Meditation

To consecrate a sacred space, the inclusion of a critical object is reserved for last. In the case of the Tabernacle—which we construct in meditatio, through the recitation of the biblical text—it is the gold altar for burning incense. Its proper use keeps the high priest alive on Yom Kippur, while its misuse leads to the death of Nadab and Abihu.

What is the actual size of the Tabernacle? How thick are the planks? How do the covers drape over the structure? These questions suggest that the biblical text was composed not to facilitate the physical construction of a three-dimensional structure but to engender visualization, much like the texts accompanying the construction of mandalas.

Ecclesiastes is a cynical reflection on life’s futility. The constant sonorous repetition, visualizations, and references to breath serve as a sustained meditation to help free the reader’s soul from the agonizing struggle of life.