Mysticism Books

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsThe Wind in the Shell: Prolegomena to the Study of Medieval Nonsignification | 1 1 Priscian, Boethius, and Augustine on Vox Sola | 27 2 Walter Burley on Suppositio Materialis | 52 3 The Cloud of Unknowing on the Litil Worde of O Silable | 76 4 St. Erkenwald on the Caracter | 98 Acknowledgments | 127 Notes | 129 Bibliography | 157 Index | 183

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Book SynopsisMaria of Agreda's exceptional attributes spread from her convent in seventeenth-century Agreda (Spain) to the court in Madrid and beyond. Without leaving her village, the abbess impacted the kingdom, her church, and the New World. This biography integrates autobiographical, historical, and literary sources published by and about Maria of Agreda.Trade Review"Marilyn Fedewa has written a stirring portrait of Maria of Agreda, a brilliant... remarkable player in major spiritual and secular events of [her] age." - Kenneth A. Briggs, former religion editor for the New York Times"

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Book SynopsisCollection of essays that examine the rich history of European culture through the lens of mythology and philosophy.Trade Review"In The Glance of the Medusa, Földényi develops an anatomy of European mythology in his quest towards understanding human completeness. . . . The book advocates a re-enchantment of the world, a theme already introduced in Földényi’s previous non-fiction work, Dostoyevsky Reads Hegel in Siberia and Bursts into Tears (2020), and is a logical development of his authoritative Melancholy (2016) which gave voice to deep ontological anguish. [Földényi] argues that a fragmentation of the soul is a function of our spiritual disorientation as we, moderns, have forgotten our place in — and connection with — a wider cosmos." * Review 31 *

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Book SynopsisA noted scholar examines the work of the English mystic Julian of Norwich Julian of Norwich is the late fourteenth-century and early fifteenth-century English woman theologian. With her mystical writings, she has become one of the most popular and influential spiritual figures of our times. In Julian of Norwich: In God''s Sight, the eminent scholar Philip Sheldrake offers a study of the theology that Julian expresses in her writings. The author examines what is known about Julian's mystical experience or mystical consciousness, discusses what can be surmised about Julian's likely identity and places her writings in historical, cultural and spiritual contexts. Julian of Norwich: In God''s Sight is based on a faithful reading of Julian's texts, especially the Long Text, as well as on her own declared theological-spiritual purpose. This compelling book: Presents a contextually-grounded and text-related study of the key elements of Table of ContentsPreface viii Introduction 1 1 Julian in Context 18 2 Julian’s Theology 47 3 Parable of a Lord and a Servant 66 4 Love is God’s Meaning 83 5 Creation and Human Nature 102 6 Sin and Salvation 120 7 Prayer: A Journey of Desire 138 Conclusion 156 Appendix: The Fate of Julian’s Texts 161 Select Bibliography 165 Index 171

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Book SynopsisThe Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Christian Mysticism brings together a team of leading international scholars to explore the origins, evolution, and contemporary debates relating to Christian mystics, texts, and the movements they inspired. Provides a comprehensive and engaging account of Christian mysticism, from its origins right up to the present day Draws on the best of current scholarship by bringing together a collection of newly-commissioned readings by leading scholars Considers examples of mysticism in both Eastern and Western Christianity Offers a brilliant synthesis of the key figures and historical periods of mysticism; its core themes, such as heresy, gender, or aesthetics; and its theoretical considerations, including theological, literary, social scientific, and philosophical approaches Features chapters on current debates such as neuroscience and mystical experience, and inter-religious dialogue Table of ContentsNotes on Contributors xi Preface xix 1 A Guide to Christian Mysticism 1Julia A. Lamm Part I Themes in Christian Mysticism 25 2 The Song of Songs 27Ann W. Astell and Catherine Rose Cavadini 3 Gender 41Barbara Newman 4 Platonism 56Willemien Otten 5 Aesthetics 74Don E. Saliers 6 Heresy 89J. Patrick Hornbeck II Part II Early Christian Mysticism 103 7 Mysticism in the New Testament 105Alan C. Mitchell 8 The Judaean–Jewish Contexts of Early Christian Mysticism 119Ori Z Soltes 9 “Mysticism” in the Pre-Nicene Era? 133Bogdan G. Bucur 10 Origen and His Followers 147Augustine Casiday 11 Negative Theology from Gregory of Nyssa to Dionysius the Areopagite 161Charles M. Stang 12 Syriac Mysticism 177Brian E. Colless 13 Mysticism and Contemplation in Augustine’s Confessions 190John Peter Kenney 14 Augustine’s Ecclesial Mysticism 202J. Patout Burns 15 Benedictine Monasticism and Mysticism 216Columba Stewart, O.S.B. Part III Medieval Mystics and Mystical Traditions 235 16 Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercian Mystical Tradition 237Brian Patrick McGuire 17 The Victorines 251Boyd Taylor Coolman 18 The Mystery of Divine/Human Communion in the Byzantine Tradition 267George E. Demacopoulos 19 Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure 282Kevin L. Hughes 20 The Nuns of Helfta 297Anna Harrison 21 Mysticism in the Spiritual Franciscan Tradition 311Michael F. Cusato, O.F.M. 22 The Low Countries, the Beguines, and John Ruusbroec 329Helen Rolfson, O.S.F. 23 Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, and Henry Suso 340Charlotte C. Radler 24 The Late Fourteenth-Century English Mystics 357Christiania Whitehead 25 Late Medieval Italian Women Mystics 373Armando Maggi 26 Nicholas of Cusa and the Ends of Medieval Mysticism 388Peter J. Casarella Part IV Mysticism and Modernity 405 27 The Protestant Reformers on Mysticism 407Dennis E. Tamburello, O.F.M. 28 Spanish Mysticism and Religious Renewal: Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross 422Edward Howells 29 Seventeenth-Century French Mysticism 437Wendy M. Wright 30 The Making of “Mysticism” in the Anglo-American World: From Henry Coventry to William James 452Leigh Eric Schmidt 31 “We Kiss Our Dearest Redeemer through Inward Prayer”: Mystical Traditions in Pietism 473Ruth Albrecht 32 Nineteenth- to Twentieth-Century Russian Mysticism 489Paul L. Gavrilyuk 33 Modern Catholic Theology and Mystical Tradition 501Stephen M. Fields, S.J. 34 Mystics of the Twentieth Century 515Mary Frohlich, R.S.C.J. Part V Critical Perspectives on Mysticism 531 35 A Critical Theological Perspective 533Philip Sheldrake 36 What the Saints Know: Quasi-Epistemological Reflections 550James Wetzel 37 Mysticism and the Vernacular 562Denis Renevey 38 The Social Scientific Study of Christian Mysticism 577Ralph W. Hood, Jr. and Zhuo Chen 39 Neuroscience 592Douglas E. Anderson 40 Christian Mysticism in Interreligious Perspective 610Leo D. Lefebure Index 626

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Book SynopsisSince their beginnings in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the Sufis held vast influence in almost every corner of the Muslim world. Offering the first truly global account of the history of Sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of Sufi Islam throughthe Middle East, Asia, Africa, and ultimately into Europe and the United States. An ideal introduction to Sufism,requiring no background knowledge of Islamic history or thought Offers the first history of Sufism as a global phenomenon,exploring itsmovement and adaptationfromthe Middle East, through Asia andAfrica, to Europe and the United States of America Covers the entire historical period of Sufism, from its ninth century origins to the end of the twentieth century Devotes equal coverage to the political, cultural,and social dimensions of Sufism as it does toits theologyand ritual Dismantles the stereTrade Review“Green has indeed fulfilled the goal he set himself, to present a ‘global history of Sufism’ … The books offers a singularly global historical-analytical perspective on Sufism and the manner in which its ideas, rituals and institutions grew out of the religious, cultural and social fabric of the Muslim world. It is therefore as welcome an addition to the upper-division Islamic studies classroom as it is to graduate seminars that focus on the history of Sufism. However, its argument reaches far wider than scholarly library and classroom: anyone interested in social psychology or anthropology as the science of the human soul and its states and the manner in which they resonate within the social milieu in which we live today will find this work of immense value.” Journal of Islamic Studies (1 September 2015) “How Green has managed this considerable feat is nearly as interesting as the contents of this engaging volume. Adequately annotated chapters encompassing four large chronological eras stretched across increasingly expansive swaths of geography represent an interesting and not entirely predictable 'periodization'.” Journal of the American Oriental Society (1 October 2014) “Green’s history is well organized and offers a number of clear themes and theses.” The Journal of The Bulletin of the School of Oriental & African Studies (1 August 2013) “A must read not only for those interested in Islamic studies but also for those interested in world history. Summing Up: Essential. Most levels/libraries.” Choice (1 September 2012) Table of ContentsList of Maps and Illustrations ix Preface and Acknowledgments xi Maps xiv Introduction 1 1 Origins, Foundations and Rivalries (850–1100) 15 2 An Islam of Saints and Brothers (1100–1400) 71 3 Empires, Frontiers and Renewers (1400–1800) 125 4 From Colonization to Globalization (1800–2000) 187 Glossary: A Sufi Lexicon of Arabic Terms 239 Further Reading 243 Index 245

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Book SynopsisThe Mystical Science of the Soul explores the unexamined influence of medieval discourses of science and spirituality on recogimiento, the unique Spanish genre of recollection mysticism that served as the driving force behind the principal developments in Golden Age mysticism. Building on recent research in medieval optics, physiology, and memory in relation to the devotional practices of the late Middle Ages, Jessica A. Boon probes the implications of an ‘embodied soul’ for the intellectual history of Spanish mysticism.Boon proposes a fundamental rereading of the key recogimiento text Subida del Monte Sión (1535/1538), which melds the traditionally distinct spiritual techniques of moral self-examination, Passion meditation, and negative theology into one cognitively adept path towards mystical union. She is also the first English-language scholar to treat the author of this influential work – the Renaissance physicTrade Review'The Mystical Science of Soul is a fascinating piece of research. It focuses on a mystical method of recollection and the genre of literature associated with it...this volume should be welcomed by medievalists and early modernists, students of the Renaissance, historians of science, mysticism, and medicine, as well as theologians and church historians.' -- Jon Balserak Sixteenth Century Journal vol 65:02:2014

