A pre Tisha b'Av post I wrote over at Tikkun! brought to mind an important element of daily prayer that can be used to enhance the potency of one's prayers:

The Kav HaYashar writes at the end of Chapter 3 that one should take pains to ensure that he sits in a specific spot in shul on a consistent basis, and that he sit next to someone who does not engage in frivolous talk during the prayers. Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein explained that one of the ideas behind a makom kavua is like the parable from the other post: when we pray at a specific place, our prayers rise up to the Gates of Prayer up above and try to enter in the same spot. The constant, repetitious barrage of daily prayers aimed at the same spot effectively "weaken" that area, which may be otherwise impenetrable.

Moreover, sitting next to someone who doesn't waste his time in shul is mutually beneficial; together you can form a unified front, and give encouragement via reinforcement by your conscious efforts to maximize your prayers.

Tapping Into The Rich Emotional Reservoirs We All Have

In the previous post, Reb Ally writes about the inherent emotional capacity in everyone, and how it is only a matter of accessing those emotional wellsprings.

So how do we do it?

One exercise is to affect a certain emotional outpouring, even if it is not true or sincere; the display of emotion is a trigger that releases a larger authentic expression. For example, on Yom Kippur, we are encouraged during Ne'ila (the last part of the Yom Kippur service; we are taught that the gates of Heaven are beginning to swing shut, from the Hebrew word to close or lock) to bring ourselves to tears, by any means necessary- whether or not they are a true expression of feelings.

While tears are by nature a powerful spiritual tool - one that can be implemented despite the lack of any true feelings, and have such an effect to the degree that it can reverse even the most awesome of decrees - part of the idea behind our "forcing" ourselves to cry is the arousal that it will ultimately inspire.

More often than not, once we are crying about one thing - regardless of the source of "inspiration" - it is very easy for that episode of tears to increase and intensify to include other reasons (better reasons) to cry. M'toch sheLo Lishma, bah Lishma, as it were. That "insincere" flow of tears will inspire real tears to flow, and once we have achieved that outpouring of the soul - those tears can shatter the Heavens and break through the barriers. It is one reason why the Kav HaYashar repeatedly stresses the importance of prayer with tears; the tears wrap up even the most pathetic prayer and escorts it past the guards of the Heavenly gates directly to the Throne of Glory...

The Most Important Part of the Day

I am always looking for ways to elevate the seemingly mundane aspects of my daily interactions. I especially like it when I find short little tefillot (prayers) for activities that I do on a constant basis; it helps inject them with a certain meaning and significance, and reminds me that everything we do can be as precious to God as a korban (sacrifice; offering).

The sefer Kav HaYashar has many suggestions for ways to enhance one's mornings:

After washing one's hands in the morning and reciting the appropriate bracha (blessing) say the following prayer:

God, the God of all spirits, may it be your will, HaShem my God and God of my fathers, that the merit of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov will stand by us, saving us and our offspring from all transgressions and iniquity, that we may fill the commandments of Your holy Torah without any alien thought. And purify our hearts to serve you  in truth and innocence, Amen. (Chapter 11)

Before leaving the house in the morning, place your hand on the mezuzah and consider that the last letters in the expansion of the word yetzer (incliation) spells out the Divine name of Shad-dai (yuD, tzadI, and reiSH); that Divine name has the power to protect one from the Evil Inclination. Then say this prayer:

Master of the Universe! Please have pity upon me and spare me from the evil impulse and all it's minions, Amen. (Chapter 1)

Then, one can say the first paragraph of the Shema.

Obviously, we still have to maintain vigilance; these are not miracle cures. But they do bolster our will and remind us that we are Jews who recognize that every moment of the day is holy...