The Sefer Yetzirah is perhaps the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts. In this landmark work of mystical studies, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan brings the text's theoretical, meditative, and magical implications to light.

The book explores the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of the sefirot, souls and angels. Rabbi Kaplan explains that when properly understood the Sefer Yetzirah becomes an instruction manual for a very special type of meditation meant to strengthen concentration and to aid in the development of telekinetic and telepathic powers. Through the use of various signs, incantations, and divine names, initiates could also influence or alter natural events.

This translation includes the meditation in five dimensions, the transition from binah to chakhmah consciousness, the point of infinity, kabbalistic astrology, Ezekiel's vision according to the Sefer Yetzirah, and the mystery of the 231 gates. Also included is a digest of all major commentaries on the text of the Sefer Yetzirah and a bibliography of many of the major kabbalistic works that discus it, as well as extensive notes regarding the various aspects of the translation. Rabbi Kaplan's translation is based on the Gra version of the text, which is thought to eb the most authentic. Also included is the short version, the long version, and the Saadia version, making this volume the most complete work on the Sefer Yetzirah available in English.

A lucid in-depth presentation of the meditative techniques and practices used by the ancient Kabbalists.

The Kabbalah is divided into three branches--the theoretical, the meditative, and the magical. While many books, both in Hebrew and English, have explored the theoretical Kabbalah, very little has been published regarding the meditative methods of the various schools of Kabbalah. Aryeh Kaplan's landmark work, reveals the methodology of the ancient Kabbalists and stresses the meditative techniques that were essential to their discipline, including:

• the use of pictures or letter designs as objects of meditation
• the repetition of specific words or phrases, such as the divine names, to produce profound meditative state

In addition, Meditation and Kabbalah presents relevant portions of such meditative texts as:

• The Grellier Hekhalot, Textbook of the Merkava School
• The works of Abraham Abulafia
• Joseph Gikatalia's Gales of Light
• The Glltes of Holiness
• Gale of The Holy Spirit, Textbook of the Lurianic School

Students of mediation are usually surprised to discover that a Jewish mediation tradition exists and that it was an authentic and integral part of mainstream Judaism until the eighteenth century.

Jewish Meditation is a step-by-step introduction to meditation and the Jewish practice of meditation in particular. This practical guide covers such topics as mantra meditation, contemplation, and visualization within a Jewish context. It shows us how to use meditative techniques to enhance prayer using the traditional liturgy--the Amidah and the Shema. Through simple exercises and clear explanations of theory, Rabbi Kaplan gives us the tools to develop our spiritual potential through an authentically Jewish meditative practice.

Discover the hidden secrets of Torah and Kabbalah through the captivating stories of Rebbe Nachman, accompanied by commentary drawn from the works of his pupils. Entertaining, fast-moving, brilliantly structured and filled with penetrating insights.

A highly radical interpretation of the Bible demonstrating the methods of meditation used by the Prophets to attain their unique states of consciousness. First English translation from ancient unpublished manuscripts, with commentary.

The Bahir contains commentaries explaining the mystical significance of Biblical verses; the mystical significance of the shapes of the Hebrew letters; the mystical significance of the cantillation signs and vowel points on the letters; the mystical significance of statements in the Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation); and the use of sacred names in magic. The paragraphs refer to each other in segments and are broken into five sections in the Aryeh Kaplan translation. These sections are loosely grouped together but they do more or less stay within the underlying themes given by their title.

This essay is an examination of the age of the universe as discussed in Kabbalistic works.

It is important to realize that the Kabbalistic texts do not only discuss mysticism, but also many areas of hashkafah (Jewish outlook) which are of great importance to us.

Let us begin with the classic question asked about the age of the universe. At face value, the Torah seemingly teaches us that the universe is 6,000 years old.

Therefore, many people would hold the opinion that anyone who believes that the world is older than 6,000 years is an apikores(one who denies the basic tenets of Judaism). However, there is scientific evidence that the universe is more than 6,000 years old; maybe millions of times more.

How do we resolve this question?

Una innovadora interpretación de la Biblia, al mismo tiempo sólidamente basada tanto en el propio texto como en las antiguas enseñanzas cabalísticas. Uno de los mayores misterios de la Biblia que encierra los métodos utilizados por los Profetas para alcanzar sus excepcionales estados de consciencia. Prácticamente todos los textos bíblicos fueron escritos por los Profetas mientras se hallaban en tales estados, sin embargo no se menciona penas nada de cómo llegaban a alcanzarlos. En esta notable obra, Aryeh Kaplan extrae todo el espectro de la literatura cabalística, incluyendo numerosos antiguos manuscritos inéditos, para demostrar que la meditación desempeñaba un papel clave en los métodos utilizados por los Profetas. Se citan todas las fuentes y se traducen textualmente muchos de los textos más importantes. Combinando las antiguas enseñanzas cabalísticas con la moderna investigación sobre la teoría de la meditación, el autor explora áreas tales como la postura profética, el misterio de los Querubines, el papel de la música, así como también las diversas disciplinas y mantras empleados por los Profetas. Destaca por su importancia la interpretación que hace de la visión de Ezequiel, paradigma de la experiencia mística, así como la fuente principal de todas las enseñanzas cabalísticas posteriores. Además, se analizan detalladamente las fuentes bíblicas de las Diez Sefirot y de los Cuatro Universos. En la última sección, Arqueología de la Palabra, intenta reconstruir el vocabulario bíblico empleado para describir los métodos místicos y los estados elevados de consciencia. Sólo esta sección ya promete revolucionar la erudición bíblica contemporánea.