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Book SynopsisThe Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Christian Mysticism brings together a team of leading international scholars to explore the origins, evolution, and contemporary debates relating to Christian mystics, texts, and the movements they inspired. Provides a comprehensive and engaging account of Christian mysticism, from its origins right up to the present day Draws on the best of current scholarship by bringing together a collection of newly-commissioned readings by leading scholars Considers examples of mysticism in both Eastern and Western Christianity Offers a brilliant synthesis of the key figures and historical periods of mysticism; its core themes, such as heresy, gender, or aesthetics; and its theoretical considerations, including theological, literary, social scientific, and philosophical approaches Features chapters on current debates such as neuroscience and mystical experience, and inter-religious dialogue Trade Review“As this comment indicates, I am assuming that this volume is going to assume a key place in the literature on this vast subject.” (Ecclesiastical History, 1 January 2014) “Julia Lamm has assembled a valuable collection of forty articles by leading scholars in this treasury of studies of (mainly) Christian mysticism. A lengthy and expert introduction by Lamm leads to the first section: five articles on “Themes in Christian Mysticism.” (The Catholic Historical Review, 1 January 2014) “Together they open a rich world of creative, inspired writing to contemporary students and fellow scholars. Summing Up. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers.” (Choice, 1 September 2013) “The Wiley-Blackwell Companion remains a treasure-trove of scholarship that will delight anyone interested in the academic conversation around Christian mysticism.” (Carl McColman, 24 May 2013) “There is much to praise about this book, from its well-judged contents to the beautiful presentation and typeface. This is a must-have for any library, and for any student or disciple of the mystical tradition." (Church Times, 24 May 2013) “The result is a compelling and engaging volume drawing on the best of recent cutting-edge scholarship, and providing insights into an ancient but important Christian tradition.” (Eastern Christian Books, 17 December 2012)Table of ContentsNotes on Contributors xi Preface xix 1 A Guide to Christian Mysticism 1 Julia A. Lamm Part I Themes in Christian Mysticism 25 2 The Song of Songs 27 Ann W. Astell and Catherine Rose Cavadini 3 Gender 41 Barbara Newman 4 Platonism 56 Willemien Otten 5 Aesthetics 74 Don E. Saliers 6 Heresy 89 J. Patrick Hornbeck II Part II Early Christian Mysticism 103 7 Mysticism in the New Testament 105 Alan C. Mitchell 8 The Judaean–Jewish Contexts of Early Christian Mysticism 119 Ori Z Soltes 9 “Mysticism” in the Pre-Nicene Era? 133 Bogdan G. Bucur 10 Origen and His Followers 147 Augustine Casiday 11 Negative Theology from Gregory of Nyssa to Dionysius the Areopagite 161 Charles M. Stang 12 Syriac Mysticism 177 Brian E. Colless 13 Mysticism and Contemplation in Augustine’s Confessions 190 John Peter Kenney 14 Augustine’s Ecclesial Mysticism 202 J. Patout Burns 15 Benedictine Monasticism and Mysticism 216 Columba Stewart, O.S.B. Part III Medieval Mystics and Mystical Traditions 235 16 Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercian Mystical Tradition 237 Brian Patrick McGuire 17 The Victorines 251 Boyd Taylor Coolman 18 The Mystery of Divine/Human Communion in the Byzantine Tradition 267 George E. Demacopoulos 19 Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure 282 Kevin L. Hughes 20 The Nuns of Helfta 297 Anna Harrison 21 Mysticism in the Spiritual Franciscan Tradition 311 Michael F. Cusato, O.F.M. 22 The Low Countries, the Beguines, and John Ruusbroec 329 Helen Rolfson, O.S.F. 23 Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, and Henry Suso 340 Charlotte C. Radler 24 The Late Fourteenth-Century English Mystics 357 Christiania Whitehead 25 Late Medieval Italian Women Mystics 373 Armando Maggi 26 Nicholas of Cusa and the Ends of Medieval Mysticism 388 Peter J. Casarella Part IV Mysticism and Modernity 405 27 The Protestant Reformers on Mysticism 407 Dennis E. Tamburello, O.F.M. 28 Spanish Mysticism and Religious Renewal: Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross 422 Edward Howells 29 Seventeenth-Century French Mysticism 437 Wendy M. Wright 30 The Making of “Mysticism” in the Anglo-American World: From Henry Coventry to William James 452 Leigh Eric Schmidt 31 “We Kiss Our Dearest Redeemer through Inward Prayer”: Mystical Traditions in Pietism 473 Ruth Albrecht 32 Nineteenth- to Twentieth-Century Russian Mysticism 489 Paul L. Gavrilyuk 33 Modern Catholic Theology and Mystical Tradition 501 Stephen M. Fields, S.J. 34 Mystics of the Twentieth Century 515 Mary Frohlich, R.S.C.J. Part V Critical Perspectives on Mysticism 531 35 A Critical Theological Perspective 533 Philip Sheldrake 36 What the Saints Know: Quasi-Epistemological Reflections 550 James Wetzel 37 Mysticism and the Vernacular 562 Denis Renevey 38 The Social Scientific Study of Christian Mysticism 577 Ralph W. Hood, Jr. and Zhuo Chen 39 Neuroscience 592 Douglas E. Anderson 40 Christian Mysticism in Interreligious Perspective 610 Leo D. Lefebure Index 626

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Book SynopsisThe Lonely Letters is an epistolary blackqueer critique of the normative world in which Ashon T. Crawley meditates on the interrelation of blackqueer life, sounds of the black church, theology, mysticism, and the potential for platonic and erotic connection in a world that conspires against blackqueer life.Trade Review“Ashon T. Crawley pushes his readers to contemplate the intimacy of living the life of the mind as a spiritual, enfleshed, and intellectual matter. Rejecting the intellect/emotion division through a rendering of intimacy and desire, The Lonely Letters stands as the achievement of aspirations long discussed but largely elusive in both feminist and queer criticism. A stunning and innovative work.” -- Imani Perry, author of * Vexy Thing: On Gender and Liberation *“The Lonely Letters is a joyful mourning, a celebratory treatise, a rigorous performance, and an analysis of race and philosophy, aesthetics and blackness, and much more. I could not put it down and at points found myself laughing and in tears, all the while learning. Truly pathbreaking, it is an astounding, innovative, and deeply affecting work.” -- Nicole R. Fleetwood, author of * On Racial Icons: Blackness and the Public Imagination *"The Lonely Letters, from A to Moth, from Crawley to us, is ultimately an illumination of a way to Baby Suggs’ clearing in Beloved, the site of blackqueer care, the site of grace—an invitation to 'refuse the prison of "I" and choose the open spaces of "we.”'" -- Yumi Pak * American Studies *"I admire Crawley’s writing about queerness and sociality profoundly. I revere his embrace of the epistolary, of the way he makes academic writing feel pulsing and alive, enacted with breath and desire and shouting and song. . . . [E]ach letter is a flexing, embodied interweaving of queer theory, Black studies, music, eros, intellect, art, friendship, religion, body, breath. It is critical and creative all at once." -- Ayden Leroux * Full Stop *"Crawley opens the world of critical theory (a discipline not known best for being welcoming to all minds and approaches) to those readers who might not have a background in it." -- Leora Fridman * Full Stop *“The Lonely Letters, in thinking through and with Black life, challenges the reader to (re)imagine religion, mysticism, epistemology, performance, and the possibility of life together otherwise.... [It] bears the potential to push religious studies scholarship beyond what was presumed possible.” -- Christopher Hunt * Journal of Africana Religions *“The Lonely Letters arrives as a wonderful surprise: it invites us to sit with vulnerability, and to ask what vulnerability might offer our world-imagining practices.” -- Keguro Macharia * GLQ *“You can’t review [The Lonely Letters]. Because you haven’t just read a book. You’ve had an encounter. A beautiful, blackqueer, encounter.” -- Biko Gray * Reading Religion *

