The forty-fifth reading from the Torah and the second reading from the book of Deuteronomy is named Va’etchanan (ואתחנן), which means “and I besought.” The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, “I also pleaded (va’etchanan) with the LORD at that time” (Deuteronomy 3:23). The portion completes the historical prologue of the Deuteronomy covenant document and begins a rehearsal of the stipulations. Part of that rehearsal is a repetition of the Ten Commandments and the famous first passage of the Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
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Phase Five
After our yoga session on Sunday we will be making a shift in our journey. We are moving into the final “phase” of our quest; PHASE 5.
RE-MEMBER! This is a process and it is cyclical in nature. So, in many ways, phase 5 sets us up for the next – Phase 1.
We have studied many “maps of the territory” in our exploration. We have taught ourselves about the practice of meditation. And, we have met three times a week to practice yoga.
Phase One’s Mission is to awaken the mind that seeks the way.
Phase Two’s Mission is to explore; do inquiry.
Phase Three’s Mission is to incubate, contemplate, understand.
Phase Four’s Mission is a kind of putting it all together.
Phase Five’s Mission is to experience the results of our work.
If you have been a member of The Way Seekers Group through any part of the journey we started back in March of 2020 then I encourage you to engage as we move into phase 5. It is the fruit of our labors.
For Phase 5 we will adjust the schedule a bit:
Deep Yin Class Sunday @ 10am – 60-75 minutes.
Monday Meditation and Mapquesting Session @ 6:30pm – 60-75 minutes.
For those of you wanting classes during the week …. we will have a discussion of best times and schedule accordingly.
Now, Phase 5 ends and Phase One begins toward the end of September. So, we have a little over two months together to “bring it home.”
It is my intention, at the end of Phase 5, to embark on the building of “The Retreat Center” concept. I intend to keep an on-line offering as, I think, we have found the zoom sessions can be effective and valuable. Who knows, perhaps the retreat is on-line as well.
During Phase 5 I want to encourage you to invite guests to our group. I don’t intend to charge a fee for my services from now and the future. Instead, I will be looking for funding for my/our work. Therefore, come and be part of the groups’ work or not. I figure I will need to raise a few hundred thousands of dollars to get the retreat going. If you want to be part of that let me know……I guess I could form a not-for-profit entity to raise funds for the vision I have. I really don’t know. I am hoping to have some new insights as we work through Phase 5. If you have any ideas let me know.
I have described this work as a process. More specifically, it is a process of awakening to The Reality of Things. Some call it Dharma. Some call it The Tao or The Way. I have used the analogy provided in the movie The Matrix. Neo is offered a choice. Take the blue pill or take the red pill. For those of you who think this is a political reference …. it is not. It is a choice of waking up or staying asleep. It is your choice.
As we journey in our quest to awaken we know that there are three levels or aspects to the wisdom path:
1. We become aware of something either by being told about it, hearing about it or reading about it. This is the training level called Knowledge based training.
2. We do inquire. We engage our intellect in study, research, contemplation and incubation. This is the Skill based training.
3. Each one of us individually, has a direct personal experience with what we become aware of and inquire into. This experience adds to our perspective and understanding. It is what we base our thoughts, decisions, speech and actions. This is Attitude based training.
We can do levels one and two together. Only you and you alone can do level three.
May you choose the red pill.
Tisha B’Av
This Sunday, July 18 at sundown, begins the most negative day in The Kabbalah Map. Here is some history and some keen insights. Notice the overlap of the yoga map and the vipassana map; The Yang and The Yin; Awareness and Equanimity.
Devarim
Devarim (דברים) is both the title for the last book from the scroll of the Torah and the title of the first Torah portion therein. Devarim means “words.” The English-speaking world calls this book Deuteronomy. The Hebrew title for the book comes from the opening phrase of the book: “These are the words (devarim) which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness” (Deuteronomy 1:1).
The book of Deuteronomy is dominated by Moses’ farewell address to the children of Israel as he urges them to remain faithful to the covenant and prepares them for entering Canaan. During the course of the book, Moses reviews the story of the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the trip to the Promised Land, reiterates several laws of Torah and introduces new laws.
Matot-Masei
Mattot
The name of the forty-second reading from the Torah is Mattot (מטות), which means “tribes.” The name is derived from the words of Numbers 30:1, which says, “Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel.” Numbers 30 discusses the laws of vows and oaths. Numbers 31 tells the story of Israel’s war with Midian. Numbers 32 relates the story of how the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Mannaseh came to inherit the land east of the Jordan River. Except in biblical calendar leap years, Mattot is read together with the subsequent Torah portion, Massei, on the same Sabbath.
Massei
The last reading from the book of Numbers is called Massei (מסעי), a word that means “journeys.” It comes from the first verse of the reading, which begins with the words “These are the journeys of the sons of Israel” (Numbers 33:1). Massei is the end of the continuous narrative of Torah that began in Genesis with the creation of the universe. The narrative does not resume until the end of Deuteronomy, when Moses dies.
The final reading in Numbers settles several last-minute details. In it we find a list of the encampments from Egypt to the plains of Moab. We also find instructions for apportioning the land, as well as the specifics regarding the borders of the land. While explaining the land and its borders, Moses introduces the laws of the cities of refuge and more inheritance laws. In most years, synagogues read Massei together with the preceding portion, Mattot, which accounts for the brevity of this portion’s commentary.