Customer Reviews

Wondrous Wisdom

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"Wondrous Wisdom: Everyone's Guide to the Study of Authentic Kabbalah" by Michael R. Kellogg (teacher and lecturer at Bnei Baruch -- the Kabbalah Research and Education Institute) is an enlightening attempt to clarify the meaning of the Judaic system of mystic wisdom known as the Kabbalah. "Wondrous Wisdom" explains that Kabbalah as a system of study, a method to learn and research the spiritual, it is a process of discovery, as opposed to a particular religion or a specific philosophy. Kellogg states "Through this process, one discovers and reaches many different degrees and states of inner capability and wisdom. It enables a person and humanity as a whole to stop making mistakes. " Further Kellogg states: "Contrary to all religions and philosophies, Kabbalah states clearly and unequivocally that spiritual ascent means increased pleasure...Thus, we see that the correction is a process involving the effect of the Upper Light on us. It is not a process of restriction by coercion. That is precisely the difference between Kabbalah and religion. Kabbalah activates the power of the Creator - it is not an oppressing force from the outside. Therefore, when we receive more and more strength from Above, it opens up the channels for greater desires, which can then be corrected and used appropriately (p. 72)." Further chapters detail the Study Method of Kabbalah, Eight Beginning Lessons in Kabbalah, and the Language of Kabbalah. "Wondrous Wisdom" is an invaluable tool to further study underlying potentially profound spiritual development. As such, it is a most needed and welcome contribution to personal and academic library Metaphysical Studies in general, and Kabbalah reading lists in particular.

Wondrous Wisdom is a beautifully written practical introduction to the teachings of authentic Kabbalah, as taught by today's foremost expert, Dr. Michael Laitman. Michael Kellogg is one of Dr. Laitman's first North American students and now teacher and he has formatted this book much like a beginner's course on the subject, taking you step by step from the history through basic subject matter. Kabbalah is a scientific study of the spiritual worlds. Wondrous Wisdom is a great way to begin developing the tools you will need on this journey.

Finally! An easy to understand book about authentic Kabbalah that leads you to understand the purpose of our being here. If you are looking for Kabbalah 101 book, this is the one to start with.

What a great way to be introduced to Kabbalah! Easy to understand and will awaken that desire we all have to get answers to 'Why am I here'.

Mike Kellogg gives a clear introduction to the complex subject of authentic Kabbalah. It covers the Kabbalistic view of creation, the soul and spirituality. This book is written in an engaging style, complete with useful diagrams and glossary. A must for all new students of Kabbalah. Recommended text of [...] where Mike teaches free courses. Don't read this if you want to know how to tie bits of red string to your wrists or ward off the evil eye. This is about authentic Kabbalah - how to enter spirituality - not a magic book. If you want to study Kabbalah, as well as this excellent book, you might want to consider: Kabbalah for the Student

In Wondrous Wisdom, Michael Kellogg took on the daunting task of distilling literally thousands of pages of authentic Kabbalistic writings in order to present basic concepts to beginners. And for the most part, he did an admirable job.

The first part of the book invites the reader to engage in a journey of self-awareness through the study of Kabbalah. The second part provides eight lessons on the structures and concepts to which a student will be exposed during the early stages of their own study of Kabbalah. The third and final part of the book provides lots of definitions of terms, phrases and concepts that the beginning student will encounter in their studies.

Wondrous Wisdom is aimed at beginners and certainly the first and third parts of the book are presented in an easily understandable manner. The second part, which covers the lessons, is definitely an abbreviated sample of authentic Kabbalah studies and could potentially overwhelm a beginner without a proper teacher. This book is used as one of the resources for on-line beginner classes with Bnei Baruch and paired with the classes, is a good resource for the beginning student.

With the publication of "Wondrous Wisdom" Mike Kellogg has accomplished a formidable task. In an introductory level book he has managed to communicate the more difficult, technical, aspects of the study of Kabbalah.
After a reader friendly 194 pages, someone unfamiliar with Kabbalah can feel that they have a solid foundation on which to start a lifelong study.

I found Wondrous Wisdom to be both a valuable and fascinating book that succeeds in accurately defining spirituality from the secular, scientific and philosophical aspects, and it then continues on to the three parts of our existence, Creator, creature and our correction. This beginning serves as the platform for the following chapters that explain what it really is that drives us, the true definition of the soul and how we are to study Kabbalah. There are eight lessons tying everything together with an important section on the language of Kabbalah that facilitates the study we undertake. The author concludes with the surprising fact that perception of spirituality is a change in our senses, which opens us to the true universe in addition to the one we have always known, which leads to the intention, our work, as it is called. This book answers all the essential questions we ask about life, death and the soul, and in Chapter 12, Conclusions, defines the Creator, what He wants from us, the ego and why the results of trying to find happiness through accumulating material things is never successful. Wondrous Wisdom is very clearly written turning a subject that could be difficult into one that is easily grasped. I would recommend this book to anyone as an excellent start to their study of Kabbalah.

Mike Kellogg does a great job of introducing the initial study of Kabbalah to the beginner. The book is written from the perspective of a student of Kabbalah that was not raised in a Jewish household, and is thus probably more approachable than most out there for a "first textbook".

Mike makes no bones about noting that Kabbalah is a science, and he treats it as such. Chapter 8 - "Eight Beginning Lessons" - is a tough, tough read. There are many worlds, lights, Hebrew terms, charts, graphs, illustrations and Mike moves along at a pretty rapid pace. Take your time reading these lessons over and over again. Even then, I have a lot of trouble understanding it.

Mike's book is probably best used as a companion to the Kabbalah.info's free online lessons and some of Rav Laitman's works on Kabbalah. Mike studies with this group, and his book dovetails nicely with their instruction. If you want to go it alone with Mike's book and not use the online lessons, you probably should get more familiar with Kabbalah by reading Idiot's Guide to Kabbalah first.

This is an amazingly easy to read book. Full of explanations and diagrams on not only what we are, and were we come from, but where we are headed.
This book is written in very easy to understand terminology. I really like the way he breaks down and explains religion, and other things through out the book and it defiantly leaves one with a knowing that there is more to life and that there are truly answers to the ultimate questions of; " What is the meaning of my life?"
I highly recommend this book to every one it is well worth the time to read it.