All of us need to set aside time, protected and expansive, to train our consciousness to flow through our higher self. Such personal retreats are a sine qua non for the spiritual "mover" - the person who dismisses self-satisfaction and smugness and prefers spiritual motion. Some people retreat formally each year or even twice a year. Others set aside a monthly half-day in their homes, but removed from phone, computer, people and "busy-ness"

The word "prayer" is an antiquated English term, a Shakespearean-like request or entreaty. The Hebrew word, teffilah, has quite a different connotation

That is why the daily period of teffilah is referred to by the masters as the time for "waging war". The truer and higher self, Nefesh Elokit, literally wages war against the Nefesh Behamit -- our temptations and poor habits. To fight this inner battle successfully the spiritual aspirant has to be fully aware of his/her shortcomings. This requires a clear and courageous scanning of the communication and behaviour patters. In the process it has to subdue and convert the strong pulls and tugs of mundane pleasure and self-seeking reverie. The "monkey-mind", forever restless and antic-ridden, has to strive for focus. The emotions' infatuation with the experiential have to be redirected into energetic expressions of wisdom and other-centeredness.

The purpose of this inner battle is not to conquer and eliminate the "enemy" -- the lower-self. It is to tame and use it in the service of our higher attributes. It is not a matter of creating states of non-thinking and non-feeling. Strong emotions are desirable and fulfilling, but the "horse" has to be taught to respond to the directions of its master. Passion is dualistic and can either hurt and injure self and other, or become the very drive needed to overcome challenge and create inner unity.

This is a tall order for a daily regime. Yet this is what Chassidic teachings prescribe. Waging this daily war is therefore much enhanced by strategy

Exercises:

MASTERY: Take one week to experiment with teffilah. Prepare daily for five minutes by reviewing one of the prayers, but creatively finding personal relevance in some phrase or theme. Use that theme as a "surf-board" to negotiate the waves of introspection during the prayer period. Allow it to become a focus and thereby give a flavour to the time you spend with yourself daily.

MEDITATION: Read audibly one of the teffilah paragraphs to yourself. Select a phrase or word that resonates with you. Allow it focus your heart and mind for a few minutes or longer in a state of quiet and relaxation. Allow it to grow and become a beacon for your soul, allowing to assume a personal meaning to you. Then re-read the teffilah, this time allowing it to soak up the spiritual ambience created through the focus on your word or phrase. Give yourself some time to allow the result to flow through you embedding change and progress.
 
Adapted by Laibl Wolf from the classic Chassidic work Likkutei Torah by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (founder of Chabad Chassidism, 1745-1812).