The wisdom of the Kabbalah : one world of wisdom

This illustrated anthology reveals the writings of the mystical Kabbalah, with quotations drawn from such fascinating texts as the Book of Creation, which explores the deepest realms of magic and cosmology and the Zohar. COVER......Page 1 TITLE......Page 4 COPYRIGHT......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 6 INTRODUCTION......Page 8 PICTURES......Page 23 GOD......Page 24 INFINITE......Page 25 CREATION......Page 29 EMANATION......Page 39 INCOMPREHENSIBILITY......Page 50 MYSTERY......Page 54 DIVINE PRESENCE......Page 57 PROVIDENCE......Page 63 ANGELS......Page 64 THE MYSTIC WAY......Page 66 CHARIOT......Page 67 HEAVENLY ASCENT......Page 77 GOD’S NAMES......Page 83 ALPHABET......Page 90 UNITY......Page 92 ASCETICISM......Page 100 CLEAVING TO GOD......Page 107 COSMIC REPAIR......Page 112 SOUL......Page 115 STUDY......Page 122 PERFECTION......Page 127 PRAYER......Page 130 SPIRITUAL MASTER......Page 135 MEDITATION......Page 140 FEAR OF GOD......Page 148 LOVE OF GOD......Page 151 GLORY......Page 154 PROPHECY......Page 161 MARTYRDOM......Page 164 HUMAN BEINGS......Page 166 GOOD......Page 167 EVIL......Page 174 COMMANDMENTS......Page 179 HUMILITY......Page 186 CHARITY......Page 190 JOY......Page 191 HYPOCRISY......Page 193 SIN......Page 195 POVERTY......Page 199 TORAH......Page 200 WISDOM......Page 202 GLOSSARY......Page 205 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE......Page 206 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 209 The Kabbalistic tradition (the mystical branch of Judaism) is driven by humanity's yearning to experience the ecstasy of God's presence. A profound and mysterious movement over two thousand years old, it is characterised by the intensity of the spiritual experiences recorded by its greatest mystics. This vivid anthology draws widely on the works of both these individual thinkers, and on such writings as the Book of Zohar (Book of Splendor) and the Sefer Yetsirah (Book of Creation) to offer a wealth of words both inspired and inspiring. The themes in this collection range from the human preoccupations of happiness and virtue to such divine matters as the nature of infinity and the idea of glory, interspersed with thoughts on meditation and the health of the soul. Enlightening and engaging, this little handbook of Kabbalistic wisdom will provide spiritual nourishment and food for thought for readers of all backgrounds.