Kavanah whilst Davening: Difference between revisions

# One should not pray while one is in the state of sadness.<ref> Ben Ish Chai (Parshat Miketz, 5) </ref>

# One should not begin to daven while in a state of laughter and levity; rather, one should enter davening with a state of seriousness ("koved rosh").

# One should begin to pray with a sense of happiness in fulfilling the mitzva one is about to fulfill, similar to the joy one experiences when one is involved in the study and pursuit of Torah knowledge.  This is why we recite [[Pesukei DeZimrah]] and [[Tachanun,_Ashrei,_Aleinu,_Shir_Shel_Yom|Ashrei]] (words of Torah) before beginning [[Shacharit]] and [[Mincha]].<ref>Tosfot 31a s.v. Rabanan</ref>

# Chazal emphasize that quality of intent is more important than quantity with regards to korbanot. In chazal's language, "regardless of whether one brings a large korban or a small one it is equally acceptable, as long as one's intentions are for heaven."<ref> Menachot 110a </ref> The same idea applies to [[Tefillah]].<ref> Tur and Shulchan Aruch O.C. 1:4 write that it is preferable to pray a little with Kavana than to pray a lot without kavana. </ref>

# Accordingly, if one can pray a lot or a little and either way will be with kavana, clearly it is better to pray more. However if there are extenuating circumstance and it is not possible to pray a lot with kavana or one fears that if one prays more he will probably pray without kavana, he should pray less with kavana rather than more without kavana. In that situation davening less is considered before Hashem as if one prayed a lot with kavana.<ref> Tur and Shulchan Aruch O.C. 1:4 write that it is preferable to pray a little with Kavana than to pray a lot without Kavana. Mishna Brurah 1:12 writes that clearly it is preferable to pray more with kavana than to pray less with kavanah, however, the Shulchan Aruch is talking about a case where such is not possible. Halacha Brurah 1:11 concurs. </ref>

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