What is Egoless Intention? Parshat Vayigash

Deepen your practice with free guided meditation recordings here.

Join the Torah of Awakening community – Support these teachings and livestream our weekly meditation workshops and services, watch full videos, access extensive archive and schedule one-on-one time with me. Try it free one month, no commitment, cancel any time.

Or, make a single Contribution Toward These Weekly Teachings. Thanks so much!

​love,
​reb brian yosef

“Vayigash Yehudah Eilav – Yehudah approached..."

---

---

---

When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, that he is the one they nearly killed and sold into slavery, he says, "don't be distressed for having sold me here, ki l'mikhyah sh'lakhani Elokim lifneikhem – for it was to be a provider that the Divine sent me before you!"

​Here we have the great paradox that includes yet goes beyond morality. The brothers did him wrong; there's no excusing them. And yet, Joseph says, "Al ta'atzvu – don't be distressed!" Why? Because it needed to happen that way. Their sin leads to their redemption; their evil was all for the sake of Mercy.

And this is our choice now, in every moment – to practice Al ta'atzvu – not being distressed – and instead knowing that this moment is as it should be. This doesn't excuse or justify hurtful and wrong behavior; it just sets it in the widest, infinite context of Reality, and opens the door to redemption, no matter what the situation... if we can remember to approach this moment, as it is. 

Good Shabbos!

---