When I look at spiritual traditions in it’s “institutional” forms I’d like to draw a comparison to commitment and a committed relationship.

I’m not a “fan” of the fixed forms of, what we call, “religion”. Any religion. Probably because the form in which it is molded often is, and may get, taken as its essence where it says to refer to. Or is made into a fixed standard to express that essence. (*)

I like the quote I read lately about that, which aligns to it:

“I was always repulsed by the word “religious.” It always smacked of some unnatural prop that is added to being human.”

Now about comparing to love and a committed relationship. We (are to) commit and accept, bear with the very one we love. Also in their habitual life, the good and the bad ones. Her more or less rigid forms she got used to, feels comfortable with and safe in. Often based on the traditions of the family a person comes from. The way she got raised. The people important in her journey. Family, friends, teachers, etc. Experiences along and down the road that helped form and mold things within the person, that add to making her who she is.

Yet, we know – or should know – and make a real connection to that lifely, sparkling soul wearing that garment, these layers to cloth itself in within this world. Don’t judge it, ridicule it nor rip it off. That would be disrespectful and aggressive. Stay far away from that.

Yes, I used “she”. As I know there is already a woman in my world, send by the Source Above, whom I can and choose to fully commit to. She is already there. To embrace with my soul, before I will with my arms and lips… Commitment doesn’t start when you shove a ring around her finger. It starts before even meeting her.

Okay, I let myself get carried away a little, here.

Judaism, garments and fashion…

No, I’m not talking about the type of “yarmulkes” (kippot/skullcaps) whether they’re knitted, colored, black, etc. nor the size and forms of hats, lengths of coats, the “latest” periwig, etc. although lots of importancy and “knit-picking” is involved there…

I meant the (ordained) “religious” services and practices as they can be found across the globe in the various forms of Judaism, that serve as garments. In which it survived throughout the ages and tries to survive and feel comfortable in. To overcome all the adversities and to bring home safe and share meanwhile from the inner beauty that is clothed in that garment. Feeling secure and affectionately used to it, while going the journey through life, this teshuvah, this exodus-way back. To eventually make aliyah, to rise up towards the “Promised Land”, the Olam HaBa; the World to Come.

(* This is however a matter which is stressed seriously by Jewish teachers throughout time. With also beautiful ‘mystical’ allusions to it, with a full consciousness showing how the Sages understood and learned their students to keep an eye on this.)

The ‘Source Above’ and “Infinite No-Thingness”.

The word is so often used, “God”. Oh. My. God! And in our speedy times of instant messaging and limited use of characters to craftedly write down a tweet, it’s “OMG!” ofcourse. Most people believe there’s “something more between heaven and earth”. That life somehow has meaning and purpose. Or, if their spiritual tradition does not recognize any of that specifically, there is a deep sense of inter-connectedness. 

The theologists, especially within Christianity, have drawn an often pretty much as limited and theologically construed image of G’d as the characters we can put into a textmessage or tweet. Mostly known as the “Old Testamentical Revengeful God”. High up in the Skies, in “heaven”, whether a white bearded old wise man in white garments or not, yet always ready to judge. Overseeing with his All-Seeing Eye to catch upon our sins. A traumatic image for so many grown up with it. And it’s influence and parodies are still much around.

Wait. Did I just say image?

In many traditions it is understood that we can’t make an image of the very Source beyond creation. The Torah teaches to not make any (carved) image of G’d. Everything we may think of is diminishing. It’s a product of our limited minds. We simply have not the capacity to grasp the fullness of the Source. We hardly understand ourselves.

I therefore like to refer to “G’d” as the “Source Above”. “Above” not in the sense of a physical location (just as with “heaven” it is not about pointing out into the sky), but as to say that everything “below”, that came through creation, is dependant of this Source that sustains it..

The Torah does reveal the Name as “Yod – Heh – Wav – Heh”. The Four-lettered Name (“Tetragrammaton”). In daily usage referred to as “The Name” (HaShem). The Name bears the full dynamic of the Hebrew word for “Being”.

As we can’t define the undefinable, Jewish teachers referred to “G’d” as the “Endless One”, “Infinite No-Thingness”, “Ein Soph” (literally “no end”).

With G’d referred to as our ‘Source Above’ I mean that everything that is, in whatever vibration it appears, has a source. We may call this source No-thingness, as beyond our understanding; beyond and within Time, hence “Infinite No-Thingness”. The Torah teaches us that HaShem created creation out of no-thingness, or more accurate; “He” (“He”, “His”??…what paternalistic usage is thát?? ..we come to that one too! I promise!) speaks and it is. It’s through the Word that creation comes to “be”.

Interestingly, we are said to be made in “His image and likeness”. Our very being is a spark of this Infinite No-Thingness, of the “Endless One”, bearing the characteristics of the Source Above. We are at our core creative beings.

Now this may sound all great and inspiring, but may seem to stand far away from our day-to-day life. With all it’s hassle, the obligations, lack of time, etc. Yet, as we discover how much our perception on who we are influences how we experience ourselves and our surroundings. How we have a huge deal in creating our own realities within our day-today life, we can see how important it is to stop. Breathe. Look within and then without. Start to see whom we are and can be. To rise beyond our limiting perceptions and shout out: “OMG!!”.