Kabbalah And Meditation For The Nations

Ours is the first generation in modern times to understand the truly universal human condition and to seek to bring all peoples of the earth together in peace and harmony. We are the first generation to truly understand that we are faced with the challenge of either inhabiting our planet harmoniously or not inhabiting it at all. Filling our future is the fundamentalism that threatens to pit one religion against another. But, our different relationships and understandings of G-d should not be the reason for conflict but the source of goodwill in building our relationships with one another and our ability to understand others. The covenant with the Jewish people was not the first made between the Almighty and mankind. Before the revelation at Mt. Sinai, G-d commanded Adam and then made a covenant with Noah, giving them the guidelines for the universal religion of mankind. The most well-known part of this covenant is the seven universal commandments, or the Seven Noahide Laws. For this reason, Judaism and Jews do not proselytize, but rather seek to guide the nations of the world in developing their own relationship with the Almighty and implementing these potentially unifying laws of basic human nature. This book offers you a glimpse into the tremendous mystical power and meaning of G-d's covenant with humanity and the Seven Noahide Laws, as explained in Kabbalah. It focuses on their spiritual and inner dimensions and inspires a deeper look at our best hope for achieving world peace and a better future for all beings.

Toward the Infinite is a guide to focusing on the Kabbalistic Hitbonenut - deep contemplation method of meditation. It encompasses the entire meditative experience and takes the reader on an engaging journey through meditation, beginning with the readying of oneself for the meditation and continuing through the actual meditative experience. The various states and expansiveness of consciousness are discussed. Whereas we may begin on a level of ego-centricity, we slowly peal away the shells of superficiality and attain a state of total bitul ha'yesh -negation of separate self and dip into a condition of ayin - nothingness and non-awareness. Ultimately, the journey comes full circle with the positive effects the meditation has on the meditator's daily life. Written for a wide range of readers, this book deliberately excludes learned quotations and references yet it is uncompromising in the truth of its teachings. This intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging exploration of mediation is both inspirational and spiritually uplifting.

n this volume, Rabbi Steven Fisdel explores, Jewish meditation practices as the experiential side of Kabbalah and therefore as one of the primary sources for the development of the mystic thought and belief in Judaism. This work focuses on a variety of mystic traditions within Kabbalah that relate directly to meditative practice. It incorporates several different schools of thought and represents various periods in the development of Kabbalah. Among the traditions included for elucidation are the mysticism of the Hebrew alphabet, the Ayin meditation of Dov Baer of Mezeritch and Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, as well as selections from the Sefer Yetzirah and the Zohar.

Meditative methods of Kabbalah. A lucid presentation of the meditative methods, mantras, mandalas and other devices used, as well as a penetrating interpretation of their significance in the light of contemporary meditative research.

Based on a series of lectures that Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan gave to a small group of students in Brooklyn in 1981, this contains transcripts of the series on the Kabbalistic system, and testifies to his wonderful ability to transmit profound ideas in a readily-graspable way. Although this is an introductory text, it contains many perspectives that are expressed in a unique way, so it would be quite valuable even for the more advanced student of Jewish mysticism.

What is meditation? Many people mistakenly understand it as an attempt to clear the mind and thereby transcend the intellect. It is not that. As Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh explains in this illuminating work, meditation is meant to refine our intellect to become a channel for Divine consciousness.In this work, the rabbi guides us through a meditation rooted in basic Judaic teachings, also useful to practitioners of other spiritual disciplines. The core meditative exercise presented here is examined at length through the prism of Kabbalistic thought. It focuses on positive thinking, Divine love, and negation of any negative influences.The exercise is both a meditation in itself and a platform for other meditations, and involves essentially imagining oneself in a six-sided "thought cube" which creates a protective, spiritual "sanctuary" around oneself. Within this sacred space one can safely open one's heart in prayer.Glossary and index included.

Jewish meditation offers therapeutic psychological and physical benefits, including greater self-awareness and self-acceptance. While all the teachings of this book are designed to promote personal healing and well-being, some are intended to give spiritual fortitude to those who are undergoing particular hardships. Everyday Kabbalah is the first step-by-step manual integrating spiritual teaching and meditation lessons of the Musar, Hasidic and kabbalistic schools. It will also increase people's knowledge about Judaism and give them the means to live happier lives.

Gain a better understanding of the Kabbalah path to spiritual transformation and a deeper connection with the Jewish faith Coming from the Hebrew root that means "to receive," Kabbalah is known as the "inner" or "esoteric" dimension of Judaism. Kabbalah for Beginners is your introduction to a great spiritual tradition that will help you deepen your experience of the Divine through Kabbalistic portals into the Eternal Present. Divided into four categories: theosophical, ecstatic, Hasidic, and contemporary, this book explores everything including ancient concepts, core teachings, practices and traditions, and even misconceptions of Kabbalah. Written in a contemporary tone and point of view, this beginner's guide brings this ancient discipline into the here and now. In Kabbalah for Beginners you'll find: God is existence—The Kabbalist method is that God is not a being, not even the most supreme being, but is rather Being itself. What is Kabbalah—Get inspired by interspersed quotes from the Torah and frequent sidebars that highlight the Kabbalah's relevance to readers' experiences. Spirituality simplified—Learn through a clear straightforward language to bring intuitiveness to deep philosophical concepts. Discover a contemporary guide to this ancient wisdom and move toward spiritual transformation.

The first comprehensive, down-to-earth introduction to explain the primary message of Kabbalah--that we are to become like God. Unlike the faddish books that just discuss Kabbalah as a magical system, or those that treat it as if it were separable from Judaism, this inspiring book makes accessible the mysteries of Kabbalah with thorough scholarship and depth of spiritual insight. It traces the evolution of Kabbalah in Judaism and sets forth its most important gift: a way of revealing the connection that exists between our "everyday" life and the spiritual oneness of the universe. Including hands-on "personal Kabbalah" exercises that help bring the teachings into your life, The Gift of Kabbalahexplores: Healing from the Source Holiness in the Ordinary Contemplating Your Place in History Building a Positive Structure for Life The Soul's Contract with God ... and much more.

Jewish mystics from biblical times to the present have explored the hidden secrets of the Torah in quest of a single goal: to lose the self in the Infinite "No-thingness" (Ein Sof) and be at one with God. In language accessible to the layperson, this Shambhala Guide provides a detailed introduction to the complex world of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. With an extensive background in meditation practice, Perle Besserman emphasizes Kabbalah's spiritual disciplines, grounded in righteous living, devotional practices, and meditation. She discusses the Kabbalistic universe, including the four worlds and ten sefirot; Jewish meditation techniques and instructions for beginning meditation; mystics and teachers from Rabbi Akiva and the Baal Shem Tov to Aryeh Kaplan; the often uneasy relationship between Kabbalah and mainstream Judaism; and applying the ancient wisdom of Jewish mysticism to life in the world of today.