The Arizal – Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534-1572) shares advice for all of us – even those who are not yet on the path of immersing ourselves in the deepest mysteries of creation.
In the introduction to Shaar HaKavanot – the Gate dealing with the mystical intentions to have when praying, and his Pri Eitz Chaim (Shaar Olam HaAsiyah Perek Aleph), the Ari teaches us the proper approach to take when praying. Indeed, it is not sufficient to pray by simply reading the words in the Siddur. Prayer stands at the heights of the world. Every word we say makes a connection causing Divine abundance (shefa) to enter into this world. It is our duty to regard prayer as our very means of connecting with God, affecting changes in the world, and bringing blessing into our own lives.
The Ari teaches:
It is forbidden for a person to pray his prayer in a state of sadness. If he does so, his soul will not be able to receive the supernal light which is drawn upon him during prayer.
However, at the time of Viduy (Confession) when he specifies his sins, then it is good to become sad. But for the remainder of prayer, great damage is drawn upon him through his sadness. One has to appear in front of God with great humility, with awe and fear – but you should have additional happiness as much as is possible. This is similar to the servant who serves his master with additional happiness. If the servant will be sad then his service will be despised by him (the king).
And its almost as if to say that the main advantageת perfection and acquisition of Ruach HaKodesh (Divine inspiration) is dependant upon this thing – whether at the time of his prayer or whether he is involved in any other mitzvah of the other mitzvot. As the Gemara writes about the rabbi who was filled with much happiness and said that it was because he had put on Tefillin (that day). So don’t despise this matter because its reward is very great!
Note: The Amora of the Gemara who commented on his happiness about having worn Tefillin that day, is not because it was a once off occasion that he wore Tefillin and was happy for having done it. He surely wore Tefillin every day. However, there are many reasons as to his happiness. One concerns his having attained great heights after wearing the Tefillin that he was so uplifted that he simply could not hold back his happiness. Other reasons may include that he was aware that the Mitzvah of Tefillin was something his soul was connected to especially – much like so-to-speak an appliance that connects with the electricity, that as soon as it does it gets turned on and works. So too, once the Tefillin made the connection with him – and he with the Tefillin, he became so overwhelmed with happiness that he could not withhold the smile from his face the entire day! This is the greatness of Mitzvah observance and the greatness of happiness!
One who connects with all mitzvot in this way, will never be able to escape feelings of happiness always. This is something unique and usually requires much effort until eventually one actually begins to understand what is happening when a mitzvah is performed, when a blessing is recited etc. Suddenly one realises that these mitzvot and this Torah is here for us to connect with our higher level souls and of course – with God.
Suddenly, observing mitzvot can make sense as one sees the spritual and physical effects that occur at the time that the mitzvah is performed. Indeed, all our prayer, our mitzvot and our Torah study should be done with joy – in such a way that we can literally feel the bolt of electricity (Life-force of the universe) going through us at the time we engage in it!
The Arizal opens his Shaar HaKavanot with this teaching as a very basis of prayer. If one is ever to get to understand the deeper meanings behind prayer, one will first have to start with the basics – the excitement and happiness or praying, of serving God and of achieving the goal of Creation.
