With legs crossed and spine erect, I sat; silently witnessing breath, sensations, thoughts and emotions. Or at least that was the goal which I returned myself to again and again as I was swept away by fantasies of leaving the retreat, returning to sleep or walking amongst the oak trees and black raspberries just outside the meditation hall.

Thank G-d I kept myself participating in the final retreat of the two year Elat Chayyim Advanced Meditation Program, gaining insight, discipline, stillness and the planting of an unexpected seed.

Unforeseen sparks

When the final retreat ended several of us spoke of the need for a Jewish meditation website. A year later, just after receiving the Torah on Shavuot, that Jewish meditation website was made public.

The site, AwakenedHeartProject.org, serves experienced Jewish meditators who are trying to keep up their practice, as well as the newbie interested in exploring or beginning Jewish meditation. Visitors can listen to podcast recordings of meditation talks, contemplative chants and practice instructions or read articles about the practice and its relationship to Judaism.

The site’s event calendar also makes it easier than ever to keep up with Jewish meditation retreats and other related programming. And the site offers a comprehensive list of Jewish meditation resources, on the web and in print.

The site will continue to grow and expand. New podcasts are added regularly. The site currently offers contemplative Jewish prayer practice instructions as well as contemplative Jewish chants.