Epic. I am Chinese, female , yoga teacher, meditate daily. I love this interview and I started to find Judaism very interesting! And I always have a vision talking to a Rabbi before .😀
Epic. I was not born Jewish but I have been looking into my genealogy because I left Christianity when I was 29, 21 years ago❤. I study every day and I can’t get enough! For this reason I really wonder if I am Jewish. Thank you so much for this podcast, it was phenomenal! I think it will be life changing even though I have already had an exceptional life so for, Baruch Hashem!
Certainly, if you are following the noahide laws you are a sojourner❤ there is no shame in that. If you want to convert, it will be very difficult because they wanna make sure you are sincere. My Conversion took five years. 😊❤
As an agnostic, I don't consider myself very religious, but there are a few things that I have taken from Buddhism, the most important of which comes from a sentence by the Dalai Lama, and it comes from a quote: "My philosophy is kindness" And by that I don't just mean kindness towards people, no, I mean kindness towards all creatures in the world and in the universe. That doesn't mean that I don't defend myself, for example, but I am friendly to every new person and animal that I meet. That's why I started living vegan and I think that the world could be a better place if all people in the world were kind to each other. I know myself that this is not the case, because despite all my love, I always remain a bit of a realist, but I don't think it's the worst philosophy of life. I have also been able to make a lot of contacts in the Jewish community through my Jewish foster mother and I wish all Jews in the world that they may live long and in peace!
That sounds wonderful my only problem with eating vegan as a life philosophy, health issues aside - is the question, are you sure the carrot feels any differently about being killed and eaten than a cow
I have to say, where I live, there's tremendous gratitude, and everyone, basically every family, devotes itself, and raises it's children to do chesed, I actually don't know anyone whose life is not devoted to others, in some way. Lakewood, NJ. B"H I am so grateful. TY for the inspiration!
Contact synagogues near you ❤ that's the first step. If none are anywhere near you, unfortunately the only option is to move. If you want to be Orthodox you'll have to be within walking distance to a synagogue anyway.
So glad I listened to the whole episode. Rabbi Dov Ber, you have a beautiful neshamah! Just listening to you makes me feel calm. I can tell that you have done a lot of inner work because there is so much light that emanates from your soul. I've deepened my own connection to Judaism with the little exposure to Chassidut that I have gained over the last couple of years. I think I needed to hear the last part of this interview especially right now. I look forward to continuing my own spiritual journey.
I am non Jewish , and don't normally comment . That was such a fascinating and thought provoking conversation , with a really interesting and inspirational man .
I love how the words of his grandfather shaped his whole life. So powerful how our words can really change people for the good And unfortunately the bad two. Choose our words wisely
I believe that out of selfishness we want to have our own soul, our own individuality. I believe that we do not have our own personal soul. We are the manifestation of God, expressed in every creation. In this sense, what Gautama Buddha spoke about is very close to me. What then does it mean that you came from God, and to God is our return?! The drops return to the ocean. In other words, God experience himself through incarnation in everything. Some people say that thinking that you are God incarnate is blasphemy. I believe that if people perceived the world, animals, nature, and other people as a part of God, they would understand that this is all they are, there is no one to deceive, no one to kill, nothing to fight, and nothing to divide. There are no others, it’s all you! And when you realize this, you are awakened, devoid of fear and ignorance! Shalom from a Jew!
Was in a hotel for Shabbos & I saw a book on the counter already for a few days prior, so I figured I could read it over Shabbos. I opened it up and it felt familiar, and by the end I remembered the podcast and I came back just now, motzei, and I see it's the same person!
