Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide

In this work, the late Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan explores the Jewish roots of meditation, as well as a practical on how to meditate according to Jewish tradition. He points out how meditation is an ancient part of Jewish religious tradition, contrary to popular belief. How the synagogue was meant originally to be a meditative experience, and how much of Jewish prayer liturgy is meant to be a meditative type connection with the Creator. He marvels at how so many Jews look outside their Judaism for spiritual enlightenment, while it is all available within their own spiritual tradition. As Kaplan takes us on this journey of exploration he deals with such questions as `What is meditation?', `Why meditate' , the various types of meditation available and how to do them as well as a chapter on Musar, self-perfection, an important school in Jewish thought. After reading this excellent work, you will never see Judaism, spirituality or meditation in the same way. It also can serve as a simple and helpful aid to begin your own meditation.

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.

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.