Intentions in the Mitzvah of Prayer
Hello Rabbi,
Rabbi Chaim’s innovation in the Maimonides’ prayer laws is well-known, in which he comes to the conclusion that there are three required intentions in prayer: fulfilling the obligation of the mitzvah, standing before God, and intending to interpret the words (which is only obligatory in the Avot).
I find that keeping the last two intentions in mind is not easy, and wonder if it is even possible.
(I assume that the first intention should be directed only before the prayer).
Ostensibly, it should be the same when I speak to someone and mean what I say.
Still, I have difficulty directing the last 2 intentions together (the first one should probably only be before the prayer, if I understand correctly) – both to stand in the consciousness of ‘before God’ and concentrate on that, and also to stand and direct the meaning of the words I say.
If so, I have 2 questions:
- Do you think the 3 directions should be adjusted all the time or only some of the time?
- Is it even possible to think two thoughts at the same time? (The question is general and not specifically about prayer)
thanks,
given
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Regarding the answer to the second question - what does it mean not to say the thought in your heart? Should you think without thinking consciously?
And is there anything that is not before the ’? The intention of standing before the ’ seems unnecessary.
Rambam Laws of Prayer and Raising of Hands Chapter 4
Halakhah 1
Five things delay prayer even though its time has come: purity of hands, covering of the private parts, purity of the place of prayer, things that hasten it, and the intention of the heart.
Halakhah 15
The intention of the heart How is it that any prayer that is not intentional is not prayer, and if one prays without intention and then returns and prays intentionally, finding his mind disturbed and his heart troubled, he is prohibited from praying until his mind settles down. Therefore, one who has come from a journey and is tired or distressed is prohibited from praying until his mind settles down. The Sages said that he should wait three days until he rests and his mind cools down, and then he may pray.
Halacha 16
How is it intended that he should turn his heart away from all thoughts *and see himself as if he were standing before the Divine Presence*, therefore one should sit a little before prayer in order to prepare his heart and then pray calmly and with supplications and not perform his prayer as one would carry a burden and throw it away and walk away, therefore one should sit a little after prayer and then dismiss, the early Hasidim would stay one hour before prayer and one hour after prayer and extend the prayer by an hour.
R’ Chaim of Brisk understood from this that according to Maimonides, the intention of standing before the Divine Presence is part of the act of the mitzvah.
R’ Chaim's words can be found here
https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%99%D7%93%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%99_%D7%A8%27_%D7%97%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94/%D7%A4%22%D7%93_%D7%94%D7%9C%22%D7%90
When we direct the interpretation of the words by saying ‘Blessed is He’, then the intention to stand before God is fulfilled. As I think the latter have instructed (not as a foreigner”ch) that this intention also only delays the blessing ‘Avot’
With blessings, Shࢭt
Nathan, I am definitely talking about conscious intention. But a general understanding that you are standing before the ’ does not contradict other specific thoughts. Just like you know that you are playing basketball and at the same time thinking about your moves. Or driving a car and knowing that you are driving and while doing so thinking or listening to the radio.
Bel Nit
Oren, when talking about intention, we are not talking about an objective state. It is possible to drive without awareness and still drive, and this is not the same as a situation in which you are aware that you are driving. Intention means awareness that you are standing before the ’. Just as in the Shema Yisrael, one must direct the unity of the ’. You may ask, is He not one even without me thinking? The mitzvah is to bring this to awareness.
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