Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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

With an authoritative intention of being "A Guide to the Forgotten Mystical Tradition of Jewish Meditation," and a price tag way above its content, this book falls short of its objective. The cultivation of "kavannah," "ratzon," "m'sirah," and "devekut" is not as simple a task as has been set by the author. Meditation, be it Jewish or of any other denomination, requires more than just a few guidelines to avoid falling into the klippah of pride, distraction, guilt, and doubt. To place Avram Davis at the same level of Kierkergaard, Schopenhauer, or Spinoza is truly out of reality in terms of understanding the profound philosophy upon which Jewish Mysticism is grounded. This book is less than a "Chicken Soup of Jewish Mysticism!" If the purpose is to get a basic, good understanding of what Jewish Mysticism is all about, try Gershom Scholem, and from there move to others. It seems Avram Davis has not been able to avoid falling into the klippah of pride!

Way of Flame is the perfect starting point for any student interested in Jewish Meditation. Sophisticated yet accessible, this book is truly a masterwork of contemporary writing on Jewish spirituality. It's destined to become a classic. -- G. Sterling, San Francisco