The Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen Podcast

When we can get the static to die down a bit, we can actually reveal the kol damama daka - the quiet voice of our soul

The quieter it is inside, the more subtle voices we can hear.

Our inner world can be so complex and take up our whole consciousness. However, it doesn’t define us. We can watch what is happening in there from a higher perspective.

Later this week, someone is going to ask you how Purim was this year.  What does it take to be able to reply that it was the greatest Purim ever?  You may be surprised .... 

What the tribe of this month teaches us about how to live with authentic joy.  Based on the teachings of the author of Bilvavi. 

Rather than drowning in our mind, we need to be able to detach slightly and non-judgmentally observe our thoughts.

Our mind is very complex and complicated. There is lots of pain, turmoil and disturbance in our psyche. We need to start living from a deeper place within ourselves. Just like the storm and waves are only on the surface of the sea and the deeper you go the quieter and calmer it gets, so too the deeper we go into ourselves the more peaceful it becomes.

Two major factors that ruin the calm and contentment we are meant to be feeling are responsibilities and needs. If we can learn to limit these things to just the essential ones, we will experience far more freedom and tranquillity.

Our thoughts create our experience of reality. The main thing that ruins our calm and connection to our soul is our thoughts. If we can identify thoughts that are serving no purpose, that are not helping us grow and improve, feel positive and peaceful - we need to learn to let them go and return to a place of calm and connection.

Our sages teach us that smell is the most spiritual sense. The word for smell Re’ach is related to a word for Soul, Ru’ach, and the word for breath Nishima and related to the word Neshamah. This is why we smell spices after Shabbat to reinfuse ourselves with spirituality as we go into the week.

Everything we do is meant to reconnect us to the Spiritual Source of ourselves and reality.  By eating fruit consciously on TuBishvat we can fix the original mistake from Gan Eden ....   

We are being constantly bombarded through our 5 senses by the external world. Jarring sounds, shocking sights, bad smells, painful news … it’s not good for our system. We need to learn to cleanse our system by experiencing calming things through our 5 senses.

The Torah says ‘Lo tov hot adam levado.’ It’s not good to be alone. The purpose is to be deeply connected to others, to create unity. However you must be able to be alone to be able to really be with others (not from a place of neediness). .

Adam was created alone. The ability to be alone is fundamental to our well-being and connection to our deeper self. Most people are afraid to be alone as when they have no distractions their minds kick in. Being alone is the key to breaking through the mind and connecting to the soul.

Many people are trying to fit in with the crowd. Many get their sense of self based on what others think of them, often based on superficial values. Judaism teaches that in reality you are unique, pure, connected, loving and full of vitality. The person you really are is much greater than the person you are trying to be to impress other people.

A new journey of mindfulness and growth

Iyar is an exteremely important month which connects leaving Egypt to the receiving of the Torah. Fid out the avidah of the month and tap into the energy of real healing ... 

We're in an amazing time of personal refinement, getting ready to receive the Torah anew.  What should our attitude be at this time ....? 

We don't just need to clean our houses - an external level.  We need to clean our hearts and free ourselves from emotional slavery The Power of Simplicity ...

We don't jst need to clean our houses - the external level.  We need to clean our hearts to gain freedom from emotional slavery  The power of 'enoughness..' 

We don't just need to clean our houses - an external level. We need to clean our hearts and free ourselves of emotional slavery ...  Tapping into the power of being alone. 

Your perspective creates your experience of life. Come into Pesach with the right attitudes ... 

The first festival of the year - and it's all about love ....!