But there are two mental blocks that stand in the way of our acquiring higher consciousness. The first is the very subjective way we perceive ourselves, which prevents us from seeing our true place in creation. The second is our shortsighted tunnel vision which traps us in the passing moment, blinding us from seeing the vast world beyond.

Both mental blocks are just illusions, superimposed upon us by our egocentricity.

But how are we to heal our souls from these illusions? By replacing them with images of reality. How beneficial it would be to begin such conscious training of the mind while we are still in the prime of youth, developing the skill of visualizing, creating how and what we perceive. These conscious visualizations will slowly replace those crippling self-illusions, and will heal our souls over time.

And there are two kinds of visualizations which are the ultimate antitheses of the illusory perceptions mentioned above. If you master them, you can uproot from your soul those egocentric illusions and fallacies. The first is an eye-opening visualization of the universe, and of man's truly infinitesimal place in it. ¹

THE UNIVERSE

Begin by envisioning planet earth, as if you are actually seeing it from outer space….

Visualize its continents and its oceans….

Envision mankind as he lives on earth….

The different nations and their national borders….

The populations of each of these nations….

Visualize this clearly in your mind's eye until you feel that it is actually before you….

At first, this image will not have much effect. It is a new experience for you. Your visualization skills are not yet developed. But with time and the persistence of daily practice (even twice daily if possible), you will "see" these things in your mind's eye ever more clearly, until you will feel that you can actually touch them.

After visualizing mankind in this way, go on to visualize other life-forms.

ANIMALS AND VEGETATION

See the domestic animals that you know so well, see them in their natural habitats….

See the wild animals in the deserts and forests, see how they prey on their food….

See the house pets that humans enjoy, and the tiny house pests like mosquitoes and flies….

See the great elephant, the snakes and reptiles, see how they move and eat, are born and die….

See all the birds as they fly in the sky, hear the sweet tunes of their chirping….

See all the fish in the rivers and oceans, how they swim, are devoured or caught, are born and die….

See all the grass, the plants and the crops, the vegetables, the thorns and the flowers….

See all the gardens, the orchards and fields, see all the great trees of the forest….

See these all bud, develop and grow, and then, wither and die….

See each of these things in all of its detail, then see all of it as one great whole….

It will take you time to master these visualizations, depending on your nature and your effort. But when they become so vivid that they enchant you, and you actually feel their spellbinding effects, as if you beheld them with your physical eyes, then you are ready to visualize yourself.

YOUR PLACE ON EARTH

First begin by envisioning the very place you are at. Then, visualize yourself in it from afar. How small it is in comparison to your community….

To your city….

To your country….

To your continent….

To planet earth….

See how you are just one human amongst billions, just one creature amongst all others.…

It will be hard at first to visualize this, and to see yourself as just "part of it all." ²

Our illusion of importance, and very sense of self, will just not be willing to accept it. Our grandiose self-image, so deeply ingrained, will prevent us from seeing the uncomfortable truth: We really are so insignificant and small.…

But practice prevails, and with the passage of time you can overcome this inborn blindness. These wondrous sights will then be yours to see at any given moment....

The ultimate source for the author's method of envisioning the world from above can be traced back to when God raised Abraham "outside," telling him to look down at the stars and see his countless offspring (Genesis 15:5). For as long as Abraham saw himself as just "dust" (Genesis 18:27), he was trapped within the laws of the earth and would forever remain infertile. But when he could transcend the world and see it from "above," he would also be able to transcend his inborn nature, and could now become fertile. For as the author says in the following chapter, these visualizations can bring about a complete transformation of self. God would not change Abraham's lot until Abraham changed himself. Abraham had also to believe in his own greatness. In hassidic sources, the Ba'al Shem Tov is quoted as saying that beholding the universe is, in essence, beholding God (Rabbi Klonymus Kalman Shapira in Hakhsharat Ha'avrekhim, Jerusalem 5722, p. 54a).

Another difficulty in visualizing this simply arises from the fact that we have probably never seen our community, our city, our country, and so on, from above. But if you know what the buildings look like from the ground, and you know the layout of the streets, it might be possible to envision yourself slowly rising up from the ground in a hot-air balloon, and seeing the buildings-and the room you are in-becoming smaller and smaller.

There are those with great vision who see mankind's plight, his groping in darkness and his sinking in waters above his neck. Out of a true desire to help their fellow man, they come forth with noble ideas to heal him. They express those ideas in the sweetest-sounding words: League of Nations…world peace…equal rights…absolute freedom for all…

But, alas, they too are gravely mistaken. They do not see that healing mankind is utterly dependent upon first healing each individual. As long as there is no change in the foundations upon which individual learning rests-the family unit, the community, and the educational system-society at large will never be healed.

1. The ultimate source for the author's method of envisioning the world from above can be traced back to when God raised Abraham "outside," telling him to look down at the stars and see his countless offspring (Genesis 15:5). For as long as Abraham saw himself as just "dust" (Genesis 18:27), he was trapped within the laws of the earth and would forever remain infertile. But when he could transcend the world and see it from "above," he would also be able to transcend his inborn nature, and could now become fertile. For as the author says in the following chapter, these visualizations can bring about a complete transformation of self. God would not change Abraham's lot until Abraham changed himself. Abraham had also to believe in his own greatness. In hassidic sources, the Ba'al Shem Tov is quoted as saying that beholding the universe is, in essence, beholding God (Rabbi Klonymus Kalman Shapira in Hakhsharat Ha'avrekhim, Jerusalem 5722, p. 54a).
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2. Another difficulty in visualizing this simply arises from the fact that we have probably never seen our community, our city, our country, and so on, from above. But if you know what the buildings look like from the ground, and you know the layout of the streets, it might be possible to envision yourself slowly rising up from the ground in a hot-air balloon, and seeing the buildings-and the room you are in-becoming smaller and smaller.

Visions of a Compassionate World is a practical guide for spiritual development that addresses the whole person: Mind and emotions, body and soul. In an age of self-discovery and search for awareness, this dynamic work from over three-quarters of a century ago brings clarity through meditation, guided imagery, psychology, and kabbalah. With its uplifting message of universal peace, Visions of a Compassionate World reveals a spiritual path, away from ego-traps and self-centered consciousness, toward the pursuit of a more compassionate life.

It is a work that goes straight to the heart of the spiritual hunger and searching we feel and see all around us. It defines the hunger and shows it to us experientially, theoretically, and methodically. Our true capacity for compassion is only as large as our dimension and awareness of the soul. The broader and deeper our dimension of soul, the farther and all en-compass-ing is our compassion.

The author, Menachem Ekstein, was the son of a prominent Zhikover hassid and leading communal figure in Reisha at the turn of the twentieth century. Although both father and son attest that this book, originally published in 1921, is drawn solely from hassidic sources, there is not one single quote throughout the entire book. This gives the work a beautifully universal flavor. Nevertheless, the translator has made a humble attempt at pointing out where some of the ideas discussed in the book can be found in hassidic texts. Parts of the book appeared in Yiddish translation in the Orthodox journal, Beth Yaakov during the 1930's. Menachem perished along with his family during the Holocaust.

The book is available at a discount from the translator. He can be reached at: yms123@barak-online.net; by telephone (972)-2-5003591, or by fax (972)-153-2-5003591. Please contact him for details.