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Book SynopsisRabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the charismatic leader of the Chabad Hasidic movement and its designated Messiah. Yet when he died in 1994, the messianic fervor he inspired did not subside. Through traditional means and digital technologies, a group of radical Hasidim, the Meshichistim, still keep the Rebbe palpably close—engaging in ongoing dialogue, participating in specific rituals, and developing an ever-expanding visual culture of portraits and videos. With Us More Than Ever focuses on this group to explore how religious practice can sustain the belief that a messianic figure is both present and accessible. Yoram Bilu documents a unique religious experience that is distinctly modern. The rallying point of the Meshichistim—that the Rebbe is "with us more than ever"—is sustained through an elaborate system that creates the sense of his constant and pervasive presence in the lives of his followers. The virtual Rebbe that emerges is multiple, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized, the epicenter of a truly messianic movement in the twenty-first century. Combining ethnographic fieldwork and cognitive science with nuanced analysis, Bilu documents the birth and development of a new religious faith, describing the emergence of new spiritual horizons, a process common to various religious movements old and new.Trade Review"In this fascinating study, Yoram Bilu, Israel's foremost scholar of Jewish popular religion, has succeeded in penetrating the world of Chabad's messianic subculture. He offers a brilliant analysis of how these Hasidim use visual media, apparitions, and letters to their deceased leader to create an 'apotheosis' of the Rebbe." -- David Biale * University of California, Davis *"This ethnographic exploration of the religious imagination in Chabad demonstrates that there is no one better equipped than Yoram Bilu to provide a theoretically sophisticated and phenomenologically sensitive account of the movement's messianic devotion to its deceased yet ever-present Rebbe." -- Thomas J. Csordas * University of California, San Diego *"With Us More than Ever is an important book for readers interested in Chabad, Hasidism, and contemporary Judaism. Its focus on the 'messianic ecology' yields a nuanced and dispassionate image of the acute messianism of the Meshichists—a community, or, perhaps, a state of mind, that has been discussed, criticized, and ridiculed, but hardly ever researched either quantitatively or qualitatively." -- Wojciech Tworek * Association for Jewish Studies Review *Table of ContentsContents and AbstractsIntroduction: Introduction chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has not subsided following the death in 1994 of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last president of Chabad and the designated Messiah in the eyes of most Hasidim. Since then, the movement has been able to maintain its popularity and dominance despite the catastrophic loss. Focusing on the Meshichistim ("messianists"), the radical Hasidim who deny the Rebbe's death, the introduction documents the means they employ to fill the void of the Rebbe's "occlusion." The book makes use of a media-studies approach to examine how these means fill the critical role of making the absent Rebbe present. The data are based on interviews with Meshichists, participant observations in their gatherings, and meticulous perusal of messianic publications, primarily periodicals. The discussion includes a description of the charged interrelationships that developed between the author and the Hasidim during fieldwork. 1Chabad and the Messianic Idea chapter abstractThe chapter follows the vicissitudes of the messianic idea in Chabad from the movement's inception to the stormy years of the seventh and last leader, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. As shaped by its founder, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, Chabad was less prone to messianic tension than were other Hasidic sects. The fifth admor, Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber, resorted to messianic discourse in the late 19th century in order to battle the lure of secular ideologies such as communism and Zionism. His son and successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, viewed the horrors of the Holocaust as messianic tribulations. But it was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson who generated acute messianic turbulence by advancing to his Hasidim the notion of imminent redemption. The Rebbe's messianic vision, kept alive by the Hasidim after his departure, forms the background for the means and practices that constitute the messianic ecology in contemporary Chabad. 2Meshichist Sociology chapter abstractThe chapter presents the major sociological features of the Meshichists. The Meshichists are more prevalent in the movement's periphery. Of Chabad's two main centers, they are more strongly represented in Israel than in the U.S. and more among the younger Hasidim in either place. –. In accord with the enthusiasm and high commitment typically displayed by religious immigrants and converts anywhere, new Chabadniks, coming from secular or other religious backgrounds, are overrepresented among the Meshichists. As a result of their outreach activities, Chabadniks anywhere tend to be more socially and politically involved in the wider society than are other ultraorthodox Jews, and the Meshichists all the more so. One indication of their assimilation into Israeli society is their use of military language in articulating their ideas and activities. 3Writing to the Rebbe: The Holy Letters Oracle chapter abstractThis chapter discusses the bibliomantic device the Hasidim developed to continue the dialogue with the absent Rebbe. The technique is based on inserting a petition randomly into one of the thirty-two volumes of the Rebbe's collected letters. Even though these letters were written to other people at other times, the petitioners maintain that the answers they receive are germane to their own pleas. The veridicality of the answers is redoubled when they play out in the real world. Following the miraculous stories associated with the Holy Letters Oracle, the chapter discusses its growing popularity and accounts for its success. The popularity and success of the technique seem to confirm the assertion of the Meshichistim that despite his occlusion, the invisible Rebbe is more accessible than ever. 4Sensing the Rebbe: Traces and Practices of Embodiment chapter abstractHow do the Hasidim perceive the absent Rebbe as close and involved? This chapter discusses a broad range of signs or "traces" of the Rebbe, such as the Rebbe's abode, his armchair, the dollar bills he distributed for charity, and the water from his ritual bath, which the Hasidim are adamant to keep intact and, where possible, to replicate. Primarily in Chabad headquarters in Crown Heights, but also in Chabad Houses all over the world and in the Meshichists' homes, these artifacts serve as focal points for ritual practices that involve the Rebbe as an active participant. The traces and practices interweave to produce a "messianic ecology" that actualizes the Rebbe among his followers. In the religion-media paradigm, these traces and practices are conductors of his presence. 5Seeing the Rebbe I: Chabad's Visual Culture chapter abstractChapter Five is devoted to Chabad's visual culture as evidenced by the widespread use of still photographs and film footage of the Rebbe, which bolster his visual salience to an unprecedented extent in Judaism. The elaborate cult that has been developing around the Rebbe's images borders on iconophilia. The pictures serve as focal points for this wide-ranging visual cult. They are used as amulets, thwarting threats and curing maladies; as magnets drawing and attaching passersby to the Rebbe; and as icons triggering the elaborate ritual encounters between the Rebbe and his devotees. The chapter discusses the Rebbe's iconic picture, in which he is shown waving his hand in encouragement, and how it has taken on a life on its own. 6Seeing the Rebbe II: Dream and Waking Apparitions chapter abstractChapter Six maps the Rebbe's apparitions in dreams and then moves to reports of apparitions in normal waking states. The author proposes a psychocultural model to account for these apparitions, deeming them evidence of contextual accomplishment rather than psychopathological deficit. Two distinct clusters of apparition experiences emerge, one associated with ritual and the other with mundane settings. In comparison to Christian visionary experiences, the Rebbe's apparitions are hyper-realistic, literal reinforcements of the claim that the Rebbe is alive. While this claim is audacious ontologically, it limits the epistemological horizons of the messianic imaginary and detracts from its significance as a "taste" of the redemption. 7Schneersoncentrism: The Rebbe Steers the World chapter abstractFor the Meshichistim, the invisible Rebbe is the center of the world. Chapter Seven conveys this conviction through the notion of "Schneersoncentrism," the belief that the Rebbe steers the world and navigates its events. It discusses two broad domains where the Rebbe's imprint on the world is indelible, according to the Hasidim: natural disasters, which the Rebbe is able to stop, and manmade political upheavals, which the Rebbe can rectify. According to his followers, the Rebbe's fingerprints are evident in key historical moments such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Exodus of its Jews, and the American victory in the second Gulf War. 8The Apotheosis of the Rebbe chapter abstractChapter Eight deals with the sensitive issue of the Rebbe's deification, a corollary of his centrality in the universe. While the Chabad mainstream argues that attempts to deify the Rebbe are limited to the movement's lunatic fringes, it shows that activists in the Meshichist camp are not hostile to these attempts and, under special circumstances, are even willing to give them a voice. The mystical doctrine of the tzadik in Hasidism, which views him as part of the divine system of emanations, and the messianic shturem in Chabad today help attenuate the deep-seated resistance in Judaism to glorifying a human being. 9"To Make Many More Menachem Mendels": Creation and Procreation in Messianic Chabad chapter abstractChapter Nine illustrates the divine role accorded to the Rebbe in the fantasy lives of some of his followers by zooming in on his alleged role in one domain of human misery: infertility and birth problems. Drawing on a small sample of dreaming and waking apparitions, the chapter shows how the childless Rebbe "reproduces" himself by providing childless couples with children in his image. In these reports the Rebbe appears as a creator no less than as a progenitor. 10Holy Place and Holy Time in Meshichist Chabad chapter abstractChapter Ten discusses the spatial and temporal dimensions of holiness in the messianic religion. For the Meshichists, who ordinarily refrain from frequenting the Rebbe's sanctuary in Old Montefiori Cemetery in Queens, the most sacred site is the Rebbe's abode on 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, dubbed "770." Viewed as the house of the Messiah and a wing of the future third Temple, 770 is the Meshichist hub, where the life routine with the Rebbe is kept intact. Replicas of 770 have been built in scores of places across the globe. The Meshichist emphasize two dates in Chabad's ritual calendar: Yod-Aleph (11) Nissan, the Rebbe's birthday, and Gimel Tammuz, the date of the Rabbi's disappearance, euphemistically called the Day of Redemption. 11The Omnipresence of Absence: Messianism in the Technological Age chapter abstractChapter Eleven discusses the present-absent virtual Rebbe, maintained in part by the magic of technology. In analyzing the properties of his virtuality, it is suggested that the Rebbe is multiple (reproduced), close and palpable, visible, accessible, and highly decentralized. The fact that the virtual Rebbe can be directly accessed and equally shared by all Hasidim poses a potential threat to Chabad's hierarchical structure and cohesion. 12Meshichists, Christians, Sabbateans, and Popular Culture Heroes chapter abstractThe dynamic common to past and present messianic movements is the focus of Chapter Twelve. It considers the struggles of Chabad's messianism in light of the Christian and Sabbatean precedents. It also poses a speculative comparison between the cult of the Rebbe that emerges from Chabad's visual culture and the adoration of charismatic entertainment and political celebrities in global popular culture. 13From Tzadik to Messiah: Comparing Chabad and Bratslav chapter abstractChapter Twelve proposes a systematic comparison of Chabad and Bratslav Hasidism. Both of these Hasidic movements lack the defining feature of a classic Hasidic sect, a serving tzadik-admor, yet they are enjoying unprecedented success. Can the flourishing of these two movements be attributed to the messianic expectations they both nurture? In support of this supposition, the chapter seeks to decipher the enigma of the growing popularity of these two "anomalous" Hasidic sects by dwelling on their propensity for border-crossing in various domains. Conclusion chapter abstractThe messianic surge that swept Chabad in the late 20th century has created the opportunity for studying the religious imagination at large, and as a subject in its own right. Messianic movements expand the boundaries of proper religious conduct and bring to the fore modes of action and experience the religious establishment shuns as extreme or subversive. The media and the practices that Meshichists employ to make the absent Rebbe present were born in this fertile, enabling ecology. More daring and pronounced than ordinary institutionalized religious beliefs and rites, they differ only in degree. The conclusion discusses the unprecedented extent to which the Rebbe-cum-Messiah is glorified, the boundless energy his elevated status generates in his followers, and their capacity to cope with the disappointment of his occlusion by sustaining a virtual Rebbe that is palpable and close.

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Book SynopsisAs a result of the isolation of doctrinal theology from its roots in Christian spiritual life, the relationship between spirituality and theology is often perceived to be ambiguous and uneasy.Trade Review"McIntosh offers a fruitful avenue for overcoming the split between theology and spirituality that has emerged in contemporary Christianity. His mastery of the history of mystical theology is insightful and impressive. His hermeneutical strategy, developed both in its theoretical and practical dimensions, makes a major contribution to the recent study of mysticism." Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago "Mystical Theology is one of the most sustained, systematic and impressive attempts at uniting spirituality and dogma, and demonstrating the necessity of this union, that I have encountered." Brian Horne, Kings College London "The book is a sound exploration of the Christian mystical tradition. The strength of McIntosh's work is its attention to the postmodern question of the other, both human and divine. In short, McIntosh aptly shows that the mystical tradition, which has received comparatively little attention by modern theologians, can and must be an important source for postmodern thinkers. Those who are concerned to address the role of Christian theology in the postmodern age will find this book an important contribution." Timothy P. Muldoon, Mount Aloysius College, Journal of the American Academy of Religion "This is a clearly-written and well-crafted argument for the reintegration of spirituality and theology." Michael Downey, SpiritualityTable of ContentsPreface ix Part I Issues of History and Method 1 1 Spirituality and Theology: The Questions at Issue 3 2 Mystery and Doctrine: The Historical Intergity of Spirituality and Theology 39 3 Recovering the Mystical Element of Theology: The Twentieth-Century Examples of Rahner and von Balthasar 90 4 Theological Hermeneutics and Spiritual Texts 119 Part II Mystical Theology in Practice 149 5 Trinitarian Self-Abandon and the Problem of Divine Suffering 151 6 The Hiddenness of God and the Self-Understanding of Jesus 187 7 Love for the Other and the Discovery of the Self 211 Index 243

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Book SynopsisThe Sufi path described in this book leads the seeker past ordinary states of consciousness towards a new experience of infinitude that is the source of the universe. In this stage there is no duality or otherness, but instead infinitude, the Original Oneness, from which all dualities and attributes emanate. The book is at once an autobiography, a didactic treatise and a literary opus full of wonderful translations of the words of earlier Sufis, as well as the author's own poetry. It describes Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri's life quest to connect today's world with classical times, especially through his meetings with enlightened Sufis all over the globe. Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri also addresses profound Sufi teachings concerning the nature of humankind, the cosmos and God, using clear and simple language to address difficult doctrinal issues as only a master who has digested fully such knowledge could do. The book also reveals much about the present-day Islamic world where, despite the tragedies that are to be seen everywhere, tradition and spirituality survive. This is a metaphysical and spiritual guide to the Sufi path that ultimately offers insight into the meaning and purpose of life.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the meanings and messages hidden in your dreams! By appreciating and understanding our dreams we can trace wonderful new paths to self-discovery and self-enrichment.Dreams can be vivid, poetic, surreal, erotic, haunting, even disturbing - but if we look more closely at their mysterious symbols and imaginative logic, they can provide us with privileged glimpses into the secret corners of our unconscious minds.The New Secret Language of Dreams takes a fresh approach to dreaming, with a wealth of real-life examples and illuminating guidance on how to tease out the underlying symbolism and logic of dreams. The author, renowned psychologist and dream expert David Fontana, unfolds the psychological workings of the dreamworld, building on the work of Jung, Freud and other pioneers in the field. He describes the main dream archetypes and reveals how dreams reflect everyday desires, tensions and anxieties in unexpected ways, using a rich vocabulary of symbols. Also, he trains us in techniques for remembering and recording dreams, and for working on their narrative, details and mood to arrive at interpretations that relate to our personal circumstances.

