Yichudim

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Yichudim (

sephirot
.

In the Zohar

The

Shekhina
divine Presence).

Hasidic explanation of the Zohar

Yichud Mah u Ban in the human psyche is the unification of one's emotions with action.

Yichud Ava is the process whereby a

Hasidic thought
describes two levels of this Divine Yichud (Unity) with Creation: Yichuda Ila'ah (Higher Unity) in which Creation is nullified within the Divine totality, Yichudah Tata'ah (Lower Unity) in which Creation perceives its own existence dependent on God.

Lurianic meditation system

Beit El
circle.

Example of Lurianic Yichudim meditation

In the same way that the Lurianic partzufim interact and enclothe within each other, so in Lurianic Yichudim meditations these supernal processes are theurgically enacted in the psyche by combining, and usually enclothing the letters of particular divine names within each other. A simple Yichud meditation example:

"The lower soul (nefesh) is from the Universe of Assiah, which is associated with the name Adonay ("Lord" the divine name associated with the Sefirah Malkuth). One should therefore meditate on the name Adony (ADNY) binding it to the name YHVH (Tetragrammaton name associated with the Sefirah Tiferet) in the Universe of Assiah. He should then bind this to the name Ehyeh (AHYH "I Am" associated with the Sefirah Keter) in the Universe of Assiah.

He should then meditate on this, elevating the name Ehyeh of Assiah, and binding it to Adonay of Yetzirah. Adonay of Yetzirah should then be bound to YHVH of Yetzirah.

One proceeds in this manner step by step, until he reaches Ehyeh of Atziluth. He should then bind Ehyeh of Atzilut to the very highest level, which is the Ein Sof."[1]

Luria instructs many detailed and advanced Yichudim meditations for particular purposes. As well as

Kavanot for prayer and to accompany Jewish observances, these include meditations enacted while prostrated on the grave of a saint, a practice of the 16th century Safed
Kabbalists in order to commune with the righteous soul.

Kavanot of prayer in Hasidism

The elaborate esoteric Lurianic Yichudim to accompany liturgical prayer were replaced in early 18th century

deveikut direct internal consciousness of divinity.[2] However, a very small number of extant Yichudim for other purposes, taught by the Baal Shem Tov, are recorded in early Hasidic texts.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Meditation and Kabbalah, Aryeh Kaplan, p.225
  2. ^ Studies in East European Jewish Mysticism and Hasidism, Joseph Weiss, Littman Library: chapter "The Kavvanoth of Prayer in Early Hasidism".
  3. ^ Meditation and Kabbalah, Aryeh Kaplan, section on Hasidism records a Yichud to be practiced during immersion in a mikveh.

References