The Tabernacle As a Model for Meditation

Book excerpt: When Moses received the 10 commandments from God written on the tablets of stone, he also received details on how to construct a temple like structure called the tabernacle. Housing the Ark of the Covenant and the presence of God, the tabernacle became the centre for spiritual activity among the 12 tribes of Israel while wandering in the wilderness. The temple built by King Solomon and many later churches and cathedrals were built according to the same pattern. As well, many of the articles and rituals from the modern Christian church can trace their origins back to the tabernacle. The New Testament idea that our bodies are the temple of God is at the very heart of this book, The Tabernacle as a Model for Meditation. Among the many thousands of readings given by American psychic Edgar Cayce are found numerous references to the tabernacle as a pattern for the human body. Written symbolically into the structure and articles of the tabernacle is found a parallel to the body of man. The duties and functions of the priests are symbolic of inner physiological, psychological and spiritual processes. The means to worship and enter into this holy structure (our own bodies) is through the practice of meditation. Some meditation techniques based on the Edgar Cayce readings are discussed. In exploring the ancient Chinese medical and meditation texts, we find that they too recognize a tabernacle like structure in the energy patterns of the body. While the tabernacle sat in the desert interacting with the 12 tribes, the Chinese structure is in the energy body and interacts with 12 meridians. It seems that even in other cultures the body is indeed the temple of God.