Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide by Aryeh Kaplan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide
Book Review: An indespensible guide...
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not Jewish. I'm actually a Spirit-filled Christian. My branch of the Church tends to emphisize prayer, personal devotion, and intimacy with God. As a devout student of the Bible, I've always looked to the ancient Jewish Prophets and Mystics to learn how to grow closer to God. Years ago I came to the conclusion that deep spiritual meditation was at the center of their spiritual lives, yet I was not terribly familiar with what their meditations might have been like. The fear of being "new-agey" kept me from experimenting on my own and so I spent a great deal of time searching out the Bible for hints of what the people of Bible times did in meditation. I really didn't get much clarity on the matter until I read this book. Kaplan graciously spares his readers from spooky, impractical tecniques and gives intelligent, balanced explanations of the various forms of meditation that more than likely were employed by the greats in Scripture.This book is an indespensible part of my spiritual library now. I will never be without it. Give someone you love this book; you'll be giving them a gift that will last forever.
Book Review: An indespensible guide...
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not Jewish. I'm actually a Spirit-filled Christian. My branch of the Church tends to emphisize prayer, personal devotion, and intimacy with God. As a devout student of the Bible, I've always looked to the ancient Jewish Prophets and Mystics to learn how to grow closer to God. Years ago I came to the conclusion that deep spiritual meditation was at the center of their spiritual lives, yet I was not terribly familiar with what their meditations might have been like. The fear of being "new-agey" kept me from experimenting on my own and so I spent a great deal of time searching out the Bible for hints of what the people of Bible times did in meditation. I really didn't get much clarity on the matter until I read this book. Kaplan graciously spares his readers from spooky, impractical tecniques and gives intelligent, balanced explanations of the various forms of meditation that more than likely were employed by the greats in Scripture.This book is an indespensible part of my spiritual library now. I will never be without it. Give someone you love this book; you'll be giving them a gift that will last forever.
Book Review: De-mystifying Meditation
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is simply a treasure trove of information. In today's age of rampant esoterism, this book takes the mystical world, makes it human, and allows it to be experiential. For those of you that have a fear of the unknown, or think all meditative techniques are some form of "Black art" or "New Age Movement" to lure you away from the Creator, you need to read this book. I promise you'll come away saying, "Why that isn't so bad!" I found that some of my intuitive habits are partial, albeit incomplete , meditative techniques. This book completes the circuit, making worship more personal and productive, with its practical applications. Don't let the title fool you, this book is also very appropriate for those Christians that are open to the roots of their faith and the subtle insights of the prophets, as well as those Hebrews searching to fill the void of their ancestral heritage. I recommend this book as the primer to meditation and a more meaningful relationship with God. However, don't think you're going to read this and become the next Elijah overnight. Like everything, this book is just part of the journey.Book Review: Book Builds Bridge
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no question about the renewed interest and a more thoughtful examination of religion and its sister, spirituality in our contemporary society. However, since the mid nineteenth century, in a period scholars called, "The Death of God," the supernatural aspect of the three great Middle Eastern (not Western) religions have been extracted from European and American culture; it's most noticeably evident in its absence in popular fiction. With his book, Jewish Meditation, the late Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's brings us to a place of reflection and contemplation while inviting us to that hallmark where revelation and divinity resides. In his book, Rabbi Kaplan gives us insights into how our ancestors used meditation as a tool to grasp religious ethics and also a means by which one might obtain discipline to overcome undesirable social habits such as smoking. Jewish Meditation is the third book I've bought by Mr. Kaplan on the subject on meditation. I highly recommend Mr. Kaplan's Meditation and The Bible for the lay reader as a companion book and Meditation and the Kabbalah for a much more intense and thought provoking experience.Book Review: A Simple Guide
Summary: 4 Stars
This book gets right to the tachlis (purpose) and center of meditation in a Jewish way. If you want to try mediation, or have been davening regularly for years and are in search of an enlightening spiritual breakthrough, this is a great book to read.