The Transformative Power of the Cohen’s Mind
Can our minds transform reality? Can we unlock a complex negotiation, solve an arduous customer problem, or overcome an engineering challenge simply by focusing our mind on the task at hand and avoiding distractions?
The Torah offers us a comprehensive and meticulous description of the vestments that the Cohen Gadol, the High Priest of Israel, had to wear when ministering in the Jerusalem Temple. These holy garments were intended to provide “dignity and beauty” (Exodus 28:2) to the serving High Priest, the spiritual leader of the people of Israel. One of the four special garments was a holy crown of solid gold, known as the tziytz, which was engraved with Hebrew letters that spelled out, “Dedicated to God.” This was worn on the Cohen’s forehead.
The tziytz reminded the Cohen to remain constantly aware of his service: connecting the community to God.
Rabbi Yehuda teaches us in the Talmud (Yoma 7b) that the tziytz had transformative power. Specifically, it could turn impure to pure. If an Israelite brought an offer to the Temple and the given animal was found to be impure, then the tziytz had the power to forgive the sacrifice’s impurity. Thereafter, the animal would be accepted. However, this would only work if two conditions were met. First the Cohen Gadol (i.e., the High Priest) had to be wearing the tziytz at that very moment. Moreover, he had to be fully aware that he was wearing the tziytz. Thus, if the Cohen was distracted and contemplating the details of his next vacation, then the sacrifice would be rejected.
The Cohen knew how to control his thoughts and was in a constant state of God’s contemplation. As a result, he could shape reality by concentrating on his true purpose: connecting the Jewish People to the Creator. This real-time connection had practical effects, for it could transform an objectively impure sacrifice into a pure one.
We can learn from the Cohen Gadol regarding the transformative power of our minds and the power of awareness, concentration, and focus. In modern times, the smartphone is the antithesis of the tziytz. While the tziytz is inherently about focus, our smartphones have been designed as vehicles of distraction. For instance, a parent may be engaged in an important discussion with their teenage daughter, trying to concentrate and connect deeply with her — to her world and feelings — but a device unfortunately notifies them that they should pay attention to something “much more important.” Likewise, we may be attempting to solve a business challenge with colleagues; however, they constantly become distracted by their device, making it increasingly difficult to facilitate deep discussions and tackle the more complicated issues humanity is being faced with.
We must learn to switch off our devices when we aspire to shape reality. Then, we need to learn how to master our thoughts, using meditation to silence distracting thoughts. However, freeing our minds is not enough; we must also learn how to concentrate, focus, and contemplate the reality we need to improve. Contemplation involves intense concentration on the depth of a subject, where one grasps it very strongly until she understands it completely. Only then can we connect to our true selves and tap into the formidable transformative power of our minds.