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Book SynopsisAs it celebrates the true worth of courage, Quiet Courage of the Inner Light faithfully records some keynotes of author Philip Pegler’s lifelong spiritual quest. This book reflects upon the joys, hardship and profound lessons to be learnt on the challenging path to the ground of being. At the centre of these reflections resides an essential paradox. It is within the anguished darkness of tragedy or disaster that most often the clear light of fortitude is kindled. And it is within the shadows of doubt or desolation that you may stumble upon a hidden doorway to the deepest reality. It is the dawning of deep understanding concerning our true spiritual identity that paves the way for the discovery of a natural faith, universal in nature and all-embracing in compassion. Here is a book that nurtures such faith by honouring the essence of life, approaching a transcendent mystery through the immanence of all created things.

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Book SynopsisSomething crucial and quite unprecedented happened to kabbalah in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Though it had previously been considered a highly secretive and esoteric tradition, its practitioners began to spread its doctrines throughout the Jewish world with missionary zeal. Their goal was ambitious: no less than the remodelling of the religious and ethical attitudes of the entire Jewish population, a reformation of Judaism. Few aspects of Jewish life and religious practice were not changed as a result of the spread of kabbalah. These innovations originated mainly in the city of Safed in Galilee. They were introduced by kabbalistic adepts, but would not have gained broad acceptance if they had not made sense to people in terms of their everyday lives. The kabbalistic corpus that emerged should thus be interpreted not just as the elaboration of a secretive literary tradition, but as a response to the needs of Jewish society in its manifest historical context. In addition, Roni Weinstein argues, these kabbalistic innovations were partly a response to changes in the Catholic world-view, revealing an intimate link with Counter-Reformation Catholicism that is explored here for the first time. The religious and political changes taking place in contemporary Ottoman settings also contributed to these changes. The effect of these developments on Jewish culture was nothing short of revolutionary, deeply affecting people’s lives at the time and also laying the foundations for change in future generations. Yet they were not presented as revolutionary: the early modern kabbalists understood that they would only succeed in spreading their message if they presented their doctrines as the natural continuation of what went before. Weinstein’s sociological reading of mystical texts encompasses a number of methodological innovations, including the need to consider the impact of the non-Jewish environment in the fashioning of Jewish texts. He sees the emergence of ‘Jewish modernity’ as the result of developments that were intrinsically Jewish rather than as a response to outside influences during the Enlightenment; controversially, he therefore places its origins in the Mediterranean world of the late sixteenth century rather than in eighteenth-century Berlin. His argument is based on a wide range of Jewish sources—including theological tracts, kabbalistic and ethical literature, hagiographies, mystical diaries, halakhic rulings and responsa, and community and confraternal regulations—as well as the testimonies non-Jewish travellers, and Catholic religious literature. This stimulating new reading of the development of kabbalistic texts and practices opens a new chapter in the understanding of Jewish modernity. The Hebrew edition of this book was awarded the Goren-Gottstein Prize for the Best Book in Jewish Thought 2010–2012.Trade ReviewReviews 'A significant, provocative contribution to the literature.' S.T. Katz, Choice'A truly impressive impressive of original and seminal scholarship . . . extraordinarily informative, exceptionally well-written, organized, and presented, making it unreservedly recommended for both academia as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.' Midwest Book Review‘Roni Weinstein challenges the common assumption that the kabbalistic world-view owes its popularity to its theological and metaphysical content. Rather, he argues, the social context of kabbalistic thought is at least as significant. Weinstein has written an exciting and groundbreaking book which raises important new questions. If he is correct, his book is a landmark breakthrough.’ From the citation for the Goren-Gottstein Prize for the Best Book in Jewish Thought 2010–2012‘Weinstein brings a totally fresh approach to the subject . . . his understanding of kabbalistic texts as a window into the cultural, social, and psychological realities of the beginning of the modern period . . . enables them to be perceived, for the first time, in the wider context of early modern Mediterranean society . . . From this perspective, the kabbalistic texts developed in Safed are not so much the continuation of an earlier tradition but a response to the process of modernization that dominated the period in a way that changed every reality. . . . Weinstein’s explanation of why it was that kabbalah developed in the time and place that it did is convincing . . . Overflowing with original ideas, his work offers a breakthrough that can be considered revolutionary. His connecting the development of kabbalah to the development of modernity makes this a very modern book. . . . eminently readable because it contextualizes palpable human concerns within the broad intellectual panorama of the times rather than limiting itself to the confines of “kabbalah studies” or “Jewish thought”.’ Jonathan Garb Zion'This book is essential for understanding early modern Jewish religious thought and would be a valuable addendum for studies on the broader impact of early modern movements in Christianity. The English is polished and no previous knowledge of kabbalah is necessary for full comprehension. The concise text is rich in content and stimulating in its broad outlook. This study is not only a useful tool for crosscultural comparisons but it itself is a model for such a study. It could only be written by a person who has mastery both in early modern history and in early modern thought both Jewish and general. Luckily, the author meets these requirements and the result is a model monograph.' Shaul Stampfer, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsNote on Transliteration Introduction: A Social Historian Looks at Early Modern Kabbalah 1 A New God: The Theological Innovation 2 Like Giants on the Shoulders of Dwarfs: The Rise of the Jewish Saint 3 Religious Confraternities 4 ‘From my body I shall envision God’: The Body and Sexuality 5 Sin and Repentance: The Jewish Confession 6 Another God. Catholic Tradition in Safed Kabbalah: The Sephardi--Conversos Link 7 Summary: Kabbalah of Safed and Modernity Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Book of Margery Kempe set in the context of medieval medical discourse. Margery Kempe's various illnesses, mental, spiritual and physical, are a recurring theme in her Book. This volume, the first full-length interdisciplinary study from a medical humanities perspective, offers a medicalized reading of Kempe's spirituality in the context of the ubiquitous medieval notion of Christ the Physician, and thus a new way of interpreting the Book itself: as a narrative of Kempe's own engagement with the medical paradigms of which she has previously been a passive subject. Focusing on the interactions of medicine, mysticism and reproduction as a feminist project, the author explores the ontology of female flesh; the productive use of pain, suffering and sickness; and the ethics of a maternal theology based on the melancholic and surrogate activities that underlie Kempe's experience. Structured broadly via a traverse through the life course, the book shows how Kempe's response to suffering is illuminated by the medieval medical discourse by which she is contemporaneously read, and by which she engineers her own construction and understanding of self. It also explores Kempe's persistent attendance to her mystical body and refusal to compromise her instinct to authentically show how she feels.Trade ReviewMargery Kempe's Spiritual Medicine offers a multitude of new starting points for considering the Book of Margery Kempe. Readers will appreciate the monograph's dynamic movement across texts and contexts and its generous engagement with Kempe as a self-defining woman, mystic, and author. Kalas succeeds in showing how Kempe's distinctively feminine embodiment of suffering could assume historically specific meanings and authority. * SPECULUM *This volume provides an illuminative and thoughtful exploration of the way medicalized understandings of female corporeality shaped Kempe's mystical experience. It not only offers a number of exciting, fresh interpretations of Kempe's Book, but also testifies to the multiplicity of ways that medical humanities methodologies can complicate and enrich our understanding of literary text * STUDIES IN THE AGE OF CHAUCER *The author's close reading of Kempe's life cycle, her Book, and numerous primary documents relating to medicine and health make for a learned and convincing study. This book will be valuable not only to Kempe scholars but also to students and researchers interested in the critical overlap between spirituality, medicine, and the female body in the Middle Ages and beyond. Highly recommended. * CHOICE *Laura Kalas's new study of Margery Kempe within the context of medieval medical thought and practice deserves a place in the pantheon of other transformative studies of Kempe's Book. ...[T]his study establishes important cultural and theoretical grounds for our reading of Kempe's suffering, as well as contributing to the growing field of medical humanities. * THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW *Laura Kalas has set the benchmark in this fine piece of work and has set it high. -- Luke Penkett, The Julian Centre * MAGISTRA *Kalas's study makes an extremely important and highly engaging contribution to existing scholarship on The Book of Margery Kempe and to the field of medical humanities more generally. -- Journal of British StudiesTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Bleeding the Tears of Melancholia 2. 'Þe mukke' of Marriage and the Sexual Paradox 3. Lost Blood of the Middle Age: Surrogacy and Fecundity 4. Margery Medica: The Healing Value of Pain Surrogacy 5. The Passion of Death Surrogacy 6. Senescent Reproduction: Writing Anamnestic Pain Afterword / Afterlife Select Bibliography Glossary of Medical Terms

