Description
Book SynopsisTechniques explained by the masters—for today's spiritual seeker Meditation is designed to give you direct access to the spiritual. Whether it’s through deep breathing during a busy day, listening to the quiet after turning off the car radio, chanting in prayer or ten minutes of visualization exercises each morning, meditation takes many forms. But it is always a personal method of centering our spiritual self. Meditation has long been practiced in the Jewish community as a powerful tool to transcend words, personality and ego and to directly experience the divine. Inspiring yet practical, this introduction to meditation from a Jewish perspective approaches it in a new and illuminating way: As it is personally practiced by today’s most experienced Jewish meditators from around the world. A "how to" guide for both beginning and experienced meditators, Meditation from the Heart of Judaism will help you start meditating or help you enhance your practice. Meditation is a Jewish spiritual resource for today that can benefit people of all faiths and backgrounds—and help us add spiritual energy to our lives. Contributors include: Sylvia Boorstein • Alan Brill • Andrea Cohen-Keiner • David Cooper • Avram Davis • Nan Fink • Steve Fisdel • Shefa Gold • Lynn Gottleib • Edward Hoffman • Lawrence Kushner • Alan Lew • Shaul Magid • Daniel C. Matt • Jonathan Omer-Man • Mindy Ribner • Susie Schneider • Rami M. Shapiro • Shohama Wiener • Sheila Peltz Weinberg • Laibl Wolf • David Zeller
Trade Review"Avram Davis is a pioneer in the new art of teaching Jewish meditation.... He has assembled a sparkling catalog of some of its best contemporary teachers. Their many perspectives light up facets of the holy quest for nearness to the One." —Rodger Kamenetz, author, Stalking Elijah and The Jew in the Lotus “One of the most inspiring books I have ever read in my professional career. Absolutely spectacular. Wise, delicious, inspiring and comforting. A journey into the richness of spirituality.” —Caroline M. Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit; coauthor, The Creation of Health “In dozens of beautiful ways this book shows how meditation can bring you home to yourself and God.” —Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart “A treasury of meditative insights and techniques from some of the most enlightened teachers in Judaism. Each page is a meditative experience that brings you closer to God.” —Rabbi Shoni Labowitz, author, Miraculous Living: A Guided Journey in Kabbalah through the Ten Gates of the Tree of Life
Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Heart of Jewish Meditation Avram Davis 1 The Teaching and Practice of Reb Yerachmiel ben Yisrael Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro 2 Silencing the Inner Voice(s) Rabbi Lawrence Kushner 3 It Doesn't Matter What You Call It: If It Works, It Works Rabbi Alan Lew 4 Study as Meditation Susie Schneider 5 Keeping God Before Me Always Mindy Ribner 6 Noble Boredom: How to View Meditation Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man 7 Jewish Meditation Today and Its Obstacles Avram Davis 8 The Hierarchy of Jewish Meditation Rabbi Alan Brill 9 Opening the Inner Gates Edward Hoffman 10 A Splendid Way to Live Rabbi David Zeller 11 On Mindfulness Sylvia Boorstein 12 Meditation as Our Own Jacob’s Ladder Rabbi Steve Fisdel 13 That This Song May Be a Witness: The Power of Chant Rabbi Shefa Gold 14 Meditating as a Practicing Jew Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg 15 Meditation and the Art of Growing Your Neshamah Rabbi Laibl Wolf 16 Healing and Meditation Rabbi Shohama Wiener 17 Why Meditate? Daniel C. Matt 18 The Promise of Jewish Meditation Rabbi David Cooper 19 Go to Your Self Andrea Cohen-Kiener 20 Meditation and Women’s Kabbalah Rabbi Lynn Gottleib 21 Piety Before Ecstasy Shaul Magid 22 Notes from a Beginning Meditation Teacher Nan Fink Best Practices: A Distillation of Techniques and Outlook Avram Davis Notes Glossary Suggested Readings and Materials About the Editor