Una innovadora interpretaci n de la Biblia, al mismo tiempo s lidamente basada tanto en el propio texto como en las antiguas ense anzas cabal sticas. Uno de los mayores misterios de la Biblia que encierra los m todos utilizados por los Profetas para alcanzar sus excepcionales estados de consciencia. Pr cticamente todos los textos b blicos fueron escritos por los Profetas mientras se hallaban en tales estados, sin embargo no se menciona penas nada de c mo llegaban a alcanzarlos. En esta notable obra, Aryeh Kaplan extrae todo el espectro de la literatura cabal stica, incluyendo numerosos antiguos manuscritos in ditos, para demostrar que la meditaci n desempe aba un papel clave en los m todos utilizados por los Profetas. Se citan todas las fuentes y se traducen textualmente muchos de los textos m s importantes. Combinando las antiguas ense anzas cabal sticas con la moderna investigaci n sobre la teor a de la meditaci n, el autor explora reas tales como la postura prof tica, el misterio de los Querubines, el papel de la m sica, as como tambi n las diversas disciplinas y mantras empleados por los Profetas. Destaca por su importancia la interpretaci n que hace de la visi n de Ezequiel, paradigma de la experiencia m stica, as como la fuente principal de todas las ense anzas cabal sticas posteriores. Adem s, se analizan detalladamente las fuentes b blicas de las Diez Sefirot y de los Cuatro Universos. En la ltima secci n, Arqueolog a de la Palabra, intenta reconstruir el vocabulario b blico empleado para describir los m todos m sticos y los estados elevados de consciencia. S lo esta secci n ya promete revolucionar la erudici n b blica contempor nea.

The Bahir is one of the oldest and most influential of all classical Kabbalah texts.

Until the publication of the Zohar, the Bahir was the most widely quoted primary source of Kabbalistic teachings. The Bahir is quoted in every major book on Kabbalah, the earliest being the Raavad's commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, and it is cited numerous times by Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (Ramban) in his commentary on the Torah. It is also quoted many times in the Zohar. It was first published around 1176 by the Provence school of Kabbalists; the first printed edition appeared in Amsterdam in 1651. The name Bahir is derived from the first verse quoted in the text (Job 37:21), And now they do not see light, it is brilliant (Bahir) in the skies. It is also called the Midrash of Rabbi Nehuniah ben HaKana, particularly by the Ramban. The reason might be that Rabbi Nehuniah's name is at the very beginning of the book, but most Kabbalists actually attribute the Bahir to him and his school. Some consider it the oldest kabbalistic text ever written.

Although the Bahir is a fairly small book, some 12,000 words in all, it was very highly esteemed among those who probed its mysteries. Rabbi Judah Chayit, a prominent fifteenth-century Kabbalist, writes, Make this book a crown for your head. Much of the text is very difficult to understand, and Rabbi Moshe Cordevero (1522-1570), head of the Safed school of Kabbalah, says, The words of this text are bright (Bahir) and sparkling, but their brilliance can blind the eye. One of the most important concepts revealed in the Bahir is that of the Ten Sefirot, and careful analysis of these discussions yields much of what will be found in later kabbalistic works, as well as their relation to anthropomorphism and the reason for the commandments. Also included is a discussion of reincarnation, or Gilgul, an interpretation of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom, and the concept of Tzimtzum.

Kabala y la edad del Universo

Este es un libro basado en una conferencias dadas por el Rabino Aryeh Kaplan, que trata sobre la edad del universo según la Torá

Tiene alrededor de 6000 años o miles de millones?

El Rabino Kaplan explora varios enfoques sobre esta cuestión y concluye con una perspectiva basada en fuentes de la Torá escrita y oral, lo cual proporciona una respuesta satisfactoria.

The Bahir is one of the oldest and most important of all classical Kabbalah texts. Until the publication of the Zohar, the Bahir was the most influential and widely quoted primary source of Kabbalistic teachings. The Bahir is quoted in every major book on Kabbalah, the earliest being the Raavad's commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, and it is cited numerous times by Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (Ramban) in his commentary on the Torah. It is also quoted many times in the Zohar. It was first published around 1176 by the Provence school of Kabbalists; the first printed edition appeared in Amsterdam in 1651. The name Bahir is derived from the first verse quoted in the text (Job 37:21), And now they do not see light, it is brilliant (Bahir) in the skies. It is also called the Midrash of Rabbi Nehuniah ben HaKana, particularly by the Ramban. The reason might be that Rabbi Nehuniah's name is at the very beginning of the book, but most Kabbalists actually attribute the Bahir to him and his school. Some consider it the oldest kabbalistic text ever written. Although the Bahir is a fairly small book, some 12,000 words in all, it was very highly esteemed among those who probed its mysteries. Rabbi Judah Chayit, a prominent fifteenth-century Kabbalist, writes, Make this book a crown for your head. Much of the text is very difficult to understand, and Rabbi Moshe Cordevero (1522-1570), head of the Safed school of Kabbalah, says, The words of this text are bright (Bahir) and sparkling, but their brilliance can blind the eye. One of the most important concepts revealed in the Bahir is that of the Ten Sefirot, and careful analysis of these discussions yields much of what will be found in later kabbalistic works, as well as their relation to anthropomorphism and the reason for the commandments. Also included is a discussion of reincarnation, or Gilgul, an interpretation of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the Thirty-two Paths of Wisdom, and the concept of Tzimtzum, the s

Discover the hidden secrets of Torah and Kabbalah through the captivating stories of Rebbe Nachman, accompanied by commentary drawn from the works of his pupils. Entertaining, fast-moving, brilliantly structured and filled with penetrating insights.

Meditative methods of Kabbalah. A lucid presentation of the meditative methods, mantras, mandalas and other devices used, as well as a penetrating interpretation of their significance in the light of contemporary meditative research.