Points to Ponder:
1) What does mindfulness mean to you? What do you think that Judaism has to do with mindfulness?
2) What kind of affect do you think technology has on you and those around you in terms of clarity, relationships, and focus?
3) Jews are known as very anxious people, why do you think that is? What can be done to put our racing minds at ease?
(יז) שִׁמְעוֹן בְּנוֹ אוֹמֵר, כָּל יָמַי גָּדַלְתִּי בֵין הַחֲכָמִים, וְלֹא מָצָאתִי לַגּוּף טוֹב אֶלָּא שְׁתִיקָה.
(17) Shimon, his son, says, "All my days I grew up among the Sages, and I did not find anything good for the body except silence.
Question: Why is silence so good for the body? How much time do you spend awake in silence? Why is it such a scary thing to most people?
(39) Know on this day and return to your heart (keep in mind) that the LORD alone is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other.
Question: What is the difference between knowing something and returning it you your heart? Which one is harder to achieve? How can ideas remain fresh and exciting?
... ג' באין בהיסח הדעת אלו הן משיח מציאה ועקרב
...There are three matters that come only by means of diversion of attention from those matters, and these are they: The Messiah, a lost item, and a scorpion.
Question: What do these things have in common? Why sometimes do we remember things when we are not focused on them? In what way are great discoveries often stumbled upon?
חסידים הראשונים היו שוהין שעה אחת ומתפללין כדי שיכוונו לבם לאביהם שבשמים
... the early generations of pious men would wait one hour, in order to reach the solemn frame of mind appropriate for prayer, and then pray, so that they would focus their hearts toward their Father in Heaven. ...
Question: What would happen if you spent an hour trying to focus your mind? What do you do when you lose focus? Is meditation for everyone?
Question: Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that you can't process information properly? How does our technology "shorten our spirit" and make us less open to lofty ideas?
Question: Do we properly pay attention to the world around us? When is the last time you took a lesson from nature? What can you do to feel more connected?
...משה בדאי הוא דאמר מר למד לשונך לומר איני יודע שמא תתבדה ותאחז
...Moses spoke in accordance with the principle articulated by the Master: Accustom your tongue to say: I do not know, lest you become entangled in a web of deceit.
Question: Are you always mindful of the words coming out of your mouth? What happens when we speak without weighing our words first? Why is it so hard to say I don't know?
(ט) שֵׁ֤שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖יתָ כָּל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒ (י) וְי֙וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת ׀ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֣֨ה כָל־מְלָאכָ֡֜ה ...
(9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (10) but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God: you should not do any work...
(1) ועשית כל מלאכתך When the Sabbath comes it should be in your eyes as though all thy work were done (completed), so you shouldn't even think at all about work ...
Question: What would that mean to be able to transform our mind once a week not to worry about work or school? Is that something you'd like to accomplish? Any other personal thoughts about mindfulness?