We're going to spend some time discussing the mizmor of Ashrei that we say three times a day. Much is said about Ashrei. In fact, who says it three times a day is guaranteed Olam Haba. The Mishna in Masechet Berachot (fifth chapter) describes how the Hasidim HaRishonim /pious men of old would take an hour before they prayed, in order to have proper kavana . The Gemara in Berachot 32B says the source for this is, Ashrei Yoshvei Betecha/fortunate are the ones that sit in Your house. But how? Where do we see, from the words “ Fortunate are the ones that sit in Your house,” that one is supposed to contemplate before prayer? One of the explanations is that “ Fortunate are the ones that sit in Your house, ”means that you don't have to say anything. Just sitting in your house accomplishes something. That's important, and it’s brought down in all of the poskim and commentators. The importance of waiting before you pray is brought down l’halacha in the Rambam. It says that a person must spend some time before he prays, to clear his mind of all the clutter in order to be able to focus on the fact that he's standing in front of God in prayer. Our minds are so busy and so preoccupied that we need to take out that time. Rav Wolbe, in his sefer Alei Shor (vol 2, pg 359), says that the Hasidim HaRishonim waited an hour. We have to wait something . What does ‘ something’ mean? He says that five minutes might be too much, so try one minute on the clock. Sit for one minute, in your spot, and say nothing. Just realize that you're about to stand in front of Hashem and clear out the clutter of your mind. He says that we are constantly rushed, in our modern lifestyles. We're always moving at that fast pace, and we need to slow down before we pray. So he suggests sitting for one minute. And that's our Ashrei Yoshveh Betecha. This fortune comes through sitting , waiting and preparing, whether in shul or at home, before you pray. This concept did not first show up with the Hasidim HaRishonim. According to the Seforno’s understanding, it’s actually a command from God Himself. In Bereshit 35,1, Hashem tells Yaakov Avinu, וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֔ב ק֛וּם עֲלֵ֥ה בֵֽית־אֵ֖ל “ Go and get up and go to Bet El and dwell there .” וְשֶׁב־שָׁ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂה־שָׁ֣ם מִזְבֵּ֔חַ And Sit there And make an altar there. The Seforno asks, what are we adding with those two words- ‘( And) sit there ?’ The Seforno answers that Hashem was telling Yaakov Avinu this principle of the pious men of old, as he was about to build an altar, and that’s what our prayer is today; it’s a substitute for the sacrifices or offerings on the altar. Hashem was teaching that you can't just dive into that offering. You have to sit and contemplate. So this is an ancient concept. People today look to Eastern cultures for meditation and mindfulness. But everything that's good is found in our Torah. That's this concept of Ashrei Yoshvei Betecha. You don't have to sit there with your legs crossed and a turban on. You can sit with your legs straight with your tefilin on. The point is the same: Focus . Clear your mind of the clutter before you pray. Another source for this concept is found in the Yalkut Shemoni, Shemuel ב It says that David Hamelech says, “I would not pray to God until I stood still and calmed down. And then I would pray.” As it says in Shemuel ב (7,18) וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב לִפְנֵ֣י ה׳ “ King David came, and he sat in front of God,” He sat , and after he sat and had kavana , and then he started to pray. So this is something we see in the greats of our past: Yaakov Avinu, David Hamelech… they are teaching us this important concept of Ashrei Yoshvei Betecha/ Fortunate are the ones that just sit and contemplate before they pray and clear their minds of the clutter. And again, this is brought down in Shulchan Aruch ( Or HaChaim chapter 98) This is not just for Hasidim HaRishonim. He says, this is probably the most difficult thing for people, “ Remove all the thoughts that are preoccupying you, until your thoughts and your kavana are pure.” And then you can start praying. That's for the regular person. The Hasidim HaRishonim would spend an hour , and they would reach high levels. We're just asking for a few moments of Ashrei Yoshvei Betecha. Have a wonderful day.