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Book SynopsisThe Zohar is the fundamental work of Jewish mysticism. Isaiah Tishby’s classic and definitive Wisdom of the Zohar makes the world of the Zohar available to the English-speaking reader in all its complexity and poetry. The extended extracts are arranged by topic, each section being prefaced by introductory explanations and accompanied by copious notes. There is also a General Introduction on the complex symbolism of the Zohar and on its historical and literary background. The scholarly value of David Goldstein’s acclaimed translation is enhanced by an index expanded to include references to passages cited in the introduction and notes, and by the addition of a subject index and an index of biblical references. Isaiah Tishby was awarded the Bialik Prize 1972, the Israel Prize 1979, and the Rothschild Prize 1982, mainly for his work on The Wisdom of the Zohar. David Goldstein was awarded the Webber Prize 1987 for this translation.Trade Review‘We thought we had understood the Zohar but Tishby showed us the mystical level, and we never read the Zohar the same way again. . . . Now the splendour of the Book of Splendour is available for all to see. The masterful work of Tishby has been complemented by a masterful translation by Goldstein. . . . This work is a solid step into a substantial and new view of what religion is about; it should be a part of every scholarly library, in religion as well as in Jewish studies.’ - David R. Blumenthal, Journal of the American Academy of Religion‘. . . extensive and erudite introductions to every section of this magnum opus . . . [Tishby’s] introductory essays, as well as his annotations to the passages in these three volumes, demonstrate his vast erudition and comprehension of Kabbalistic theology and literature and thereby introduce the reader into the realms of Kabbalah hitherto inaccessible except to a coterie of scholars. The comprehensive bibliography, select glossary, an index of references to the Zohar, as well as an index of Scriptural references to the texts of this anthology, enhance our appreciation of this tour de force which deserves to adorn the bookshelf of the intelligent layman and the serious student.’- S. B. Leperer, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies‘Excellent English translation . . . We are presented not only with the best available English translation of large sections of the Zohar but with an extensive, informed running commentary . . . a brilliant introduction that situates the Zohar in its historical and theological context . . . with an extensive, informed running commentary that for the first time really makes the arcane, esoteric, Zoharic text available. In addition Tishby has provided an excellent introduction . . . Every library of any size and quality should add this work to its collection.’- S. P. Katz, Choice‘In many ways the crowning achievement of the Littman Library.’- Samuel H. Dresner, Conservative Judaism‘An indispensable guide . . . stylishly and accurately translated . . . The bewildering diversity of the Zoharic literature is made manageable by the arrangement of the most important passages as an anthology under subject headings, while the lucid notes and introductions to each section by Isaiah Tishby throw light on even the most obscure passages.’- Hyam Maccoby, European Judaism‘An elegant English translation . . . [Tishby’s] work on Jewish mysticism opened up new paths and helped to establish it as a focus of scholarship.’- Hyam Maccoby, The Independent (from his obituary of Tishby)‘This superb addition to the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization comes already garlanded with awards . . . These three volumes deserve, and demand, serious and committed study, equal to the enormous dedication and devotion that went into their production. We must be grateful to all concerned in opening this mysterious Jewish world to a wider audience.’- Jonathan Magonet, Jewish Chronicle‘Makes possible, for the English-speaking reader, the study of a broad selection of texts from the Zohar thematically arranged and set in the context of a systematic exploration of their conceptual background. It is a work greatly to be welcomed . . . there has long been a need for such a work. . . . We should be grateful to David Goldstein for his decade of labour of love and to Louis Littman and the Littman Library for having the courage and commitment to support such a task . . . each passage is well-footnoted, the great achievement of this project being to provide a guide for the uninitiated to the rich symbolism and metaphoric reference of the text . . . There is something immensely rich and fertile about the text and texture of the work which has always been of broad appeal. . . . David Goldstein’s translation reads beautifully. Fortunately, he has added additional explanations, when necessary, to the notes . . . There can be no doubt that The Wisdom of the Zohar affords the English-speaking reader a far deeper entry into the subject than was previously available. . . . This translation . . . must place him among the best translators of our time . . . The Wisdom of the Zohar is therefore evidence that [Louis Littman’s] vision of a Library of Jewish Civilization of a standard of excellence will not be forsaken.’- Jonathan Wittenberg, Jewish Quarterly‘For over thirty years, Isaiah Tishby’s study of the Zohar has been hailed as a classic, a landmark in modern Hebrew letters. Beautifully written and deeply learned, it has opened the recondite world of the Zohar to more than a generation of Hebrew readers. Thus, the appearance of the long-awaited English translation is a cause for celebration . . . its mysterious power remains largely intact . . . The Zohar . . . is the richest, most imaginative work in the annals of Jewish mysticism . . . Tishby’s selection of primary sources is exemplary, and the commentaries to them, lucid . . . the unusually fine, exacting translation . . . the English reader remains in Goldstein’s debt. Excellent indices have been provided, as well as an updated bibliography. . . . essential reading for anyone seeking to plumb critically the depths of the Jewish mystical tradition . . . this is a classic about a classic.’- Elliott Ginsburg, Journal of Religion‘Its three-volume English translation now, for the first time, puts the Zohar truly at the disposal of students coming from other disciplines concerned with religious mysticism who appreciate the importance of treating the Jewish material seriously. . . . it is a monumental achievement . . . Goldstein’s sensitive English version is a great convenience . . . the service to scholarship of the Littman Library in making it available.’- Raphael Loewe, L’Eylah‘La Littman Library of Jewish Civilization ajoute à sa panoplie d’études juives un des classiques des recherches modernes sur la mystique . . . sera . . . un élément indispensable à la bibliographie de tout étudiant de la mystique . . . la tradition anglaise, aussi érudite qu’élégante . . . cette série prestigieuse.’- Paul Fenton, Revue des Études Juives‘An essential aid for understanding the text of the Zohar, and Goldstein, the Littman Library . . . have done us a great service in making it available in English translation . . . any library which claims to cover Judaism and mysticism will have to have a copy of this book.’- A. P. HaymanTable of ContentsVOLUME I Special Preface to the Translator's Introduction Translator's Introduction Preface to Hebrew Volume I, First Edition Preface to Hebrew Volume II GENERAL INTRODUCTION I The Structure and Literary Form of the Zohar The Various Sections * The Characteristics of the Zohar * The Narrative Framework II The Publication and Influence of the Zohar The Testimony of Rabbi Isaac of Acre * Verification of the Evidence * The Sanctity of the Zohar III The History of Zohar Scholarship Early Criticism * Christian Kabbalah and Rabbi Judah Aryeh Modena * The Sabbatean Movement and Rabbi Jacob Emden * Zohar Scholarship in the Enlightenment Period * Later Studies of the Zohar IV Zohar Criticism Indecisive Arguments * The Foundations of Zohar Criticism * Evidence for the Antiquity of the Zohar V Various Solutions Later Redaction * Composition over a Long Period of Time * Composition in the Thirteenth Century * Unresolved Questions VI Printed Editions, Manuscripts, Translations, and Commentaries Printed Editions of the Zohar * Zohar Manuscripts * Translations of the Zohar * Zohar Commentaries PRELIMINARIES: EVENTS AND PERSONALITIES 1 The Greatness of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai 2 The Teaching of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai 3 The Angel of Death Put to Flight 4 Miracles: The Plantation of Rabbi Pinhas ben Yair 5 The Righteous Man of his Time: Annulling the Decrees I 6 The Righteous Man of his Time: Annulling the Decrees II 7 Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai and his Generation I 8 Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai and his Generation II 9 Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai and his Generation III 10 Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai and Rabbi Eleazar in the Cave 11 The Emergence from the Cave 12 The Entry into the Great Assembly 13 The Exit from the Great Assembly 14 The Illness of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai 15 Revelation of Mysteries before his Departure 16 The Departure of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai 17 After the Death of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai 18 In the Celestial Academy 19 Rav Hamnuna Sava 20 The Old Man of Mishpatim 21 The Child 22 Rabbi Eliezer the Great PART I THE GODHEAD Section I En-Sof and the World of Emanation Introduction The Mystery of the Godhead * En-Sof and the Order of the Sefirot * Dualism and Unity * En-Sof and Keter * En-Sof in the Raya Mehemna and the Tikkunei ha-Zohar 1 En-Sof and Ayin (Nothing) 2 Cause above All Causes 3 En-Sof beyond All Perception 4 The Conduct of the World through the Sefirot 5 Soul and Body 6 Essence and Vessels 7 Acts of En-Sof Section II Sefirot Introduction The Nature and Function of the Sefirot * The Process of Emanation * The Paths of Symbolism * An Array of Symbols 1 The Process of Emanation 2 The Chain of the Sefirot 3 Straight Line 4 The Unification of the Sefirot through the Mystery of the Light of the Lamp 5 Colours and Light 6 The Lights of Thought 7 Thought, Voice, and Speech I 8 Thought, Voice, and Speech II 9 Thought and Understanding 10 Gates 11 Mi-Eleh-Elohim 12 The Death of the Kings 13 Atika Kadisha and Ze'ir Anpin 14 The White Head and the Strong Skull 15 The Countenance of the King 16 Father and Mother, Son and Daughter 17 The Letter Yod 18 The Letters Yod, He, Vav 19 Names of God 20 Patriarchs 21 Firmaments 22 Firmaments, Streams, and Sea 23 The Streets of the River 24 The Jubilee and the Year of Release 25 The Hills of the World 26 The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge I 27 The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge II 28 The Written Torah and the Oral Torah 29 Heaven and Earth, Day and Night 30 Zion and Jerusalem 31 The Holy One, Blessed be He, and the Assembly of Israel 32 The Arousal of Love 33 The Mystery of the Kiss 34 Intercourse 35 Love and Jealousy Section III Shekhinah Introduction The Character and Situation of the Shekhinah * Cutting and Separation * The Attribute of Judgment and its Relationship to 'the Other Side' * The Mother of the World and the Assembly of Israel * The Exile of the Shekhinah 1 The House of the World 2 A Lily 3 A Rose and a Lily 4 A Well 5 A Hind 6 A Woman of Worth 7 Zedek (Righteousness) 8 The Agent of the Holy One, Blessed be He 9 Gate 10 The Door of the Tent 11 A Continual Burnt-Offering 12 Moon 13 The Diminution of the Moon 14 The Shape of the Moon 15 States of the Moon 16 The Destruction of the Temple 17 The Casting-down of the Shekhinah 18 The Dismissal of the Queen 19 The Mourning of the Holy One, Blessed be He, and the Angels 20 Separation 21 In Exile 22 Longing 23 The Shekhinah, Above and Below 24 In the Land of Israel and outside the Land 25 The Darkened Light 26 Joy and Sorrow 27 Surety 28 In the Street of the Tanners Section IV Influence and Direction Introduction Dynamic Direction * The Tension and Balancing of Opposites 1 Influence from Atika Kadisha 2 The Upper Mother and the Lower Mother 3 Feeding the Upper and the Lower Worlds 4 Blessing 5 Righteousness 6 Watering 7 The Eyes of the Lord 8 Direction on Weekdays and on the Sabbath 9 Acceptable Time 10 Atonement for Sin 11 The Presence of God in the Worlds 12 The Concealed Light 13 The Primal Light 14 The Renewal of the Work of Creation VOLUME II PART II THE OTHER SIDE Section I The Forces of Uncleanness Introduction Good and Evil * The Dualistic Tendency * Restrictions on Dualism * The Emergence of Evil * The Domain of Husks * Mythological Images 1 The Array of Powers 2 The Sefirot of Uncleanness 3 Seven Breaths 4 Pharaoh's Dreams 5 Tohu and Bohu (Waste and Void) 6 Red and Black 7 Light and Darkness 8 Four Husks 9 Shells and Kingdoms 10 The Shells of the Nut 11 Kernel and Shell 12 The Precedence of the Shell 13 The Rule of the Shells 14 Death and the Shadow of Death 15 Snake 16 Monster 17 Monsters 18 The Ox, the Ass, and the Dog Section II The Activity of 'the Other Side' Introduction 1 The Seduction of the Snake in the Upper Worlds 2 The Four Primary Causes of Injury 3 The Infertility of 'the Other Side' 4 Repulsing 'the Other Side' 5 Accusation 6 Appeasing 'the Other Side' I 7 Appeasing 'the Other Side' II 8 Preliminaries to Action 9 Night 10 The Crevice of the Great Deep 11 Deceiving the Sinners 12 Good Days and Evil Days Section III Demons and Spirits Introduction 1 The Desert 2 The Yemim in the Desert 3 Blemished Creatures I 4 Blemished Creatures II 5 Samael and Lilith 6 Lilith in the Cities of the Sea 7 Lilith, the Infant-slayer 8 Naamah, Mother of Demons 9 Naamah and Lilith 10 The Spirit of Uncleanness 11 The Arousal of the Spirit of Uncleanness 12 The Rout of the Demons PART III CREATION Section I The Account of Creation Introduction The Process of Creation * The System of the Worlds 1 Forty-two Letters 2 The Letters of the Alphabet 3 Fire, Water, and Spirit 4 The Design of the Worlds 5 The Upper World and the Lower World 6 The Pillars of the World 7 The Foundation Stone I 8 The Foundation Stone II 9 Creatio ex Nihilo 10 Potentiality and Actuality 11 Different Kinds 12 Heaven and Earth I 13 Heaven and Earth II 14 Heaven and Earth III 15 Lights 16 Conflict and Division 17 Upper and Lower Worlds 18 Sea and Dry Land 19 The Completion of Creation 20 The Hidden Light 21 The Chain of the Generations Section II The Account of the Chariot Introduction 1 The Halls 2 The Throne of Glory 3 The Angels that Bear the Throne 4 The Creatures of the Chariot 5 Creatures and Wheels 6 Hashmal I 7 Hashmal II 8 Four Rivers Section III Angels Introduction The Role of the Angels * Metatron and the Nefilim 1 The Nature of the Angels 2 The Creation and Destruction of the Angels 3 The Melody of the Cherubim's Wings 4 The Song of the Angels I 5 The Song of the Angels II 6 The Song of the Angels III 7 Messengers I 8 Messengers II 9 Metatron 10 The Tabernacle of Metatron 11 Four Angels 12 Michael and Gabriel 13 Uriel 14 Boel 15 Uzza and Azael Section IV The Natural World Introduction 1 Firmaments and Lands 2 Deeps 3 The Sun I 4 The Sun II 5 The Song of the Stars 6 The Stars and the Control of the World 7 The Activity of the Stars 8 The Seven Planets 9 The Comet 10 The Snake in the Firmament 11 The Rainbow 12 The Sea's Pride 13 Evening and Morning 14 Morning 15 The Hind of the Dawn 16 Trees and Herbs 17 The Mystery of the Echo PART IV THE DOCTRINE OF MAN Section I The Three Souls Introduction The Nature and Status of Man * The Tripartite Soul * The Origin of the Different Parts of the Soul * The Preexistence of the Soul * The Theory of the Soul in Midrash ha-Ne'elam 1 The Storehouse of Souls 2 Neshamah and Nefesh Hayyah 3 The Parts of the Soul and their Function 4 The Unity of Neshamah, Ruah, and Nefesh 5 Neshamah, Ruah, and Nefesh and their Different Levels 6 The Three Parts of the Soul as a Model of the Upper Glory 7 The Birth of the Souls 8 The Life of the Souls in the Upper World 9 The Form of the Souls 10 The Soul's Oath 11 The Descent of the Spirit into the Body from the Garden of Eden 12 The Purpose of the Soul's Descent Section II Body and Soul Introduction The Descent of the Soul * Blemished Souls * Body and Soul and Man's Inclinations * The Theory of the Image 1 The Elements in Man 2 The Origin of the Soul and the Origin of the Body 3 The Movement of the Body through the Power of the Soul 4 The Light of the Soul in the Body 5 Man's Likeness 6 The Images of Man 7 The Liver and the Heart 8 The Brain, the Heart, and the Liver 9 The Structure of the Human Body 10 The Good Inclination and the Evil Inclination 11 The Soul, the Body, and the Evil Inclination 12 The Power of Desire 13 The Wiles of the Evil Inclination 14 The Evil Inclination as God's Agent Section III Sleep and Dreams Introduction 1 Sleep, a Sixtieth Part of Death 2 Entrusting the Soul to the Tree of Death 3 The Ascent of the Soul during Sleep 4 The Soul is Judged during Sleep 5 The Dreams of the Wicked and the Dreams of the Righteous 6 Good and Evil in Dreams 7 Dream and Prophecy 8 The Song of the Souls at Night 9 The Renewal of the Soul in the Morning Section IV Death Introduction 1 This World: the Twinkling of an Eye 2 Remembering the Day of Death 3 Thirty Days before Death 4 Illness and Death 5 There is no Death without Sin 6 The Soul Renders Account at the Time of Death 7 The Departure of the Soul 8 Covering the Eyes of the Dead 9 The Prohibition of Delaying the Burial 10 Death at an Early Age 11 The Death of the Righteous and the Death of the Wicked 12 Death in the Holy Land and Death outside the Holy Land 13 The Spirits of the Dead VOLUME III PART V SACRED WORSHIP Section I The Tabernacle and the Temple Introduction The Mysteries of the Tabernacle and the Temple * The Mystery of the Sacrifices * Sitra Ahra's Share of the Sacrifices * Offerings as Symbols 1 The Building of the Tabernacle 2 The Tabernacle and the Temple 3 The Table and the Showbread 4 The Breastplate and the Ephod 5 The Effect of the Gold Plate 6 The Ritual Performed by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement 7 The Whole-offering 8 Sacrifices and Libations 9 Red and White in Sacrificial Offerings 10 The Altar-fire Destroys Evil 11 Incense 12 Priests Are Prohibited from Drinking Wine 13 The Priests, The Levites, and Israel Section II Prayer and Devotion Introduction 'Worship in the Heart' before the Zohar * The Zohar's Understanding of 'Worship in the Heart' * The Mystical Significance of the Statutory Prayers * Fear of God, Love of God, and Communion 1 The Synagogue 2 The Quorum of Ten: Minyan 3 Morning and Afternoon Prayer 4 The Mystery of Unification through the Recital of the Shema 5 The Eighteen Benedictions 6 The Kedushah 7 Prostration 8 The Reading of the Torah 9 Confession 10 Prayer and Sacrifice 11 Praying Silently 12 From the Depths 13 The Cry of the Heart 14 The Prayer of the Poor 15 The Value of Kavvanah in Prayer 16 The Ascent of the Shekhinah through Prayer 17 The Activity of Prayer and its Reward 18 The Knowledge of God 19 Fear and Love 20 Fear and Joy 21 Gladness and Sorrow 22 Cleaving with Love 23 Servants and Sons Section III Torah Introduction Literal and Hidden Meanings in the Torah * Attitudes toward the Torah in the Raya Mehemna and the Tikkunei ha-Zohar 1 The Torah Sustains the World 2 The Narratives of the Torah 3 The Bodies of the Torah, and the Soul of the Torah 4 Original Interpretations of Torah 5 The Level of Mystical Knowledge 6 Halakhic Studies 7 Studying Torah at Midnight 8 The Study of Torah for its Own Sake 9 Sin Does Not Extinguish Torah 10 Those Who Support the Torah 11 The Scholars and the Unlearned Section IV Commandments: Positive and Introduction 1 The Ten Commandments 2 The Covenant of Circumcision 3 The Observance of Circumcision 4 Zizit 5 Tefillin 6 Mezuzah 7 Charity 8 Oaths and Vows 9 The Taking of God's Name in Vain 10 Forbidden Sexual Relations 11 Driving Away the Shekhinah 12 Mixed Kinds 13 Forbidden Foods 14 Gentile Wine 15 The Value of Deeds Section V Sabbath and Festivals Introduction The Sabbath * The Festivals 1 Importance of the Sabbath 2 Welcoming the Sabbath 3 Sabbath Delight 4 The Sabbath Meals 5 The Additional Soul 6 Havdalah at the Close of the Sabbath 7 The New Year 8 The Day of Atonement 9 Receiving Guests in the Sukkah 10 The Four Species 11 The Passover 12 Narrating the Exodus from Egypt 13 Tikkun Leyl Shavuot 14 Festival Joy and Sabbath Joy 15 Sharing Festival Joy with the Poor PART VI PRACTICAL LIFE Section I Morality Introduction 1 Humility 2 The Modesty of Jewish Women 3 Trust 4 Repaying Evil with Good 5 Hospitality 6 Pride 7 The Arrogance of Rulers 8 Anger 9 Evil Speech 10 Miserliness 11 Drunkenness 12 Wisdom and Folly 13 Delivering a Rebuke Section II Conjugal Life Introduction 1 Male and Female Souls 2 The Commandment of Procreation 3 Assuring One's Livelihood before Marriage 4 The Good Woman and the Evil Woman 5 Conjugal Manners 6 Sexual Intercourse by the Sages on Sabbath Eve 7 The Sanctification of Intercourse 8 Intercourse of the Righteous with the Shekhinah 9 Alien Thoughts during Intercourse 10 Attracting a Soul from Sitra Ahra 11 The Merit of Having Virtuous Children Section III The Righteous and the Wicked Introduction The Terms Zaddik and Rasha before the Zohar * The Righteous and the Wicked in the Main Body of the Zohar * The Righteous and the Wicked in the Raya Mehemna and the Tikkunei ha-Zohar 1 The Righteous, the Wicked, and the Intermediate 2 The Mixed Multitude 3 The Sins of the Rich and the Sins of the Poor 4 The Sins of the Wicked and the Sins of the Righteous 5 Marks of Sin on the Face 6 Defending the Wicked 7 Testing the Righteous and Bearing with the Wicked 8 This World Is for the Wicked, and the Next World is for the Righteous 9 The Element of Fear in the Trust of the Righteous 10 The Suffering of the Righteous 11 The Righteous Suffer to Atone for the Sins of the World 12 The Righteous Die because of the Sins of their Generation Section IV Repentance Introduction 1 The Power of Repentance 2 Repentance through Tears 3 Fasting and Tears 4 Atonement for Sin through Repentance 5 Repairing Damage through Repentance 6 Escaping from Punishment by Repentance 7 Repentance at the Hour of Death 8 The Exalted Status of the Penitent Sinner Bibliography of Works Cited Select Additional Bibliography of Other Works Select Glossary Index of References to the Zohar Index of Scriptural References Index to the Anthology Texts