Dear Rabbi. I don’t know if any of the Eastern meditation gurus you have met ever told you about the concept of Shoonya ( Zero ), or Emptiness in terms of Buddhism, Brahmin, Hindu, Yoga, and Taoism. Did the Shaolin Masters tell you about the Heart Sutra (多心经) and the Diamond Sutra (金刚经) before your Kung Fu journey? They are the **meaning** as well as **precaution**. The reading has only 260 Chinese characters. The Diamond Sutra is longer, but not as much like Mahabharata. In meditation(in terms of Buddhism, Brahmin, Hindu, Yoga, and Taoism), if the meditator is attached by bliss feelings, that’s a wrong meditation. Being attached by bliss feelings and not going to contribute in good to the world, that’s not the teachings. Unless severe in health conditions like living the very last minutes on earth, it’s ok to stay in bliss to minimize body pain. To stay bliss to escape reality, running away from life problems and become a monk, that’s not the Buddha way (it’s not eternal or Nirvana. If life issue hasn’t been solved, you will be in loop of suffering again.) Hope this is not the reason why folks want to become Buddhist and monks. The purpose of yoga mediation is not more than helping the meditator to perceive reality, which is helpful on decision making, union between mind and body (Kungfu fighting), raise awareness, go to our innermost, gain self-confident, be no fear and fight against the unjust. When we are at our innermost, life’s purpose is clear. In daily life, if we can control naturally the seven emotions and six sensory pleasures (七情六慾), that’s also meditation. No need be become a Buddhist going to temple or a cave to be able to do get to that state of consciousness. 無眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意；eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body(skin touch), mind(conclusion) 無色、聲、香、味、觸、法；sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, process(pattern) Being attached to the six sensory pleasures lead to poor decision making. It goes like, for example, ..Oh that lady looks like my mom, she is a kind person for sure. Beware of fake teachers. Most martial art meditators use Shoonya (空)technique, advanced breathing (Pranayama), knowledge of Chakra, and empty mind. No one can afford to lose mental and physical health. Extremely danger if lecture done by fake gurus. Listen to your body. The ancient time gurus never ever looked to convert. But it’s sad that some fake gurus and monks been making Buddhism as a religion and politics rather than a method of well-being. They take control and soul murder which is opposite to Mukti ( liberation ) by hijacking and replacing with fake moral values. ( Same story like the ugly darkage cath0lic pope. )In ancient time, people made ritual ceremony to remind of teachings and thank the gurus for knowledge sharing. But these days, many to pray for luck, lottery, soulmate and fortune. It’s good thing that Jewish person goes back to the way of life of his origin, things that know by heart and comfortable with. Far Eastern scriptures are not for any foreigner to translate into different languages, just like non-Jew should not on Torah by his own. I’ve seen how foreigners screw the Chinese classic, Journey to the West ( India ). The book is supposed to represent Buddha’s Wisdom, teaching about nature of mind and life’s purpose. Now has become about SunWukong Monkey magical fantasy like Harry Potter and the Hobbits. I love Jewish people for all kindness sharing the truth about Bible, knowledge about finance, Psychology, Philosophy, critical thinking skills, debating skills, being innovative/initiative and many more. Thank you for making this RU-vid channel. 🙏♥
Having grown up ultra-orthodox, I've always had a wish that I could become a "baal tshuvah" and go study at Aish or a similar Yeshiva. I am really into meditations and breathwork and it's nice to hear about it from a Jewish perspective. Rabbi Cohen has answered so many questions for me, I wish that I could learn more from him. Is there any way that I can connect with him?
I deliver pizzas on the side and when people ask me how i am. Im always honest...its amazing whenever im having a bad day cause of stress or maybe im the only driver doing 50 orders in 8 hours. I get bigger tips. People empathize with it, in America we are very fake with interactions.
I am so so glad that i find this video with rabbi Dov Ber!!! In my young ages I also started with eastern philosophis,but about 30 years ago I have found finaly truth in Judaism! Baruch Hashem🙌I am now 65🙂
Thank you for making me feel seen as a jew. So many of my thoughts in the beginning. I have felt so confused from what I was taught and read in Torah. So many questions and zero answers to the depth of what the words mean. Literally felt disturbed every time I read more Torah in the book. I hope this video gives me clarity 🙏 to why so much literally embodies “a severely angry egotistical gd. It has disturbed me and confused me so deeply. I’ve been yearning for answers. For why so many Torah books embody and describe Hashem as a severely angry judgefull, graphic, gruesome, detailed gd. I read this weeks parsha and it literally said Hasham will have us eat the flesh of our sons and daughters. For the first time I felt scared of the creator of this world. And so shocked and disturbed by such gruesome words. I I always was taught that Hashem is our father. I cannot imagine any father making their child do that. It sounded like Hamas. I really truly hope he gives answers to those very important questions and desperately needed answers. because I feel scared of this gd we our told is loving. I hope he touches on those specific points he brought up in the beginning of why gd Is portrayed as this harsh cold judge. 🙏
