Zen and Rosh Hashonnah - Purification and Repentance

The practice and principles of Zen training, are deeply applicable to Rosh Hashonnah, and serve to enhance and illuminate the deeper meanings and practices of the Jewish New Year.

Following are some points of comparison:

The themes of Rosh Hashonnah:

1) Teshuvah – (Repentance and Return)

Rosh Hashonnah is a time for repentance and return. Teshuvah means to return to the source of your being.

This is precisely what we do in our hours of silence during zazen. We turn around, away from the phenomenal world with its endless demands and distractions and return to the essence of ourselves and of Gd.

Repentance includes not only returning to the Source, but also becoming aware of our sins (or errors), both intentional ones and unintentional ones, feeling remorse for them and making the necessary corrections.

In zazen practice we naturally and inevitably become aware of all that is going on within, often feel sorrow and remorse, and through the cleansing process of sitting, breathing and awareness, correction naturally arises.

2) Coronation of the King

A main theme of Rosh Hashonnah is to declare Gd King over us, it is the coronation of the King - to declare and affirm that we are Gd’s subjects and servants.

The question of what it means to truly serve Gd is a koan we sit with continually. By practicing zazen we give up our egoistic ways of being, our selfish needs and desires and become simple and surrendered to our true nature (Gd).

3) The Gates of Repentance describe different practices involved in repentance. These practices are all integral aspects of Zen practice, simplicity, humility, sensitivity, service.

4) Give up Pride. Pride itself is one of the worst sins.

In zazen we dissolve ego, continually experience our oneness with all beings.

5) Confess Errors

In zazen we cannot help but see what we have done, right and wrong. We
constantly confess our errors to ourselves and relinquish them.

6) Take New Actions – correct past mis-deeds.

As we sit and focus within, our actions naturally alter as we become kinder, more giving, less defensive and more available.


7) Time of Judgment

Jewish practice emphasizes that along with the judgment (din) that Rosh Hashonnah brings, there is also the gift of forgiveness and mercy. By doing true
Repentance, not only are our sins erased, but if teshuvah is done with “love”, our former sins are turned into mitzvot, into light, blessings and love.

Through zazen practice, as well, we turn poison into medicine, we take that which is negative and bitter and it becomes fertilizer for developing wisdom and kindness of heart.

8) Mercy and Forgiveness

During Rosh Hashonnah we are instructed to say to all we have interacted with in the previous year, “

"If I have done anything to hurt you this year, please forgive me.”

This practice allows us to humble ourselves and to clear relationships.

As we practice zazen, as we see and release that which is painful and difficult, a heart of forgiveness and kindness arises. Not only are we able to forgive others, but also are able to forgive ourselves.

9) Be Sensitive and Mindful

In zazen practice we say that errors we have made have arisen from lack of consciousness and awareness. We can only behave on the level of awareness we occupy. In order to remedy this, we practice zazen daily, to become always more mindful, awake and aware.

10) Devekut – Clinging to Gd

The ultimate purpose of Rosh Hashonnah is to cling to Gd and erase all obstacles to our doing so. In zazen practice too, as we practice deep concentration and devotion, we naturally attain oneness with our Source.