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Book SynopsisMysticism, which transcends the boundaries of time and space and refers to a reality not grasped by means of ordinary human cognition, is one of the central sources of inspiration of religious thought. It is an attempt to decode the mystery of divine existence by penetrating to the depths of consciousness through language, memory, myth, and symbolism. Delving deep into the psyche, mystics strive to redeem perceived reality from its immediate meaning. Mystical texts constitute a history of this religious creativity, of man’s attempt to reveal the divine structure underlying the chaos of reality and thereby endow life with hope and purpose. By offering an alternative perspective on the world that gives expression to yearnings for freedom and change, mysticism engenders new modes of authority and leadership; as such it plays a decisive role in moulding religious and social history. For all these reasons, the mystical corpus deserves study and discussion in the framework of cultural criticism and research. This study is a lyrical exposition of the Jewish mystical phenomenon. It is based on a close reading of the hundreds of volumes written by Jewish mystics and incorporates mystical testimonies drawn from the different countries and cultural environments in which Jews have lived. Rachel Elior’s purpose is to present, as accurately as possible, the meanings of the mystical works as they were perceived by their creators and readers. At the same time, she contextualizes them within the boundaries of the religion, culture, language, and spiritual and historical circumstances in which the destiny of the Jewish people has evolved. The author succeeds in drawing the reader into a mystical world. With great intensity, she conveys the richness of the mystical experience in discovering the infinity of meaning embedded in the sacred text; teasing out the recurring themes, she explains the multivalent symbols. Using copious extracts from Jewish mystical sources, she illustrates the varieties of the mystical experience from antiquity to the twentieth century. She succeeds in eloquently conveying how mystics try to decipher reality by penetrating beyond its apparent boundaries: how they experience spiritual powers symbolically, imaginatively, or visually; how hidden truths are revealed in visions or dreams, in an epiphany or as ‘lightning’; how they are ‘engraved’ in the mind or illuminate in the soul. Most of the texts she draws on are written in very obscure language, but the skilful translations communicate the mystical experiences vividly and make it easy for the reader to understand how Elior uses them to explain the relationship between the revealed world and the hidden world and between the mystical world and the traditional religious world, with all the social and religious tensions this has caused. Trade Review‘Will greatly reward the non-specialist reader who is willing to put in some effort in order to receive a taste of this amazing Jewish literary tradition.’ Aaron Howard, Jewish Herald-Voice'A useful overview of Jewish mystical thought, overflowing with interesting insights.'James R. Davila, Journal of Jewish Studies'The book is extremely successful in delineating the existential meaning of the mystical phenomenon, and gives great insight into the popularity and attraction of this highly influential strand of Judaism.'TraditionTable of ContentsNote on Transliteration1 The Jewish Mystical Library and the New Vision of Reality2 The Infinity of Meaning Embedded in the Sacred Text3 The Mystical Figure: Life without Limits4 Mystical Language and Magical Language: 'Had I been using tongues of men and angels'Appendix: Historical and Literary Figures, Kabbalists, and Mystics Mentioned in Jewish Mystical LiteratureBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis Many books on Maimonides have been written and still more will appear. Few present Maimonides, as Menachem Kellner does against the actual religious background that informed his many innovative and influential choices. He not only analyses the thought of the great religious thinker but contextualizes it in terms of the ‘proto-kabbalistic’ Judaism that preceded him. Kellner shows how the Judaism that Maimonides knew had come to conceptualize the world as an enchanted universe, governed by occult affinities. He shows why Maimonides rejected this and how he went about doing it. Kellner argues that Maimonides’ attempted reformation failed, the clearest proof of that being the success of the kabbalistic counter-reformation which his writings provoked. Kellner shows how Maimonides rethought Judaism in different ways. It is in highlighting this and identifying Maimonides as a religious reformer that this book makes its key contribution. Maimonides created a new Judaism, ‘disenchanted’, depersonalized, and challenging; a religion that is at the same time elitist and universalist. Kellner’s analysis also shows the deep configuration of Judaism in a new light. If, as Moshe Idel says in his Foreword, Maimonides was able to ‘reform so many aspects of rabbinic Judaism single-handedly, to enrich it by importing such dramatically different concepts, it shows that the profound structures of this religion are flexible enough to allow the emergence and success of astonishing reforms. The fact that, great as Maimonides was, he did not overcome the traditional forms of proto-kabbalism shows that the dynamic of religion is much more complex than subscribing to authorities, however widely accepted.’Trade Review'One of the most important books on Maimonides to be published in the last thirty years and quite possibly one of the most important in the field of Jewish philosophy. The writing is clear and crisp, and the scholarship is impeccable. The book explains not just how radical Mamonides's dissatisfactions with the Judaism of his day was, but how radical his opinions are for most Jews today.'Kenneth Seeskind, AJS Review 'Impressive... lucid... that rare scholarly study that manages not to compromise on academic rigour while daring to state strongly-held convictions that are so relevant in times troubled by the many irrational "surges" of political, military, and religious fundamentalism.'Allan Nadler, Forward 'Kellner has contributed a study of great value not only for an academic audience but for lay and yeshivish audiences as well. The book is a welcome addition to the samizdats currently circulating within the underground yeshiva counter-culture.'James A. Diamond, Meorot 'A spirited, highly stimulating works that reads fluently and fully engages not only with the mind but also the reader's Jewish soul.'Haim Chertok, Midstream 'Interesting and important... extremely valuable in the way that it roots both Maimonides' legal code and his philosophy in the thought-world and social and religious practices of his own time, and dramatizes the ways in which some of his most characteristic formulations function as critical responses to what prevailed in his own culture and environment.'Aryeh Botwinick, Philosophy East & West 'One of those rare combinations of erudite scholarship and accessible style, treating an issue that is not only perennially meaningful, but also particularly salient today-features that characterize a number of his works... Throughout the book, Kellner devises a series of easy-to-follow dualities to structure his argument... many books have been written about Maimonides. What Menachem Kellner's book does uniquely is to isolate the ways in which Maimonides bumps against the mystical and mythical strains that run through ancient and medieval Jewish thought like a river. While any educated Jew knows that Maimonides stands out as a leading rationalist, Kellner presents us with a compelling portrait of the multi-faceted ways in which Maimonides expunges these mystical and mythical veins from the Jewish mine.'Joel Hecker, The Reconstructionist 'Kellner has refocused Maimonidean studies in a new way. In addition, he has done so in a very learned manner: his footnotes cover a vast area of Jewish scholarship; his summaries of scholarship are very concise; and his bibliography is very full... a very important book. It formulates clearly and comprehensively the hyperrationalist reading of Maimonides which is widely held by scholars of Jewish philosophy. It also offers a new proposal on the subject of the opponents against whom Maimonides wrote. Kellner's erudition has made this so, and his willingness to engage the present and the future has projected the issue beyond medieval philosophy.'David R. Blumenthal, Reviews in Religion & Theology 'The strengths of this book lie in its didactic and ideological clarity... For those interested in the medieval roots of a major dispute within modern Orthodox Judaism this is an extremely useful book packed with detailed examples of contentious topics.'Michael Fagenblat, Speculum 'A thought-provoking study that deals with rather more than its title suggests.'Jeremy Adler, Times Literary Supplement 'Perhaps no author in the last couple of decades has made Maimonides' theology more relevant for contemporary Orthodox dialogue than Menachem Kellner. His works on dogma, belief, rabbinic authority, and other central topics have generated significant debate and even his biggest detractors acknowledge the substantive and stimulating nature of his work... This is an extremely thought-provoking work that deserves serious attention, debate, and discussion.'Tradition Online'Intellectual tour de force... On the one hand, Kellner, in a work of objective scholarship, insightfully decodes what he takes to be two opposing religions that have contended for recognition as the Orthodox expression of Judaism from ancient to modern times. On the other hand, Kellner, as an engaged modern Orthodox thinker who has a stake in this conflict, applies wide learning, critical skills, and expansive control of traditional Jewish sources, intellectual history, and analytic philosophical tools in a sustained argument... Menachem Kellner’s study of Maimonides and the mystics will endure not because it explicates an antiquarian medieval debate; his study talks to moderns who struggle with ideas and ideals, who are both intellectually modern and Jewishly religious.'Alan J. Yuter, Review of Rabbinic Judaism'This is one of the most important books on Maimonides to be published in the last thirty years and quite possibly one of the most important in the field of Jewish philosophy. The writing is clear and crisp, and the scholarship is impeccable.'Israel Book ReviewTable of ContentsForeword by Moshe IdelPrefaceAcknowledgementsNote on Transliteration and Conventions Used in the Text1 Maimonides' Critique of the Jewish Culture of His DayIntroduction * The Judaism Maimonides Opposed * The Philospphical Basis of Maimonides' Opposition * Esotericism and Elitism * Maimonides' Failure * Elements of Proto-Kabbalah * Maimonides' Opposition to the World of Proto-Kabbalah * Excursus: Terminology2 The Institutional Character of HalakhahIntroduction * Two Opposing Views * Maimonides' View * Maimonides' Motivation * Mistakes and Errors in Halakhah / Science / Dogma * Error in 'Science' * Halakhah as Instrumental * Halakhah and Theology * God and Abraham: Who Chose Whom?3 HolinessIntroduction * A Glance at the Biblical Evidence * Maimonides on the Nature of Holiness in General * Holy Persons * The People of Israel * The Sanctity of the Land of Israel and of Jerusalem * Holy Things: Torah, Tefilin, Mezuzot * Holy Times4 Ritual Purity and ImpurityIntroduction: Two Ancient Views on Ritual Purity and Impurity * Judah Halevi on Ritual Purity and Impurity * Maimonides on Ritual Purity and Impurity * Maimonides on the Sacrifical Cult and the Laws of Ritual Purity and Impurity * Maimonides on the Moral Significance of the Laws of Ritual Purity and Impurity * Critiques of Maimonides' Account of the Sacrifices5 The Hebrew LanguageIntroduction * Judah Halevi on the Hebrew Language * Maimonides on the Hebrew Language * Why Did Maimonides Adopt His Position? * Nahmanides' Critique6 Kavod, Shekhinah, and Created LightIntroduction * Shekhinah, Kavod, and Created Light in Rabbinic Texts * Sa'adiah Gaon * Judah Halevi * Maimonides on Kavod in the Guide of the Perplexed * Maimonides on Shekhinah in the Guide of the Perplexed * Maimonides on Created Light in the Guide of the Perplexed * Shekhinah and Kavod in Mishneh torah and Commentary on the Mishnah7 Jews and Non-JewsIntroduction * Theory of the Acquired Intellect * Jews and Non-Jews * Digression: Which of the Thirteen Principles Must Actually Be Accepted to Achieve a Share in the World to Come? * Who is an 'Israelite'? * Wise Non-Jews and the World to Come * Was Maimonides Truly Universalist?8 AngelsIntroduction * Angels in Rabbinic Thought * Angels in Piyutim * Angels in Heikhalot Literature * Sa'adiah Gaon and Judah Halevi on Angels * Maimonides on AngelsAfterword: Contemporary Resistance to the Maimonidean ReformGlossaryIndex of Citations from Moses Maimonides and Judah HaleviBibliographyGeneral Index