I'm very sorry you felt that way. You made a very good point; Hashem is our loving father, so imagine a loving father told you these things.. And you know he's truly loving.. Would you take it the same way? I'd hope not. At least in retrospect, to realize that that the "threats" were really just for your benefit. Something to help you stay on the right path. When studying the Torah, you always have to remember to put a "loving father" filter through it! There's even a bigger step to take, to realize that these "threats" may not actually be threats at all! We have our own limited human understanding of the world, so when we see something that seems bad, is it really bad? For example, a real story I heard is that someone over Shabbos left extremely, extremely valuable things in their car in a in a little package underneath some more money. They realized only when it was too late and in the end, someone broke in and stole their stuff. They went to check it out after, and they see it's a mess. They notice what was taken was the money but not the package with their valuables. They were so happy (because the valuables were worth far more money) - Imagine the car was broken into without the valuables! They'd be distraught, but because they didn't lose what was most important in there, they saw it as a good thing. Or something more black & white: someone misses their flight, but then they hear that it actually crashed Some might ask "what about those who made it onto the flight?" Well, while it's hard to say since we have a hard time comprehending it, you just have to take a step back and realize that it was meant for the best, and it was decreed in Shemayim that it wasn't best for the person who missed the flight to pass away then under those circumstances, while it was for those who did make it. It's all about perspective. One of the Parshah's are all about curses, and I can't remember exactly how to go about it, but I remember hearing a Dvar Torah about how if you read it backwards or something it actually becomes blessings. They went through it but this was right before Rosh Hashana so I can't remember how. But here you can literally change your perspective. I'd highly recommend finding rabbi's to talk to, and shiurim to watch, because it's never good to read the Torah alone. There's a rabbi called "R' Golombeck" and he has a hotline (which you can search up) called the Bitachon Hotline. He's all about perspective. 1, 2 & 3 if I'm not mistaken are the main lines. I think some family told me to listen to 3 because he takes peoples upsetting stories and puts a positive twist to them. Maybe it's 4 I'm not sure lol Anyways, I hope you find the answers you are looking for on your journey! Let me know if you have any questions, and sorry for the ramble, I just want to make sure you have the resources you need!
No, I asked my Rabbi. He said fear when it says to fear it means to fear not being close to him. It does not mean punishment. It means we should want Hashems love and he wants ours. Understanding the meaning behind these words is so important because you read them just at face value and it can be taken the wrong way. Fear does not mean punishment. It means fear not being close to him. When we’re not close to him, that’s what we should really fear. And that really makes sense to me.
@@Eva23333I'm sorry if my comment came off as upsetting, I am obviously not a Rabbi so I simply shared my perspective and you are much better off going with the opinion that matches your wavelength because that's what Hashem wants at the end of the day. (Note that I agree with your Rabbi) Also, keep in mind I wasn't getting at punishments, that's a different story that requires deeper understanding of the Torah. I was simply trying to share a perspective shift that I found worked in my daily life (knowing everything from Hashem is good; meaning everything is for the best)- again, sorry if what I said came off wrong
THIS IS SO INTERESTING JUST HOW - G-D IS DRAWING THE JEWISH PEOPLE BACK TO HIMSELF OF LATE ! ! ! YOU, MY FRIEND, ARE NOW THE 2ND JEWISH BORN - SOUTH AFRICAN WHO WENT INTO BUDDHISM AND NOW IS BACK WHERE G-D ORIGINALLY ORDAINED THEM TO BE ! ! ! ❤🇮🇱❤ 🖖❤️🖖
Epic! You and your brother Eli are systematically helping Jews across the world live more meaningful and successful lives by spreading messages far and wide to reach people who would never have had the opportunity to hear those messages! Tizku Lemitzvos!!
This is the most needed thing i have seen so far in my life. Everything he said is literally what i said and felt when learning the surface of judiasm. So grateful. Still watching but wow haven’t seen someone literally speak my words like this so exact before. You are TRULY doing gds work. For Jews 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Yes!! Judaism shares its roots with the Eastern belief systems. On the lowest level, the Tanach even counts in 10 thousands ריבו, as do all the countries like India, Korea 만, etc. Unfortunately , modern Israel received much of its character through the lens of European Jewry, with its German Idealist perception, instead of the East, where Yin and Yang are integrated, much like contrasting Sfirot, and of course, G-d is One. No dualist forces. And if course, reincarnation plays an important role in Jewish mystical thought. Israel needs to stop viewing itself as an American franchise. "Judeo-Christian values" is an oxymoron, as Christian/Paulinian theology is diametrically different from Judaism. As you said, Hinduism has many similarities with Judaism. That fits in nicely with the Rambam's description of the roots of idolatry. The East, including Judaism continued their organic history, whereas Christianity and Islam where literally invented as competing religions, which says much about the fact that the latter cultures are infected with antisemitism.
