The Way of Flame: A Guide to the Forgotten Mystical Tradition of Jewish Meditation [Hardcover]

Avram Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

Noting the high percentage of Jewish individuals who have turned to Buddhism, a joyful guide reveals the lesser-known traditions of meditation, contemplation, and silence that can be found within Judaism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fail-safe way to begin exploring Jewish meditation practice." -- Sylvia Boorstein, author of It's Easier Than You Think

"A remarkable exploration of a hidden side of Judaism. . . . Entertaining, provocative, required reading for anyone interested in authentic Jewish mysticism." -- Rabbi David A. Cooper, author of God Is a Verb and A Heart of Stillness: A Complete Guide to Learning the Art of Meditation

"Deserves to become a classic. . . . Poetic, authoritative, and instructive, all at the same time." -- New Age Journal

"Deserves to become a classic...Poetic, authoritative, and instructive, all at the same time." -- New Age Journal

"Readers will immerse themselves in this pool of wisdom and emerge refreshed, eager to cultivate their own spiritual path." -- Daniel C. Matt, author of The Essential Kabbalah and God & the Big Bang

"With fervor and gentleness [Davis] leads the committed to renewal and invites the searching of those who yearn to 'taste and see.'" -- Rabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi, ALEPH, Alliance for Jewish Renewal --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Avram Davis is a respected teacher of Jewish meditation and spirituality. He is the founder and co-director of an independent renewal center for Jewish learning and meditation, Chochmat HaLev, in Berkeley, CA. He is the editor of Meditation from the Heart of Judaism (Jewish Lights). --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 159 pages
• Publisher: Harper San Francisco; 1st edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060617527
• ISBN-13: 978-0060617523
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,572,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Jewish Meditation text by a living master, September 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Way of Flame: A Guide to the Forgotten Mystical Tradition of Jewish Meditation (Paperback)

Truly a monumentous book on Jewish Meditation defining the landscape and language of the Jewish Mystics and giving practical how-to instructions to begin Jewish meditation. By a true master, an organizer and a wonderful teacher. He is single handedly reshaping the world of Jewish Meditation. Disguised as an introductory book on Jewish meditation, this book has many levels of understanding capable of taking the serious student to many wonderous places. Crafted with a simple approach. Like a simple candle flame which on closer inspection reveals many layers and complexities of flame. All beautifully interwoven into one. All blessings to this Holy Teacher.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Way of the Heart, September 29, 2010

By 

Eric Maroney (Trumansburg, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way of Flame: A Guide to the Forgotten Mystical Tradition of Jewish Meditation (Paperback)

Unlike hitbodednut forms of meditations, which are primarily mental or cognitive exercises, Davis' book stresses hitlahavut, (the way of love, or heart) which is a more emotionally centered meditative practice. This form relies more on rapturous union with God, or the Divine, and as such, is more akin to certain sufi practices which stress an emotive relationship with God.

Perhaps what is most refreshing about Davis' book is that he outlines, in great detail, the numerous pitfalls and obstacles that accompany any meditative pursuit. Meditation, Jewish or otherwise, is not a linear pursuit. It moves in fits and starts, highs and lows, and the adept must accept this without losing confidence or heart.

For those who want to try and cultivate devekut, rapturous union with HaShem, more on the emotional than intellectual side, this short book is a good starting point.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a brilliant and essential primer on the path to judaism, October 6, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The Way of Flame: A Guide to the Forgotten Mystical Tradition of Jewish Meditation (Hardcover)

Davis has no peer in the realm of reflective mystical judaica for contemporary readers. because of the intensely autobiographical nature of his divagations, the integrity of the work puts it precisely in the tradition of the young soren kierkegaard, oswald spengler and schopenhauer. davis is likely to be thought of as the spinoza of the late 20th century, and with good reason: he has probed comparative ethics with a groundbase, and groundbreaking desire to render the context of judaism accessible to those who have perhaps fled from the contradictory upheavals of contemporary spirituality. what davis does is to reign in on the urgings and injunctions of mystical tradition and make them speak to all of us. his profound knowledge of the linguistic and rabbincal subtexts, and the ease and candor of his approach, make for intoxicating and joyous reading. i think this book will be remembered as a classic.
michael tobias