What is Hisbonenus / meditative contemplation? And how is it actually practiced?

The illustrious first Rebbe of Chabad, the Alter Rebbe, aimed for the deepest teachings of the Torah and Chassidus to be internalized and deeply contemplated.

Hisbonenus, the process of focused contemplation, begins by training your mind to dwell, for example, on the unity of Hashem, for extended periods. This practice engages the entire spectrum of your intellect-your Chochmah (wisdom or spark of intuition), Binah (analysis and understanding), and Da’as (knowledge and integration).

As you progress, your thoughts will naturally stir your heart and emotions. When your mind contemplates lofty concepts such as the unity of the Creator with all of Creation, emotions of profound love for Hashem and a deep sense of wonder will arise. These emotions become more refined and subtle as you delve deeper, eventually leading to Ayin (transparency of self) and Deveikus (‘conscious’ unity with the Divine).

When the mind reaches its full potential for concentration and contemplation, it may ‘implode’ from exhaustion, so to speak, leading to a state of Ayin. This phenomenon shows that we don’t have to circumvent or invalidate the intellect to transcend it. Rather, we can use the mind itself as a bridge to the Beyond.

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