Question:
I very much appreciate the work of the chashuve rabbonim on this site, and I have a simple question.
- How does one really daven properly? When observing gedolim while they daven, there seems to be total focus and presence. What are they thinking about during tefillah? Is it simply concentrating on the pashut pshat of the words, or something more?
- How does one improve in this area? I find that my mind often wanders during davening, and I’m looking for guidance on how to develop greater focus and depth.
Answer:
Hello,
It is heartwarming to know that what is done on this site is appreciated.
- Regarding your questions, the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 89-1) gives us clear directives, although this takes a lot of work to actually achieve. When we daven, we have to try to separate ourselves from thinking about our worldly matters and concentrate on the fact that we are now talking to our creator, the king of kings. Yes, you should concentrate on the pashut pshat, or any other pshat you have, as long as you are concentrating on what you are saying and that you are talking to Hashem. (I can’t tell you exactly what the gedolim are concentrating on while davening, because no two people’s tefillos are the same, but the idea is what was described already.)
- Your mind is wandering? You are not alone. Everyone has this issue, and the yetzer hora specifically tries to get our minds to wander. What you can do to help with this is to hold the siddur in your hand and make sure to read the words from the siddur. This is a very helpful strategy to enhance our concentration during davening.
Hashem should help you grow in tefillah and answer all of your prayers.
Best wishes
