieser Zeit immer wieder darauf zurück.
Jedes Mal, wenn wir einen Nachrichtenbericht lesen oder hören, der uns wütend macht, wenden wir unsere Aufmerksamkeit denjenigen zu, die von den Geschehnissen betroffen sind, und beten für ihre Heilung und ihr Wohlergehen. Dies ermutigt uns, Gefühle wie Wut, Trauer und Verzweiflung anzuerkennen, und lenkt gleichzeitig unsere Aufmerksamkeit auf Verbundenheit und Mitgefühl. Mit den Nachrichten zu beten kann uns helfen, zu lernen, Zeuge von Verwüstung und Chaos zu sein, während wir gleichzeitig unser Herz weich, unseren Geist ruhig und unser Handeln klar halten.
Angesichts der anhaltenden Gewalt und Unterdrückung in diesem Land und in der ganzen Welt habe ich in diesen Tagen große Mühe mit dieser Praxis. Hass kann sich manchmal wie ein willkommener Unterschlupf anfühlen. Er fühlt sich nicht nur so richtig an, sondern kann auch wie ein Schutzschild wirken und die Illusion erzeugen, dass ich den Kummer und den Herzschmerz, den ich erlebe, nicht anerkennen muss.
Ich brauche Praktiken, die mir helfen, die Wut und die Angst zur Ruhe zu bringen, die Verengung des Hasses zu lösen und mir zu helfen, mit der überwältigenden Trauer zu leben. Ich brauche Übungen, die mir helfen, zu Mitgefühl, Liebe, Freude und anderen
Handlungsöglichkeiten zurückzukehren. Ich finde das Beten mit den Nachrichten sowohl schmerzhaft als auch hilfreich. Es hält mich in Verbindung, lässt Trauer zu und erdet mich in Fürsorge und Liebe.
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Kernfragen zum Nachdenken: Wie stehen Sie zu der Vorstellung, dass Hass zum Prinzip wird, wenn wir mit Wut und Angst agieren? Können Sie eine persönliche Geschichte erzählen, in der es Ihnen gelungen ist, zu Mitgefühl, Liebe, Freude und Handlungsmöglichkeiten zurückzukehren? Was hilft Ihnen, Trauer, Wut und Angst anzuerkennen, ohne von ihnen kontrolliert zu werden?
Rabbi Yael Levy ist Autorin, Achtsamkeitslehrerin und rabbinische Leiterin von A Way In. Vom Jewish Forward zu einer der "inspirierendsten Rabbiner Amerikas" ernannt.
Rabbi Yael Levy is author, mindfulness teacher and rabbinic director of A Way In. Jewish Forward named one of "America's Most Inspiring Rabbis".
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion of hatred becoming the operating principle when we lead with rage and fear? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to return to compassion, love, joy and possibility? What helps you acknowledge grief, anger and fear without being controlled by them?
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18 Past Reflections
On Jul 18, 2023 Susan Starkey wrote :
Thank you for this simple (but far from easy) practice! It fits very well with my daily practice, learned and adapted from Joanna Macy's Spiral of the Work That Reconnects. It's a 4 part practice, starting with Gratitude (for something, anything, that I am aware of in the present moment), then I open my heart to Honor My Pain For the World (trusting that it's my Love that needs to stretch open to be with all I love, even though it means encountering pain, I also trust I'm not alone in this, and that as I breathe into it, it breathes through me and dissipates eventually). Next, I open to See With New and Ancient Eyes- whether tapping into a longer time horizon, seeing the situation from the point of view of others (as you suggested), listening to future generations speak to me (or listening to my ancestors and what guidance they'd give), etc. Once I've gained some new perspective, I Go Forth, knowing that right now, there is Only One Thing Necessary. I don't need to have a grand plan, ... [View Full Comment]
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On Jul 18, 2023 Ginny Hout wrote :
My daughter and I are estranged. She is very angry at me. The gun violence in this country is f great concern. Prayer is My go to. Right and timely resolution with my daughter. More gun laws. Moments of holy pause for anyone that wants to kill. Walk in my faith.
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On Jul 18, 2023 lucy wrote :
I look at the CONVERSATION I am about the "perpetrators" of violence and oppression and locate it it where I am. I don't mean condone what doesn't work. I am if in the face of difficulty I am so undisciplined as to resort to violence and rage, I am perpetuating this in the world. Righteousness only results in others being wrong. It seems a great practice as long as I include all the ALLEGED [by me] "wrong doers" and avoid the moral high ground.
