When it comes to Judaism, I was always aware of the fact that there was a strong emphasis on the concept of ethics. Simply following the commandments was of the highest priority but to also be a good person was very important. I certainly understood that there were some Jews who appeared to be very pious and followed the commandments, mitzvot, quite religiously in fact. I also knew that these same individuals were not necessarily honest people in their everyday dealings with other people, even though they went to great lengths to follow the commandments.



There had to be more to being Jewish than rituals and communal prayer. I liked the idea of practicing good ethical behavior. I always preferred being able to sleep at night and in most cases I would do my best to do the right thing. I enjoy the concept of self-improvement and with the proper motivation, I can always be motivated to improve.

Based on extensive reading, I was exposed to the concept of ethics connected with the concept of being "holy". Well for me, being holy was not a great motivator. In addition, there was the Jewish concept of Yirah, or fear of God. Now negative motivation has never been my strong suit. You know what I mean. "Do this, or I'll kick you in the head" No, I prefer something a little more positive and for positive reasons that resonate with me. Jewish Spiritual Living certainly resonated with me! It led me to find the divine harmony at the center of my life.

That word "resonate" figures into a great deal of my thinking. If something I read or hear does NOT resonate with me, I find it absolutely impossible to internalize it. Resonate is like a sympathetic vibration at a frequency that touches something inside me. Again it's part of the notion that "When the student is ready, the teacher appears". The point I'm trying to make is that what resonates with me today, might not resonate with you today. But don't be surprised if it happens to resonate with you tomorrow.

Almost a year ago, I read Eckhart Tolle's book, The New Earth as well as watching all of the episodes of Oprah's webinar on the subject. However, it wasn't until listening to Dr Wayne Dyer, a month after I finished seeing all the episodes did I finally "get it". It was quite odd. It was if a haze had lifted from across my field of vision. It finally came to me. The it was The Present Moment". I new immediately that the present moment is where I wanted to be. I did not want to be in the past nor did I want to be in the future. There was nothing more important than being in the present moment.

I started looking at everything I was thinking in terms of "what is my relationship to the present moment". I knew that I had to learn more. Tolle's book, The New Earth, did not by itself spark this flash of understanding. Nor did Oprah's webinar. It merely provided me with a necessary introduction and softened me up for Wayne Dyer. I could simply say that what he said happened to resonate with me. That would be similar to standing outside next to an idling engine on a Boeing 767 and saying that it's little loud. I was vibrating, not just resonating!!!

I got a copy of Tolle's earlier book, The Power of Now, and started reading. The first 40 pages came very slowly but then Tolle started giving examples of HOW to bring oneself into the present moment. I could finally arrive at a place where I was no longer a prisoner of the past and any perceived past failings nor was I a prisoner of what might be coming in the future. I was dwelling in the present moment or the now.

To me it's a really great feeling to be in the present moment with my knowledge of Jewish Spiritual Living. You may not be ready to be there at this moment, but if and when the time and message are just what you need, I hope you'll be open to it.