Meditation of any form requires complete inner silence. When a person achieves such quiet he can hear that which is outside himself, even silent voices that cannot be detected with ears of flesh. People on a very high spiritual level can retain such a connection even while fulfilling normal human functions such as talking and working. They get disconnected immediately, however, if their environment is not carefully monitored to stay conducive to their aspirations. Just as loud garish music will keep anyone's concentration level low, so crass behavior and socializing with people who are self-involved will disrupt meditation. Even the simple ability to feel another person's plight, to share his happiness and sorrow, requires sensitivity that can be squelched by internal and external distractions. Sensitivity. Such a rare phenomenon in our modern-day world where everybody is "in touch".
The Torah expects every Jew to aspire to no less than prophecy. To this end, each one of us is put on a strict regimen of diet, behavior and fraternity. Any food, for example, that might evoke even the slightest animalistic tendency, must be foregone so as to be able to meet the challenge. Also, when a woman's hormones are overactive and emotions cloud clear thought, distance must be prescribed in spite of the difficulty involved. We are in training and cannot be distracted from the goal. All human relations must be kept on a superhuman level of morality so the connection will not be disturbed. Proximity to the animal within us will put an abrupt end to our efforts.
Adapted from Rabbi Vali's book on Vayikra. Questions and subscriptions can be mailed to: the Yeshiva
Chag Kasher Vesameach