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On Jul 18, 2023 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
Thank you for sharing this practice of praying with the news. As a Narrative Therapy Practitioner, i relate to the acknowledgement of context/ both/and in emotions. I've practiced a similar prayer in slightly different context of praying for grace for myself and for people and situations which bring up anger. I love this extension to praying with the news to honor and acknowledge the grief so often (nearly always) under the anger. Doing this now with climate change and the human impacts... with gratitude, Kristin
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On Jul 18, 2023 Claudia H wrote :
Over the last few years I’ve been using the Serenity prayer and attending Alanon meetings. It has helped me become aware that I cannot control or change what I see is happening in the world. Ive chosen not watch any news from legacy/mainstream channels because it’s mostly propaganda. I exercise lots of critical thinking and ask questions before I make judgements on what I think is happening. Practice Discernment. Know the truth and respect the illusion. Come back to your higher power. Breath. Maintain a practice leads you back to your center and know all is well.
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On Jul 18, 2023 Mark wrote :
Thanks for this, its just what i needed to read this morning. I frequently have images of suffering flash through my mind and i experience these as my own suffering. What can be done but to pray for all those who suffer, which is all of us? I choose to fill my heart with love. I acknowledge the suffering in the world but I dont allow myself to sink into despair. I know there's as much love and goodness in the world as there is cruelty--in fact, there's much more goodness, or else we'd have destroyed ourselves long ago. Love to all
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On Jul 18, 2023 Debra Myers wrote :
Wonderful reading. This along with the Daily Good reading from the Gentle Art of Blessing is a powerful antidote to hatred, fear and anger. That triad is healed by Love, Truth, and forgiveness. It requires deep soul-searching to find the bedrock of our being that allows such healing, but it is well worth the effort.
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On Jul 18, 2023 Shruti wrote :
-If you learn to include others as a part of yourself, your life will become an expression of joyfulness, not a pursuit of happiness.
-Sadhguru
-Sadhguru
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On Jul 17, 2023 Vadivu wrote :
Bearing witness to our own pain, then transforming it with prayer is powerful and helps me too. Those who harm others may also be wounded and I pray for their healing too. And from the compassion rising, we can serve in our own spheres of influence. Newspaper articles which shattered my heart have led me to my callings in life. Another practice that helps me return to love and possibility is reading KarunaNews (karunanews.org), a ServiceSpace project I volunteer with which puts out news stories on inspiration.
2 replies: Becky, Vadivu | Post Your Reply
On Jul 16, 2023 Saroj pathak wrote :
Rage and fear are two primary emotions that bubble up when we feel wronged How could they? Followed by Why? And then the fear of being alone. There is also a feeling of not trusting anyone anymore which leads to more fear and rage. It is a vicious circle and the only way out is mediating over the feelings, acknowledging them and letting go.
It is not easy to meditate and pray for the people who wronged us but there is no other choice. The only way to move forward and to let go is to light a candle in the dark and say a quiet prayer.
It is not easy to meditate and pray for the people who wronged us but there is no other choice. The only way to move forward and to let go is to light a candle in the dark and say a quiet prayer.
1 reply: Shruti | Post Your Reply
On Jul 15, 2023 David Doane wrote :
I fully agree that hatred often becomes the operating principle when we lead with rage and fear. I believe rage, fear, and hatred flow from living in separation. There is hatred on both sides in separation -- be it blacks and whites, Jews and Palestinians, reds and blues, haves and have nots. All is one, we are one, and from oneness flows compassion and cooperation. Unfortunately, we don't or won't see our oneness. Many experiences have helped me more often live from compassion. Major ones are marriage, young children, close relationships, psychotherapy, the Vedas, aging and retiring. What helps me is realizing that feelings are different than action, that I control my actions, and that I can feel grief, anger, and fear without putting them into action or being controlled by them.
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On Jul 14, 2023 Paul Fillinger wrote :
'Beautiful reminder. Better than turn the other cheek.
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On Jul 14, 2023 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
Offering forgiveness, compassion, connection and love to the people who hate us is the antidote to hatred, scorn and disdain. Acknowlodging the waves of anger and revenge and letting them go helps me maintain my equilibrium. It takes time to cultivate such mindet. Patience and preseverance help me to navigate my life course.
Sadly, some times people have thrown arrows of hatred towards me. They are judgmental and cynical. I have learnt no take their behaviors personally. Becoming awre of what's going on inside me , process it and let it go.
Namaste.
Jagdish P Dave
Sadly, some times people have thrown arrows of hatred towards me. They are judgmental and cynical. I have learnt no take their behaviors personally. Becoming awre of what's going on inside me , process it and let it go.
Namaste.
Jagdish P Dave
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On Jul 14, 2023 Mamta wrote :
Thanks for sharing this practice. Helps to be in the world.