Knowing Beauty and Finding the Universe: Et Hakol Asa

Et-Hakol asa yafeh b’ito, gam et ha-olam natan b’liba

[God] makes everything beautiful in its time, and also hides the universe in their hearts. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Kohelet lays before us a profound spiritual challenge, “to completely enjoy what is before you,” even through uncertainty, even though all our pleasures are temporary.

The practice we are given is to receive and comprehend the beauty of this changing world without grasping or attachment. The hint that we are given which can help us, is that everything that we perceive as outside of ourselves is actually hidden within our own hearts.

The practice we are given is to look inward to find the whole universe hidden there, waiting to be discovered. The hint that we are given which can help us, is that everything is beautiful in its time. When we can perceive the beauty of each and every phase of our existence, then we will recognize the Truth that was inside us all along.

To hear the chant, use the audio player. To download the chant, right-click the note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

Knowing Beauty and Finding the Universe

For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 253.