QUESTION:
The Rav has said that there are gentile methods of breathing exercises [which we must be careful to avoid]. What exactly is the Rav referring to? Which parts of the non-Jewish breathing exercises are inappropriate for a Jew to use?
ANSWER:
The Torah’s approach to the power of using breathing is not so that we should expel negative energy contained in the body and bring in positive energy. A Torah-approved method that that is being somewhat mirrored in the gentile practices of breathing is that a person can bring positive energy into his system. However, this is not being accomplished through the gentile methods. A Torah-approved method would be to imagine a thought about something holy and to imagine that it is entering him, or that it is his enveloping his body, or something similar to this. The gentile approach of breathing exercises, however, involves imagining a “light” that enters the body and purges it from all evil or negativity found in the body - this approach is heresy.
The purpose of the Torah’s approach towards breathing is that breathing enables us to reach HaKadosh Baruch Hu found in the depths of the soul. Unlike the gentile methods, which are entirely self-focused, the Torah way of breathing exercises is to come to live with Hashem in our life, through the breathing exercises. However, that is only reached at a much higher stage of the breathing. But we must be able to bear it in mind even as we begin to work with our breathing. We must know that the goal of deepening our breathing is because it enables us to live with Hashem in our life.
We can penetrate deeper and deeper into ourselves by imagining a holy thought that is entering us, and we can also think that it is purifying us – these two aspects are acceptable according to the Torah. But the part where they imagine that a light is entering the body and cleansing out all of the negativity – this is against the Torah, and it is basically a form of idol worship.
QUESTION 2: Does the Rav mean that one may imagine a certain holy thought entering his body as he is doing the breathing exercise?
ANSWER: It may be done, by imagining that it is found outside of oneself and that one wishes to bring it inside of himself. The way we have described using the power of breathing [see Rosh Chodesh Avodah_08 - Cheshvan- Scent and Breathing) is a way of how we can get inside of ourselves, as opposed to using external factors.
However, it is certainly an acceptable method for one to imagine a possuk (verse in Tanach) or a certain holy thought about emunah, and to imagine that this is entering him and purifying him. But when doing so, the person must be aware that it is the kedushah (holiness) which is entering him, and not that some other outer “force” or “power” is entering him and cleansing him. To think that “A power is entering me” is a method that has originated in the gentile nations, and it borderlines on idol worship.
I have had to speak about length about this topic, because I am aware that many people are unfortunately using these improper methods in their breathing exercises.
The purpose of the Torah’s approach towards breathing is that breathing enables us to reach HaKadosh Baruch Hu found in the depths of the soul. Unlike the gentile methods, which are entirely self-focused, the Torah way of breathing exercises is to come to live with Hashem in our life, through the breathing exercises. However, that is only reached at a much higher stage of the breathing. But we must be able to bear it in mind even as we begin to work with our breathing. We must know that the goal of deepening our breathing is because it enables us to live with Hashem in our life.
We can penetrate deeper and deeper into ourselves by imagining a holy thought that is entering us, and we can also think that it is purifying us – these two aspects are acceptable according to the Torah. But the part where they imagine that a light is entering the body and cleansing out all of the negativity – this is against the Torah, and it is basically a form of idol worship.
QUESTION 2: Does the Rav mean that one may imagine a certain holy thought entering his body as he is doing the breathing exercise?
ANSWER: It may be done, by imagining that it is found outside of oneself and that one wishes to bring it inside of himself. The way we have described using the power of breathing [see Rosh Chodesh Avodah_08 - Cheshvan- Scent and Breathing) is a way of how we can get inside of ourselves, as opposed to using external factors.
However, it is certainly an acceptable method for one to imagine a possuk (verse in Tanach) or a certain holy thought about emunah, and to imagine that this is entering him and purifying him. But when doing so, the person must be aware that it is the kedushah (holiness) which is entering him, and not that some other outer “force” or “power” is entering him and cleansing him. To think that “A power is entering me” is a method that has originated in the gentile nations, and it borderlines on idol worship.
I have had to speak about length about this topic, because I am aware that many people are unfortunately using these improper methods in their breathing exercises.
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