There is a mitzvah to say one hundred brachos each day. When a person davens three tefillos and washes for bread twice daily, he will almost have the entire quota of one hundred brachos. The one hundred brachos bring brachos and salvation to the world. And obviously, the more kavanah one has when he says the one hundred brachos, the better it will be for him and the entire world.
The Or Zarua (42) writes, "I knew an old Yid from Vamsh named Reb Bunim, who worked for the chevra kadisha... Once, Reb Bunim awoke early, went to the beis knesess, and saw someone sitting outside the beis knesses wearing a crown of herbs on his head. Reb Bunim feared that he might be a sheid (demon). "Aren't you Ploni, who died, and I buried you?" Reb Bunim asked. "That's correct." "How are things for you in that world?" "Extremely good!" "How did you merit this? You weren’t so special in this world." "It is because I would say the brachos in the beis kneses in a sweet voice. I was rewarded for this. They brought me to Gen Eden, and they honored me. Do you see my torn sleeve? This is a sign that it is I. You tore it while dressing me in the tachrichim (shrouds)." "What are you wearing on your head?" "Leaves from Gan Eden. I put them on my head so I won’t smell the bad odor of this world."
The Or Zarua concludes, "I, the author, write this story so those who fear Heaven will learn to say Hakadosh Baruch Hu's praises with a sweet voice and with concentration, and they will merit Gan Eden."
The concept of saying one hundred brachos each day is hinted at in this week’s parashah. It states that the Mishkan was built with one hundred silver אדנים, foundations (see 38:27). The Baal HaTurim writes that the Chachamim established that we say one hundred brachos each day to correspond to the one hundred adanim of the Mishkan.
The Chidushei HaRim zt'l explains that just like the adanim were the foundation of the Mishkan, the one hundred brachos are the foundation of the holiness of a Yid. This is because a Yid should make himself into a Mishkan, a place where Hashem's presence resides. A mishkan needs a foundation. The foundation in the midbar was the one hundred adanim of the Mishkan, and the foundation of a Yid is the one hundred daily brachos that he says.
The Chidushei HaRim adds, "אדנים comes from the word אדון master because with the brachos we testify that Hashem is the Master over the entire creation."
One of the primary reasons for brachos is so we should remember Hashem. The Rambam (Hilchos Brachos 1:3) writes, "The rabbanim instituted many brachos...so we will always remember the Creator."
There was a time during Dovid HaMelech's rule when one hundred people died each day. Dovid HaMelech sought the reason behind this epidemic. With his wisdom and ruach hakodesh, he understood that the epidemic would end if Klal Yisrael would say one hundred brachos each day. The Tur writes, "Therefore, the Chachamim established birchas hashachar [the morning brachos], which praises Hashem for the way He leads the world to fill the quota of one hundred brachos daily."
Reb Shimshon Pinkus zt’l explained it with a mashal: When people don’t get along and hardly speak to each other, if one greets his fellow man with a happy countenance and blessings - and will do so several times a day - the other person will be forced to feel positive towards him. This is what Dovid HaMelech understood through his ruach hakodesh. He realized that if we praise Hashem, all barriers that separate us from Hashem will disappear, and salvation will come to Bnei Yisrael.
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 191:3) also states, "It is forbidden to do things while saying a brachah." The Mishnah Berurah adds, "One shouldn’t even do light work..." Following these halachos, it becomes much easier to say brachos with kavanah.
One morning, the Chofetz Chaim noticed a banker davening shacharis very quickly. The Chofetz Chaim approached him and advised him not to go to work that day. "Why not?" The Chofetz Chaim replied, "It is written in halachah that 'one shouldn’t skip over words of Pesukei Dezimrah or swallow the words. He should say the words like someone counting money' (Darchei Moshe 51). If you are going to count money as quickly as you devened, you're better off staying home today."
How to Say the Brachos
Now that we understand the importance of saying one hundred brachos daily, let us learn what will help us say them with kavanah.
The Gemara (Brachos 47.) says, ברכה יזרוק לא מפיו "One mustn’t throw the brachah out of his mouth." Rashi explains that when one rushes through the brachah, it appears as though he wants to get it over with. Furthermore, when he runs through a brachah, he probably won’t say it with kavanah.
Another counsel is to remember before Whom you say the brachah. The Yesod VeShoresh HaAvodah (Shaar HaAshmoros 2) says that this kavanah is written directly in the brachah because one of the words of a brachah is אתה. He writes, "My beloved friends and brothers, think in your hearts, before Whom and to Whom you are saying your brachos... Take this rule with you: No matter what brachah you are saying, when you say אתה ברוך, recognize that you are saying this brachah to the Creator. It is literally so...for this is what אתה ברוך means... When one doesn’t picture...that he is speaking to Hashem, every wise person understands that it is as though he didn’t say the brachah. His punishment is great because he didn’t say the brachah that the Anshei Kneses Hagdolah established, and he is taking away Hashem's pleasure..."
The Yerushalmi quotes a debate whether אתה is part of the brachah. Rav says that we should say אתה in every brachah, and Shmuel says that it is sufficient to say אלקינו 'ד ברוך ...מלך. The halachah is like Rav; therefore, we have a reminder in each brachah that we are speaking directly to Hashem.
When one says העולם מלך, he can think about Hashem's greatness, and when he says אלקינו we can think about Hashem's love and attachment to us.
Each person should find their way to be inspired to say the 100 brachos with kavanah. The Rabbeinu Tam in Sefer HaYasher (shaar 13) writes, "It is better a little bit that is consistent than a lot that doesn’t last." It therefore might be a good idea to choose three or four brachos that you wish to say with kavanah and say these brachos well every day. It is a relatively small undertaking, but it can be sustained for a long time.
When you say three or four brachos well and see how easy it is to do so and how enjoyable it is to praise Hashem properly, you will be motivated to say several other brachos with kavanah. Taking on a small kabbalah can lead to saying all brachos with kavanah.
Indications to the 100 Brachos
There are many hints in Tanach about the 100 brachos, which indicate their importance.
