The Shambhala Guide to Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism - by Perle Besserman (Paperback)

About the Book

In language accessible to the layperson, this Shambhala Guide provides a detailed introduction to the world of Jewish mystics from biblical times to the present. The author defines and outlines the Kabbalah and its cosmology in the context of modern science and comparative religion and philosophy.

Book Synopsis

Jewish mystics from biblical times to the present have explored the hidden secrets of the Torah in quest of a single goal: to lose the self in the Infinite "No-thingness" (Ein Sof) and be at one with God. In language accessible to the layperson, this Shambhala Guide provides a detailed introduction to the complex world of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. With an extensive background in meditation practice, Perle Besserman emphasizes Kabbalah's spiritual disciplines, grounded in righteous living, devotional practices, and meditation. She discusses the Kabbalistic universe, including the four worlds and ten sefirot; Jewish meditation techniques and instructions for beginning meditation; mystics and teachers from Rabbi Akiva and the Baal Shem Tov to Aryeh Kaplan; the often uneasy relationship between Kabbalah and mainstream Judaism; and incorporating the ancient wisdom of Jewish mysticism to life in the world of today.

Review Quotes

"In language accessible to the non-specialist general reader, Perle Besserman's Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism emphasizes Kabbalah's spiritual disciplines, grounded in righteous living, devotional practices, and meditation."--Wisconsin Bookwatch

"This is a work which explains the Kabbalah with as much clarity as it can be explained and with a genuine feeling for mystic lore. I recommend it to all readers."--Isaac Bashevis Singer

About the Author

A descendant of the Baal Shem Tov, Perle Besserman has studied Jewish mysticism with Rabbis Zvi Yehuda Kook and Aryeh Kaplan. She has written several books on mysticism, including Kabbalah: The Way of the Jewish Mystic (published under the name Perle Epstein), and is the editor of an anthology in Shambhala Pocket Classics, The Way of the Jewish Mystics. She presents workshops on women's spirituality around the United States and in Europe.