Kavanah, Meditation while Praying

Few weeks back, I downloaded a program called Winkavanah. It is a freeware, I think, and it is downloadable from http://www.godaven.com. It is a very useful programme, offering a multitude of Kavanah tips and recommendations. It also enable you to evaluate your own Kavanah and offer suggestions to improve your Kavanah. Well, Kavanah is very important during Tephilot as we will not pray by rote (Praying for the sake of Praying). As Prayers can be equalised to Sacrifices, subsequently the Sages liken this situation to the Offerings of Noach after the flood.

Genesis 8.20-21 And Noah built an altar unto HaShem; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. HaShem smelled the sweet savour; and HaShem said in His heart: 'I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Then in comparison to this text:

Malachi 1.10 Oh that there were even one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith HaShem of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

In my previous posts, the Book of Malachi started off with HaShem's Dissatisfaction with the offerings presented in the Second Temple at that time. The priests just bring in sacrifices by rote, out of routine and a feeling of obligation rather than doing it sincerely; They lack concentration and, also, they lack sincerity. What does HaShem Said in Gen 8.20-21? HaShem Smelled the nice aroma brought by Noach - the sincerity and toil of hand from Noach Avinu - and Said that it was good. This is what HaShem wants; sincerity and concentration while offering Sacrifices.

When God is Rebuking Yisrael in Book of Malachi, HaShem is essentially Saying this:

'Where is the sweet savour that Noach once brought to me? Where is the sincerity that are supposed to be brought together with the Sacrifices?'

Then what is the relevancy of all these to our Tephilot?

The relevancy is this: as our Tephilot is liken to Sacrifices to HaShem, we must bring to HaShem the sincerity and concentration while we are praying. This is called Kavanah and a proper mindset is required when Prayers are recited. Our Sages said, at the minimum, you must realise that you are Praying in the Presence of the Almighty. If this minimum is not fulfilled, then we are not Praying but merely reading aloud.

This comes back to this: If your prayers are without sincerity and concentration, it will come into likeness to the conditions outlined in the Book of Malachi where everybody just offer sacrifices for the sake of offering sacrifices. So it is very important for us to be meditative and alert with every words we said during prayers. Meditate on each words you read, show it with your expressions, smile and frown where appropriate. This is the essence of Tephilot. May I am not wrong, Baruch HaShem.

Shalom.