Thursday, February 16, 2006
Our friend Lazer of Lazer Beams has produced another amazing post, this time we quote it almost in its entirety:
The Melitzer Rebbe Shlita taught me the secrets of praying with a niggun (melody), as follows:
1. A niggun speaks the heart's deepest emotions, and is far more expressive than words.
2. A niggun rises higher and faster than words.
3. Prayer in words only is subject to a bombardment of outside thoughts and disturbances that destroy kavanna, or intent. A niggun focuses prayer by uniting the brain and the heart. The stronger and better-focused the prayer, the more resistant it is to the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination), who tries to destroy the prayer or block its ascent.
4. A niggun helps a person cling to Hashem almost instantly; when one clings to Hashem, nothing can block prayer.
5. A niggun cleanses the soul, and facilitates the wonderful emotional releases of tears and laughter.
The Melitzer Rebbe Shlita also quoted an advice from the Arizal for anything that ails or troubles a person: During Shacharis (morning prayers), one should sing Shiras HaYam word for word and in the niggun of Torah reading. 
The full post, including Lazer's "secret spiritual artillery", is here.
