Developing a Sensitivity to Divine Presence

Developing a Sensitivity to Divine Presence Too often in Jewish circles and teachings, we focus on the "Premises" of the teachings of Judaism, the theoretical bases of spirituality. These discussions often boil down to head-trips, technical and philosophical games, resulting in our subsequent davvenen being in a remote, "as-if" mode. "If what we discussed were so, then I would have belief, then I would davven to the One in the following manner. . . " The language of the davvenen itself is addressed to God as "You," a conscious presence or a personality. This I call the "Person" or "Personality" mode, as if we were speaking with a known character. But "Person" mode is the step beyond "Presence" mode. Presence In "Presence" mode, we establish that we are alert to there being in our space, an entity having awareness. This "entity" or "force" may be intangible yet it is sensed as being aware; invisible yet potent; listening; conscious; available; perhaps even infinite. Skipping this mode by addressing the presence as if it were already well-known, or substituting the work to relate with "Presence" by regressive or immature modalities such as discussion concerning its possibility is a recipe for davvenen alienation. Davvenen with "Presence" raises our heart-experience to authenticity and humility. When we become familiar with sensing in this mode, we eventually evolve to celebrate and sense, seek out, anddavven with "Presence" as if it were a "Person", or even a known "Personality." Then our prayers will be on the level of the ancestors and all the tzaddikim who walked with, conversed with, and knew God.