Friday, February 7, 2020

The path to enduring happiness TB Berachot 35


We begin a chapter 5 in massechet Berachot. We learn about the obligation to cite blessings over the food we eat.

MISHNA: This mishna discusses the blessings recited over various foods. How does one recite a blessing over fruits? Over different fruits that grow on a tree one recites: Who creates fruit of the tree, with the exception of wine. Although wine is produced from fruit of the tree, due to its significance, its blessing differs from other fruits of the tree. Over wine one recites: Who creates fruit of the vine. Over fruits that grow from the earth, one recites: Who creates fruit of the ground, with the exception of bread. Bread, too, is significant and its blessing differs from other fruits of the ground, as over bread one recites: Who brings forth bread from the earth. Over herbs and leafy vegetables one recites: Who creates fruit of the ground. Rabbi Yehuda says that there is room to distinguish between fruits that grow from the earth, herbs, and leafy vegetables. Although they are all fruit of the ground, since they have different qualities, the blessing on the latter is: Who creates various kinds of herbs. (Sefaria.com translation) (n.b. go to your favorite siddur to find the complete Hebrew blessings for many occasions)

I believe the very foundation of the spiritual and religious life is built upon gratitude. Saying the blessings is Judaism’s way to inculcate a gratitude attitude. Reciting blessings reminds us of our dependence upon the Holy One Blessed be He. Ultimately all of life is a gift from God. This gift of life is to be appreciated, savored, and never to be taken for granted.

Similarly, Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: One who derives benefit from this world without a blessing, it is as if he enjoyed objects consecrated to the heavens, as it is stated: “The earth and all it contains is the Lord’s, the world and all those who live in it” (Psalms 24:1). Rabbi Levi expressed this concept differently. Rabbi Levi raised a contradiction: It is written: “The earth and all it contains is the Lord’s,” and it is written elsewhere: “The heavens are the Lord’s and the earth He has given over to mankind” (Psalms 115:16). There is clearly a contradiction with regard to whom the earth belongs. He himself resolves the contradiction: This is not difficult. Here, the verse that says that the earth is the Lord’s refers to the situation before a blessing is recited, and here, where it says that He gave the earth to mankind refers to after a blessing is recited. (Sefaria.com translation)

Robert Emmons, PhD writes that practicing gratitude can lead to enduring happiness:

“As we grew, we were taught to look more and more to ourselves for the meeting of our needs. Eventually, we came to believe in the myth of her own self sufficiency. For many people, it takes disease, disability, danger, or death to challenge this illusion of self sufficiency. We all begin life dependent on others, and most of us and life dependent on others. In between, we have roughly 60 years or so of unacknowledged dependency. The human condition is such that throughout life, not just at the beginning and end, we are profoundly depended on other people. And we are aware of this dependence. The moral philosopher Alasdair McIntyre has referred to humans as ‘dependent rational animals.’ To be alive is to be in relationships with others, relationships are vital to our well-being. The self, by itself, is a very poor place to find happiness or meaning in life. Gratitude takes us out of ourselves when we see ourselves as part of a larger, intricate network of sustaining relationships, relationships that are mutually reciprocal.

“So gratitude is essential if we are to truly understand ourselves. In some respects this is a profoundly countercultural idea. Modern psychology has placed great emphasis upon individual autonomy and self-sufficiency. Gratitude requires, however, that we affirm our dependency upon others and recognize that we need to receive that which we cannot provide for ourselves. Until this dependence is acknowledged, gratitude remains a potentiality at best.

“The memory of the heart includes the memory of those we are dependent on justice the forgetfulness of dependence his unwillingness or inability to remember the benefits provided by others. I’ve tried to show this chapter that gratitude is the best approach to life and that it leads to enduring happiness. I would also argue that is the true approach to life. Life is about giving, receiving, and repaying. We are receptive beings, dependent on the help of others, and their gifts and their kindness. As such, we called to gratitude. Gratitude feels good and we clearly accept the dependence that requires when we can reciprocate or ‘pay back’ the kindness.” (Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier, page 54)

When we imitate God by feeding the hungry we reciprocate or pay forward God’s kindness to us.

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