Shalawam Family,
This weeks meditation is a continuation of our last meditation on the “Law” (Meditating In Commandments Prt 1) – That meditation consisted of meditating on the first four commandments and “The First/Greatest Commandment.” This meditation will be on the last six commandments of the ten, along with the “Second Greatest Commandment…”
As explained in my former blog, the reason I broke the commandments down in this way is because the “The Two Greatest Commandments” sum up the full “Ten Commandments“. The way that you keep “The First Greatest Commandment” is by keeping the first four of the “Ten Commandments” – The way you keep “The Second Greatest Commandment” is by keeping the last six of the “Ten Commandments.”
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”— Romans 13:8-10
To begin this meditation here’s an excerpt from my previous Blog (What is Meditation & Musing???)
In my meditations I focus on precept, posture, and breathing. I begin by finding a set of precepts, or commands that I’d like to practice with..
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I find a comfortable position whether siting our laying down (you wanna be comfortable, not so comfortable you fall asleep)
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Notice and relax any tension in my body
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CONCENTRATE(FOCUS) on reading the precepts multiple times (with the intention of committing them to memory)
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I begin by taking a deep breath through my nose 3 times ( holding for 7sec, then slowly exhaling for 7secs each breath)
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I recite the precept out-loud 7 times( with a breath like the first 3 b/t each recitation)
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I then do the same process 7 times, but this time saying the precepts only in my mind.
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I CONTEMPLATE(STUDY) the deeper meaning, or how it connects with other scriptures, ect…
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The MEDITATIVE(REFLECTION) part, I can’t really put into words but the precept will become alive and your thoughts will flow Most High willing (this translates over into your encounters when you fellowship, general conversations, ect…You’ll receive confirmations, answers or just simply think “wow I was just musing on that the other day”)
Utilizing this simple beginners format we’ll be meditating on the “Ten Commandments” contained within Exodus 20:3-17. I hope you found yourself a nice semi-comfortable spot because this mediation is also about 1 hr – 1 hr & 1/2 long. Lets begin!!
Start with your initial 3-7 deep breaths. Focusing on your breath, inhale deeply through your nose w/t mouth closed for a count of seven seconds, now hold that breath for another count of seven seconds, okay great; now exhale slowly through your nose for seven seconds, That’s one! Now continue the same process for the next 3-7 breaths (It’s up to you how many breaths you’d like to take with this process after the initial three. Keep in mind the purpose of these beginning breaths are to comfort you, release tension from the mind, ease pain in the body, and prepare your mind to focus – So I’d recommend as many breaths as necessary to accomplish that. As you become more regular in you meditations it’ll take less breaths to ease you.)
Now concentrate(focus) on memorizing the Fifth Commandment (below in Red). Lets read it through… Read and recite the sentence out loud repeatedly, until you find your self reciting the sentence without even having to look. Good work! Now that you have the precepts memorized, recite the whole Fifth Commandment.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. – Exodus 20:12 (5th Commandment)
After your first recitation of the fifth commandment take a deep breath (7 secs inhale, 7 sec hold, 7 sec exhale through nose w/t mouth closed) – Now recite the Fifth Commandment out-loud again, then take another deep breath as before – Repeat this process of reciting the Fifth Commandment, seven times (take a deep breath between each recitation.) Once you’ve completed seven full recitation of the Fifth Commandment through the above process, repeat the same process again (only this time merely recite the commandment in your head, for seven times.)
