Meditation and Kabbalah [Hardcover]

Aryeh Kaplan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

The Kabbalah is divided into three branches—the theoretical, the meditative, and the practical. While many books, both in Hebrew and English, have explored the theoretical Kabbalah, virtually nothing has been published regarding the meditative methods of these schools. This is the first book published in any language that reveals the methodology of the Kabbalists and stresses the meditative techniques that were essential to their discipline. Kaplan offers a lucid presentation of the mantras, mandalas, and other devices used by these schools, as well as a penetrating interpretation of their significance in light of contemporary meditative research.

In addition, Meditation and Kabbalah presents relevant portions of such meditative texts as the Greater Hekhalot (textbook of the Merkava School), the writings of Abraham Abulafia, Joseph Gikatalia's Gates of Holiness, Gate of the Holy Spirit (textbook of the Lurianic School), and the important meditative hasidic classics. Also investigated is the intriguing possibility, suggested by the Zohar, that the meditative methods of the East might have been derived from the mystical techniques of the prophets.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was born in New York City and was educated in The Torah Voda'as and Mir Yeshivot in Brooklyn. After years of study at Jerusalem's Mir Yeshiva, he was ordained by some of Israel's foremost rabbinic authorities. He also earned a master's degree in physics and was listed in Who's Who in Physics in the United States. In the course of a writing career spanning only twelve years, Rabbi Kaplan earned a reputation as one of the most effective, persuasive, scholarly, and prolific exponents of Judaism in the English language. He died on January 28, 1983, at the age of 48.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc.; 1st Jason Aronson Inc. ed edition (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568213816
• ISBN-13: 978-1568213811
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,095,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A crucial study of meditation, December 18, 2001

By 

A. J. Valasek (Clemmons, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meditation and Kabbalah (Paperback)

This is a very good book for those that are competent in the basic terminology of Kabbalah. If you're not, you will struggle with this text. This book gives the reader a very broad appreciation for the art of meditation through a broad compilation of the various Kabbalistic literature that is unaccesible to most people and nearly impossible to taste if your language is only English. This book covers all of the major schools and their most noticeable differences and provides enough "meat" to contemplate the various methods of meditation themselves. This book is not an expositon on the Bible, but it is biblicaly based although not readily apparent. If you're looking for your first book on meditation, don't start here, this isn't a beginners text. Instead try Kaplan's other book, "Jewish Meditation." However, if you're ready to take a deeper look and wan't to gain a broader perspective on the various methods, this is an excellent text.

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Based on authentic Kabbalah from Jewish tradition, July 18, 1999

By 

Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Meditation and Kabbalah (Hardcover)

This is the best, most Jewishly-authentic book on kabbalah available in English today. Neither a pop "new age" book nor a contemporary attempt to "update" Judaism, it was written by a practicing orthodox rabbi who knew what he was talkng about! Rabbi Kaplan's clear explanations and lucid translations of important source texts were among the first to appear in English, making this almost-forgotten meditation tradition more accessible once more. Should be on the shelf of every serious Jewish seeker.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No rubbish, only the "purest gold" translated, July 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Meditation and Kabbalah (Paperback)

Rabbi Kaplan, Z"L, as ever, does a great job by inheriting the world the first translation of the almost forgotten methods of meditation used by the Talmudic sages, Chasidim, R. Abulafia, R. Luria, Baal Shem Tov, etc. They all seem dangerous (if you understand Kabbalah fully and are guided by an excellent teacher, there will be no problem) but are a good reference on the evolution and diversification of these techniques to attain revelation and ecstasy. 100% recommendable, easy to read.