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Book SynopsisSomething crucial and quite unprecedented happened to kabbalah in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Though it had previously been considered a highly secretive and esoteric tradition, its practitioners began to spread its doctrines throughout the Jewish world with missionary zeal. Their goal was ambitious: no less than the remodelling of the religious and ethical attitudes of the entire Jewish population, a reformation of Judaism. Few aspects of Jewish life and religious practice were not changed as a result of the spread of kabbalah. These innovations originated mainly in the city of Safed in Galilee. They were introduced by kabbalistic adepts, but would not have gained broad acceptance if they had not made sense to people in terms of their everyday lives. The kabbalistic corpus that emerged should thus be interpreted not just as the elaboration of a secretive literary tradition, but as a response to the needs of Jewish society in its manifest historical context. In addition, Roni Weinstein argues, these kabbalistic innovations were partly a response to changes in the Catholic world-view, revealing an intimate link with Counter-Reformation Catholicism that is explored here for the first time. The religious and political changes taking place in contemporary Ottoman settings also contributed to these changes. The effect of these developments on Jewish culture was nothing short of revolutionary, deeply affecting people’s lives at the time and also laying the foundations for change in future generations. Yet they were not presented as revolutionary: the early modern kabbalists understood that they would only succeed in spreading their message if they presented their doctrines as the natural continuation of what went before. Weinstein’s sociological reading of mystical texts encompasses a number of methodological innovations, including the need to consider the impact of the non-Jewish environment in the fashioning of Jewish texts. He sees the emergence of ‘Jewish modernity’ as the result of developments that were intrinsically Jewish rather than as a response to outside influences during the Enlightenment; controversially, he therefore places its origins in the Mediterranean world of the late sixteenth century rather than in eighteenth-century Berlin. His argument is based on a wide range of Jewish sources—including theological tracts, kabbalistic and ethical literature, hagiographies, mystical diaries, halakhic rulings and responsa, and community and confraternal regulations—as well as the testimonies non-Jewish travellers, and Catholic religious literature. This stimulating new reading of the development of kabbalistic texts and practices opens a new chapter in the understanding of Jewish modernity. The Hebrew edition of this book was awarded the Goren-Gottstein Prize for the Best Book in Jewish Thought 2010–2012.Trade ReviewReviews 'A significant, provocative contribution to the literature.' S.T. Katz, Choice'A truly impressive impressive of original and seminal scholarship . . . extraordinarily informative, exceptionally well-written, organized, and presented, making it unreservedly recommended for both academia as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.' Midwest Book Review‘Roni Weinstein challenges the common assumption that the kabbalistic world-view owes its popularity to its theological and metaphysical content. Rather, he argues, the social context of kabbalistic thought is at least as significant. Weinstein has written an exciting and groundbreaking book which raises important new questions. If he is correct, his book is a landmark breakthrough.’ From the citation for the Goren-Gottstein Prize for the Best Book in Jewish Thought 2010–2012‘Weinstein brings a totally fresh approach to the subject . . . his understanding of kabbalistic texts as a window into the cultural, social, and psychological realities of the beginning of the modern period . . . enables them to be perceived, for the first time, in the wider context of early modern Mediterranean society . . . From this perspective, the kabbalistic texts developed in Safed are not so much the continuation of an earlier tradition but a response to the process of modernization that dominated the period in a way that changed every reality. . . . Weinstein’s explanation of why it was that kabbalah developed in the time and place that it did is convincing . . . Overflowing with original ideas, his work offers a breakthrough that can be considered revolutionary. His connecting the development of kabbalah to the development of modernity makes this a very modern book. . . . eminently readable because it contextualizes palpable human concerns within the broad intellectual panorama of the times rather than limiting itself to the confines of “kabbalah studies” or “Jewish thought”.’ Jonathan Garb Zion'This book is essential for understanding early modern Jewish religious thought and would be a valuable addendum for studies on the broader impact of early modern movements in Christianity. The English is polished and no previous knowledge of kabbalah is necessary for full comprehension. The concise text is rich in content and stimulating in its broad outlook. This study is not only a useful tool for crosscultural comparisons but it itself is a model for such a study. It could only be written by a person who has mastery both in early modern history and in early modern thought both Jewish and general. Luckily, the author meets these requirements and the result is a model monograph.' Shaul Stampfer, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsNote on Transliteration Introduction: A Social Historian Looks at Early Modern Kabbalah 1 A New God: The Theological Innovation 2 Like Giants on the Shoulders of Dwarfs: The Rise of the Jewish Saint 3 Religious Confraternities 4 ‘From my body I shall envision God’: The Body and Sexuality 5 Sin and Repentance: The Jewish Confession 6 Another God. Catholic Tradition in Safed Kabbalah: The Sephardi--Conversos Link 7 Summary: Kabbalah of Safed and Modernity Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisUn psiquiatra clínico explora los efectos de la DMT, una de las drogas psicodélicas más potentes que se conocen • Una mirada tras bambalinas a los proyectos más avanzados de investigación sobre sustancias psicodélicas • Proporciona una singular explicación científica sobre el fenómeno de las experiencias de raptos por extraterrestres De 1990 a 1995, el Dr. Rick Strassman realizó en la Universidad de Nuevo México estudios clínicos aprobados y financiados por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos, en los que inyectó a 60 voluntarios con dimetiltriptamina (DMT), uno de los psicodélicos más potentes que se conocen. Su recuento pormenorizado de esas sesiones constituye una interesantísima indagación sobre la naturaleza de la mente humana y el potencial terapéutico de los psicodélicos. La DMT, una sustancia química derivada de las plantas que se encuentra en la ayahuasca, una infusión psicodélica del Amazonas, también es producida por el cerebro humano. Esta sustancia, liberada naturalmente por la glándula pineal, facilita al alma su entrada y salida del cuerpo y es una parte integrante de las experiencias del nacimiento y la muerte, así como de los estados superiores de meditación e incluso de la trascendencia sexual. Si se utiliza sabiamente, la DMT podría dar paso a un período de extraordinario progreso en la exploración científica de las regiones más místicas de la mente y el alma humanas.Trade Review“Una lectura fluida, interesante, incitante. . . . [Una] obra valerosa desde el punto de vista intelectual. . . . Será de gran utilidad tanto para investigadores y clínicos como para el lector no especializado”. * American Journal of Psychiatry [Revista Estadounidense de Psiquiatría], 2002 *“Las avanzadas investigaciones de Rick Strassman plantean preguntas fascinantes acerca del fundamento neuroquímica o de la experiencia y de la factibilidad de realizar investigaciones humanas en un centro médico universitario con estupefacientes psicoactivos. ¡Una lectura verdaderamente audaz!” * Andrew Weil, autor de Spontaneous Healing [La curación espontánea] *“Fascinante e incitante. Una extraordinaria exploración de los límites de la ciencia y de la propia conciencia”. * Rupert Sheldrake, autor de The Presence of the Past [La presencia del pasado] *“Un viaje deslumbrante por la experimentación con drogas psicodélicas y un fascinante vistazo a un nuevo modelo de cómo funciona el cerebro. Las investigaciones de Strassman dan a entender que el espíritu y su interacción con el cuerpo humano tienen una base fisiológica; sus resultados sugieren que los procesos químicos del cerebro nos proporcionan acceso a otros reinos de la existencia justamente cuando más lo necesitamos. Su relato personal nos revela los riesgos y las posibilidades de entrar en este nuevo mundo singular”. * Bruce Greyson, editor, Journal of Near-Death Studies [Revista de estudios sobre experiencias cercana *“Las importantes investigaciones de Strassman nos ayudan a darnos cada vez más cuenta de que vivimos en un universo multidimensional que es mucho más complejo e interesante de lo que indican nuestras teorías científicas. Es de suma importancia que reconozcamos las implicaciones de este descubrimiento, pues tiene mucho que revelarnos sobre quiénes somos y por qué estamos aquí”. * John Mack, autor de Abduction [Abducciones] y Passport to the Cosmos [Pasaporte al cosmos] *“Es el estudio científico más exhaustivo de los efectos sobre la mente y las percepciones de una droga psicodélica desde los años sesenta. Strassman ofrece una perspectiva fascinante del mundo de las investigaciones psiquiátricas, al mismo tiempo que trata de entender estas misteriosas sustancias y sus profundos efectos sobre la conciencia humana”. * Dr. Ralph Metzner, autor de Ayahuasca: Consciousness and the Spirits of Nature [La ayahuasca: La con *“Este libro es una lectura esencial para todos los interesados en los temas de la mente, la filosofía, la naturaleza de la realidad y la espiritualidad. El principal experto en DMT del mundo ha creado una obra maestra del género, en la que guía magistralmente al lector a través de una serie de revelaciones asombrosas sobre la naturaleza del universo, que se dejan ver al otro lado del umbral cuando la DMT da la vuelta a la llave”. * Dr. Karl Jansen, autor de K. Ketamine: Dreams and Realities [K. ketamina: Sueños y realidades] *“DMT: La molécula del espíritu indica el camino a seguir para superar el actual punto muerto del paradigma predominante sobre el “abuso de estupefacientes”. Tenemos una deuda de gratitud con Strassman por perseverar frente a los obstáculos burocráticos que entorpecían sus importantes investigaciones en la farmacología humana de la DMT y esclarecerla para el público general, en términos científicos y humanísticos”. * Jonathan Ott, autor de The Age of Entheogens [La era de los enteógenos] y Hallucigenic Plants o *Table of ContentsAgradecimientos Introducción Prólogo: Las primeras sesiones Primera parte:Los componentes esenciales1 Las drogas psicodélicas: ciencia y sociedad 2 Qué es la DMT 3 La glándula pineal: el órgano del espíritu 4 La glándula pineal psicodélica Segunda parte:Concepción y nacimiento5 89-001 6 El laberinto Tercera parte:El marco, el entorno y la DMT7 La selección de los voluntarios 8 Recibir la DMT 9 Bajo la influencia de estupefacientes Cuarta parte:Las sesiones10 Introducción a los informes de casos 11 Sentir y pensar 12 Mundos invisibles13 Contacto a través del velo: 1 14 Contacto a través del velo: 2 15 La muerte y su proceso 16 Estados místicos 17 El dolor y el miedo Quinta parte:Un momento para la reflexión18 Si es así, ¿qué importa? 19 Las fases finales 20 Cuidado con pisar callos sagrados Sexta parte:Lo que pudo ser y tal vez será21 DMT: La molécula del espíritu 22 Posibilidades futuras de la investigación psicodélica Epílogo Notas Acerca del autor