You’ll do this same process repeatedly for the rest of the commandments, until you complete this concentrative process with the Tenth Commandment. Below, are commandments Five through Ten. Read, and memorize them one by one just as you did the Fifth Commandment. Now that we’ve completed the Fifth Commandment, begin the Six Commandment – Same process as the Fifth Commandment seven recitations out-loud, and seven recitations silently in your mind. Do this process for each commandment…
Thou shalt not kill.– Exodus 20:13 (6th Commandment)
Thou shalt not commit adultery.– Exodus 20:14 (7th Commandment)
Thou shalt not steal.– Exodus 20:15 (8th Commandment)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.–Exodus 20:16 (9th Commandment)
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.– Exodus 20:17 (10th Commandment)
Congratulations!! All praises due to The Most High, you’ve now memorized the last Six Commandments by the Most High’s mercy, through sheer concentration(focus) upon them. We’ll now use the same concentrative process to memorize “The Second Greatest Commandment” as according to Yashaya Hamashach (Hebrew for Jesus Christ) our lord, savior, and exalted King! Below you’ll find “The Second Greatest Commandment“, as well as our Lord quoting it – Memorize this commandment as you did the others and you’re ready for the next step in our Meditation…
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.– Leviticus 19:18
And the second is like,namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.– Mark 12:31
We’ve now memorized the last Six Commandments, along with the Second Commandment of “The Two Greatest Commandments“… I have you memorizing the last Six Commandments w/t “The Second Greatest Commandment“, because “The Second Greatest Commandment” sums up the last Six of the “Ten Commandments.” If you think about it… The way to love your brother as yourself- Is by keeping the last Six Commandments! If you agree with this thought, that’s great – If you don’t agree, even better!
Notice again, I said “If you think about it.” In this next stage of our meditation, I want you to do just that “think”, contemplate (study), muse upon your agreement and/or your disagreement with my statement. Investigate (just as before), and try to understand for yourself why I would claim that the way to keep “The Second Greatest Command” is by keeping the last “Six Commandments…” Study is dissection – Breaking things down piece by piece. If “The Second Greatest Commandment” is to love your neighbor as yourself! How do you love your neighbor according to scripture? Can you find some scriptures that say “Love your neighbor as yourself, for this/to do this you shall?”… Who is your neighbor according to Yashaya Hamashach( Jesus Christ)?… Can I routinely break any of the last Six Commandments and still believe I’m keeping “The Second Greatest Commandment“?, ect…
This is your meditation, remember this is the contemplative stage – Which means its less about my instruction, and more about your own study. Only you know the questions you’d like to ask that’ll inspire further inquiry, that’ll give you deeper understanding of these commandments… How they apply, how they compliment each other, what they truly mean, ect… I’d suggest writing your findings down in a notebook, whether that be definitions of words, or newly found precepts that connect to each other. It’s all part of your study, and all essential to preparing you for the final stage!!
The final, and greatest stage: Meditation(reflection). We’ve memorized the last commandments precepts, we have them written in our hearts/minds, we know how to slow down, relax and breath… We’ve gathered a greater and deeper understanding of these commandments through personal study, notes, further precepts, definitions, and perspectives. What is the point of all of this concentration, and contemplation? How does all this apply to ourselves? How are we keeping these commandments? How do we refrain from stagnating ourselves in our knowledge, and use the knowledge to edify others in love again? How do escape the hypocrisy of the Pharisees?… In the concentration stage, I was very hands on (as before); walking you step by step with instruction – In the contemplative stage, I guided you somewhat providing some light instruction – As you already know, in this stage I’m totally hands off!! This blog is complete, it’s time for you to sit in silence (or some light relaxing instrumental music), giving your thoughts completely to reflection on how your study applies to you, how you can improve and be perfected in Christ commandments. What confirmations are you looking for to improve?, where are you weak at?, where are you strong at?… Let the words of the Law you memorized guide and keep you in daily life, let them begin to talk with you, recognize how they aren’t only words but LIFE!
My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life —Proverbs 6:20-23
He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? he shall not take pleasure in his goods.– Ecclesiasticus 14:5
I hope you enjoyed the blog, please stay tuned for further meditative blogs/ spiritual exercises – If there was anything profitable, or good that you received of the this blog…ALL PRAISES TO THE MOST HIGH AHAYAH IN YASHAYA NAME!! That’s strictly him, attribute none of his glory to me. If this was offensive to you, and perceived as stumbling-block to faith… Salachya (forgive me) that sin is upon me and can be attributed to my own iniquity/shortcomings. Thawadah(Thank you) for reading. Please do comment, & share. To subscribe or donate, see links at the bottom of the page ↓↓↓
Shalom(Peace)!
Hagah Thaawrah 