Day 12: יִשּׁוּב / Reconciliation
In meditation, the practice begins by finding a comfortable (typically seated) position.
This simple task literally grounds and orients the body for what is about to happen.
Pirkei Avot teaches, "One who increases 'yeshiva' increases wisdom" (Pirkei Avot 2:7). Yeshiva is a word packed with multiple meanings, including sitting, dwelling, and learning from scholars.
When we sit, we position ourselves to learn. Sitting is a form of deference, patience, and attention. Only from that posture are we ready to receive and generate wisdom.
Once in position, we are ready for yet another valence of the word: calmness and reconciliation. Conflict and tension, both internal and external, often come from acting before thinking. Sitting in contemplative thought invites a clarity of mind that settles the soul and opens us to further connection.
Reflection:
Do you find it hard to sit still? What are ways that you calm your body and your mind?
What does 'yeshiva' mean to you (from the quote: "One who increases 'yeshiva' increases wisdom" )?
Lived practice:
Take careful note of the times you sit. The process and act of sitting is an active passivity. When you find your mind overly active or unsettled, simply note to yourself without judgement that that's happening, and then recenter yourself.
