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.
By:
Tamar Frankiel
Imprint: Jewish Lights Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 16mm
Weight: 503g
ISBN: 9781683363682
ISBN 10: 168336368X
Pages: 250
Publication Date: 17 May 2001
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgments ix A Note on the History of Kabbalah xiii PART I SEEKING A NEW VISION 1 Chapter 1 Opening the World of Kabbalah 3 From Concealment to Revelation 3 Remembering Who We Are 5 Is Kabbalah Only for Jews? 9 How Kabbalah Can Help You 11 Chapter 2 Kabbalah and the Image of God 15 Where Is the Real World? 15 The Turkey Prince 18 Revealing Divine Light 20 Mapping the Divine Energies 23 PART II THE UNFOLDING OF CREATION 29 Chapter 3 Divine Mind 31 The Divine Sea of Consciousness 31 The Beginnings of Desire: Keter-Crown 33 Wisdom and Wildness: Chochmah-Wisdom 35 Pattern and Imagination: Binah-Understanding 40 Unification and Intellect: Da'at-Knowledge 47 Chapter 4 Divine Energies 51 A World of Multiplicity 51 Dynamics of Duality 53 Love Is the Source: Chesed-Expansiveness 56 Separation and the Reality of Pain: Gevurah-Restraint 58 A Personal God 63 Vision and Higher Purpose: Tiferet-Splendor 67 The Heart Connection 71 Chapter 5 Divine Actualization 75 Harnessing Life Force: Netzach-Perseverance and Hod-Surrender 75 Lineage, History, Karma: Yesod-Foundation 80 Rewriting the Past 83 Bringing Energy into Form: Malkhut-Manifestation 88 Following the Rule 91 PART III THE PATH OF REMEMBERING 97 Chapter 6 Clearing the Path 99 Examining Our Personal History 99 Ego and Naming 101 The Past and Its Presence 104 Choosing Companions 107 Transforming Emotional Ties 111 Collective Demons and Their Victims 116 Chapter 7 Realizing Your Intent 121 Spiritual Awakening 122 Creating a Practice 126 Being Wholehearted 142 The Soul’s Mission 144 Chapter 8 Revealing Your Soul 149 The Light Radiates from Within 149 A Chorus of Angels 151 Life’s Challenges 156 Achieving Equanimity 160 Running and Returning 161 The Spiral of Loving Consciousness 164 The Gift of the Soul 169 PART IV PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF KABBALAH 173 Techniques for Spiritual Growth 175 Affirmations 176 Deepening Your Prayer 178 Meditative Visualizations 180 The House of the Worlds 180 Breath Is the Signature of Spirit 183 Contemplating Your Place in History 185 Releasing Your Past 187 Meditation on Lovingkindness 189 Sefirot in the Jewish Calendar: Sefirat Ha-Omer (Counting the Omer) 192 The Weeks 193 The Days 195 Your Personal Tree of Life 202 Notes 211 Glossary 225 Recommended Readings 229
Tamar Frankiel, PhD, is recognized as one of the leading teachers of Jewish mysticism today. She teaches Jewish mysticism and comparative religion at the Academy for Jewish Religion, Los Angeles, and is the author of many books, including The Voice of Sarah: Feminine Spirituality and Traditional Judaism. She is coauthor of Minding the Temple of the Soul: Balancing Body, Mind, and Spirit through Traditional Jewish Prayer, Movement, and Meditation and Entering the Temple of Dreams: Jewish Prayers, Movements, and Meditations for the End of the Day (both Jewish Lights). She lectures frequently on topics of Jewish mysticism. Frankiel lives with her husband and five children in Los Angeles.
Reviews for The Gift of Kabbalah: Discovering the Secrets of Heaven, Renewing Your Life on Earth
A clear, comprehensive guide to Jewish mystical wisdom. If you've ever asked yourself, 'What can Kabbalah do for me?' this book will provide the answer. Daniel C. Matt, author, The Essential Kabbalah and God & the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony Between Science & Spirituality A beautifully written introduction to essential Jewish mysticism for readers of all backgrounds. It not only provides an excellent combination of clarity and depth of presentation, it also includes many practical exercises to help readers integrate the teachings. Highly recommended. Rabbi David A. Cooper, author, God Is a Verb and Three Gates to Meditation Practice: A Personal Journey into Sufism, Buddhism, and Judaism
