SOUND AND ESSENTIAL NATURE. 27 0ct
We learn in the Torah that after Adam was created in the Garden of Eden “God looked to see how Adam would name all the creatures”
Our sages tell us that Adam could see both
the essential nature of the creature and
express it in words or letters.
In our classes and e-mails we have already looked at the meaning of Adam, Neshama - repeated below, Abracadabra and Neila of Yom Kippur
Because the sound of a name is connected with its essential nature, observant Jews who are very ill, sometimes ask their Rabbi to change their name, in the hope that they may thereby change their essential nature and fortune.
NESHAMA
“And then God blew into Adam’s nostrils and Adam became alive.”
The word Neshama means both ‘breath’ and ‘soul’ and gives meaning to the English words ‘inspire’ and ‘expire’. From Genesis we learn that God fashioned ADAM from the earth ADAMA and then blew breath, Neshima, into Adam’s nostrils. But, Neshama also means soul so God also blew a soul into Adam. Thus many systems of meditation use breathing techniques to touch the soul.
INFANT’S FIRST WORDS
Almost universally the infant’s first words are Mama .
Surprisingly the only sound which can be made in the larynx is AAAAAH. We make this sound with an open throat and an open mouth. Sepher Yetsira, written by Abraham, explains that all the other five groups of sounds are the result of the shape of the mouth and tongue, a system in use to the present day.
The infant sounds AAAAh and then closes his lips sounding MMMMM. If you try this yourself you will see you make the sound aMaMaMaMaMa. Or due to various reasons you may close your lips more explosively saying aBaBaBa.
OMAYN
if you listen carefully to yourself, saying amamama you may notice that before your lips close with the MMMM sound it is preceded by an ‘O’ sound giving the famous Hindu ‘Om’ sound, but we quickly transfer it to the OMAYN sound.
The more common Meditation methods
include either breathing, Neshima, as above, or repeating a mantra, so come and join us for Meditation this TUESDAY 27th Oct at 7.30pm