Vaad Bnei Aliya - Growth is a sign of life, Guiding that growth is a sign of humanity: February 2010

Saturday, February 13, 2010

או"ח סימן צח - Two kavanot: Kavana of the words, Kavana of standing in front of Hashem
Rav Chaim on Rambam Hilchot Tefilla
Nefesh Hachayim 2: 1 ridding other thoughts
Introduction to Olat Tamid: !'כשתבוא למעלה ותעמוד לדין, ישאלוך: הלוא כמה אלפי פעמים התפללת בחייך, אמר נא מה הפרוש של ,'משליך קרחו כפתים

Starting from scratch. simply understanding what you are saying in the most simple way
Anything important enough to be distracting should become part of the tefilla, ask for it
Speak as you if you were speaking to someone, that means without a sing song. With intonations at the proper places. As if you were in a play.
Involve all aspects of your mind. Besides the active focus on the words, involve your conceptual mind by also placing the concept in that specific bracha etc. (kavanat hainyan) For example, as you approach birchat haddaat, imagine the word daas, think of the concept daas and then start to ask for it, while the word still captures you visual thought.
Using a book like Pathways to Prayer encourages us to engage our mind by thinking about the meaning even though we already know what the tefilla means
Remove anything in front of you which could be distracting
Read inside if that keeps you more focused.
Hear each word. Not loud enough for others to hear, but engaging your hearing keeps you more focused
A two minute siddur seder giving time to paying attention to a new piece of tefilla each day