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Book SynopsisAdÁn y el Árbol de la Kabbalah es un estudio del ser humano desde la perspectiva de los kabbalistas del mundo actual. Con excepcional claridad y maestrÍa, Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi explica en esta obra la herramienta mÍstica de la Kabbalah conocida como "Árbol de la Vida", y describe con un lenguaje sencillo el modo en el que operan los principios eternos de los mundos presentes en un ser humano.AdÁn y el Árbol de la Kabbalah is a study of the human being from the perspective of the kabbalists of today's world. With exceptional clarity and mastery, the author explains the mystical tool of Kabbalah known as the "Tree of Life". He describes the way in which the eternal principles operate in the present world. Table of ContentsÍ ndice Nota editorialPrefacio Introducció n KabbalahEl á rbol de la Vida: su diná mica Adá n CUERPOLos cuatro mundos La cara inferior TiferetQuÍ mica yezirá ticaBriah: el organismo electromagné tico AzilutPSIQUELa psique La gran trÍ ada inferior de Hod, Nezah y MalkhutYesod: el egoEl ser humano vegetalTiferet: el serNefesh: el alma vital Los cuatro tipos de egoLa cara inferior en conjunto Prá ctica Emoció nTrÍ adas laterales de la emoció n IntelectoTrÍ adas del intelectoLa psique en conjunto: una recapitulació n Arquetipos Los arquetipos y el inconsciente El umbral de la consciencia Inconsciente individual Inconsciente colectivoALMALa bella y la bestia Aliento de diosDivinidad en el ser humano natural Despertar del almaEl discÍ pulo El individuoNeshamahESPÍ RITU Conciencia có smica El Adá n realizadoGlosarioÍ ndice de figuras Í ndice analÍ ticoAcerca del autor

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