The Jews are continually searching for themselves. Ive seen it throughout my life, being dragged through many practices/religions by a fanatical mother. The Indian gurus, healers, swamis, were big with the Jews. As a young child I saw so much money, trickery, arrogance & hypocrisy throughout these off the beaten path religions. They were definitely for the “rich & educated” strangely, I guess which drew the Jews, which we were not! Buddhism is the only one I’ve come to realize that you can perceive the true nature of your own life through living just a we are, a human.
? “He became a Buddhist a Hindu-ist, and many other things” 😂 hilarious. Clearly the host doesn’t know what he’s speaking about. These are not interchangeable terms. They have very specific meanings and practices.
As a Jewish person who is very pro Jewish and pro Israel I have to say that on my long list of things I dont give a damn about this is high up there. I was NEVER tempted to anything, no other belief system, not christhnianty. not islam, not buddhism, not hindusim. Those things were NEVER in the least bit mysterious to me the only thing I ever cared about was learning more about my Judaism. Today I am not religious, but the anglo-saxon interpretation of Judaism that so permeates too much of Judaism is neauseating to witness. Nothing at all is inspiring to me as a Jewish person in this video.
Buddhism is not Realgion it is a way of life, so it doesn't matter what your Realgion is. You can Applie in your daily life ...😊 ... Buddha never said that belive in his teaching, so you can choose and practice any Realgion as long as you're happy with it... Buddha bless you Brother 😊 🙏
Maybe, you're not Buddhist then. Buddhism is one of the main true religions on earth but only PURE Buddhism, not Buddhist-Ghost worshipping, Buddhist-Hindu, Buddhist-Mahajana, (these 3 types considered as a false religion) Buddhist-Tibatan or even Zen-only Buddhist Theravada is the section that is mostly close to Pure buddhism based on Tripitaka but still not as pure as Pure Buddhist in Buddha's era which forbid to worshipping idols or believe in astrology, etc. just like Judaism and Christ, even 90% of people who called themselves as Buddhist in nowadays also don't know "Pure Buddhism" which is the real teachings from The Buddha. Buddhism is the religion of enlightenment to the genuinely truths.
Thank you for this inspiring interview. I was curious how the experience of one minute of breathing daily went. I am doing mindful practises since a while and am again and again surprised how much they can change. Again thank you very much. 👍🙏
Thank you for sharing valuable wisdom and tools for life. I am so grateful that my daughter shared this with me. Where can I get Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen's book 'Mastering Life..."?
The enlightenment core of Kabbalah, Jacob Ladder, Zoroastrianism, Taoism and the meditation method that enlightened Buddha came from the same ancient civilization origin that appeared in Kashmir region 18,000 years ago. It is related to the “Third Eye “ or awaking pineal gland. Only manmade religions divide people and distort truth.
Baruch HaShem that I just so happened to have a friend recommend the book Breath to me. I’m reading it to my son. I actively seek out long form talks from this rabbi; they are rare but such a treasure.
Amazing interview love the breathing idea I will try it to know how to be calm and relaxed and in the moment is priceless thank you!! It was a very informative podcast thanks :)
Rabbi brings up a good point about impressions of studying Torah and Jewish places of worship. For this coming in for the first time, the experience is often cold and unwelcoming.
As a former seeker, I went through a lot of religions before becoming a Noachide. I found that all of them have good teachings on most things, but none of them posed a deity or force which I could count as at least neutral. It's true that the dharmic and Chinese philosophies believe in an afterlife and Confucianism in particular does not believe in a god who tortures, but it does not pose finite judgement (though not eternal or torturous) on the wicked, which I find unjust. There is also the fact that Judaism seems to be the most likely to be accurate according to my understanding of science (though obviously I believe in creationism, I have other arguments that use modern science to bring the irreligious to some kind of religion). It's impossible that there hasn't been something we could call a god in the past. Across an infinite span of time (in infinite regress or a cyclical universe) in this universe, since we know it can create minds like ours, would have, at least at one point, created a mind capable of controlling the entire universe, or something we could call a god. That means that if the universe never created a god, the chain of cause and effect and the first law of thermodynamics are not in infinite regress or cyclical, and were created. If the god was not created, and cause and effect existed in conjunction with energy (not the principle of causality, just the colloquial notion that things that happen require things to have happened to cause them and the first law of thermodynamics that states that energy in a closed system cannot be created or destroyed, and all that exists is a closed system by definition) then there must have been a point where a choice was made to join the two, since one cannot change stable, eternal natures except by choice or they would constantly be doing the same thing. In other words there must be a created god, a creator god, or an orderer. All of which are necessary functional gods.
