Meditation and Judaism: Exploring the Jewish Meditative Paths

by Dovber Pinson

Overview

Meditation and Judaism is a comprehensive work on Jewish meditation, encompassing the entire spectrum of Jewish thought—from the early Kabbalists to the modern Chassidic and Mussar masters, the sages of the Talmud, to the modern philosophers. Both a scholarly, in-depth study of meditative practices, and a practical, easy to follow guide, Meditation and Judaism is for anyone interested in meditating the Jewish way. The word meditation calls to mind the traditional, obvious associations that society has accumulated. Meditation and Judaism attempts to broaden our view of meditation, demonstrating that meditation is prevalent within so many of the common Jewish practices. While there are many paths that lead in the same direction, the ultimate destination of meditation is a metamorphosis into a more G-dly and spiritual person. This scholarly work is sourced in authentic Jewish thought, yet it has been written in a manner that will appeal to the modern reader. It is an enlightening read for the scholar and the layman alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765700063
Publisher:	Aronson, Jason Inc.
Publication date:	02/29/2000
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.08(h) x 0.86(d)

About the Author

DovBer Pinson is a world-renowned scholar, thinker, teacher, and author. His books include Reincarnation and Judaism, Inner Rhythms, and Toward the Infinite. Presently he is Dean of the Iyyun Institute in Brooklyn.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Meditation . . . A Jewish Concept? Chapter 2 Defining Meditation Chapter 3 Extraordinary Phenomena Encountered Through Meditation Chapter 4 Preparing for the Meditative Session Chapter 5 A Classification of Jewish Meditations Chapter 6 Meditation and the Five Senses Chapter 7 The Four Who Encountered the Orchard: The Spiritual Trappings of Advanced Meditations Chapter 8 The Spirituality of the Torah as It Relates to Meditation Chapter 9 Intellectual Analytical Meditation Chapter 10 Divine Ecstasy: Achieving the State of No Self-Awareness Chapter 11 The Ayin of Jewish Meditation Versus the Nothingness in Other Meditations Chapter 12 Character Refinement—Meditating to Achieve a Better Self Chapter 13 Eight Steps to Meditation

Editorial Reviews

This clearly written work is a comprehensive study of Jewish meditation, offering an in-depth study of Jewish meditative practices through history. Rabbi Pinson (Inner Rhythms: The Kabbalah of Music), currently the Rosh Kollel Dean of Advanced Studies in Vancouver, Canada, offers a refreshingly substantive addition to a field rife with misinformation. Pinson refers to various secular thinkers, but his great strength lies in his masterly knowledge of the Jewish sages, among them the seven Chabad Rebbes, the Maharal, the Baal Shem Tov, the Malbim, the Rosh, and many others. He traces the historical evolution of meditation in Jewish thought, showing how these Jewish sages have addressed the subject. Pinson also shows expert familiarity with classic Jewish texts, such as the Tanakh, mishnah, Bavli, Zohar, and Sefer Yetzirah. A welcome addition to the field of meditation and Judaism, this scholarly book is recommended for synagogue libraries, meditation centers, and public libraries with deep collections in Judaica.-David B. Levy, Beth Avraham Synagogue Lib., Baltimore Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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