Table of Contents
Introduction
It is hard to find a topic that has been more banned than Kabbalah. Heres a (partial) list of the prerequisites you previously had to answer yes to in order to become a student: Jewish, male, married, over 40 years old, and proficient in other Jewish studies. So how come Kabbalah is being openly taught and studied everywhere? Because the ban has been lifted.
As Kabbalist Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag, and as the Vilna Gaon (GRA), and as many other prominent Kabbalists have stated, the end of the twentieth century marks a fundamental change in the history of Kabbalah. Now it is open for all.
As we will show inside the book, the bans were there for a reason. But it is for exactly the same reason that now they have lifted. We, humanity in the twenty-first century, have become ready to see Kabbalah for what it really isa scientific, time-tested, empirical method of achieving spirituality while living here in this world.
Studying Kabbalah is a fascinating journey. It changes your perspective of the world and the people around you, and opens parts in you that you never knew existed. It is a journey of discoveries happening within, and affecting all of lifes levels: our relationships with our kin, friends, and co-workers. Kabbalah states very simply that when you know how to connect to the Creator directly, without any go-betweens, you will find an inner compass, a guiding light that shines no matter where you are. And this is the goal of Kabbalahto help you make, and sustain, direct contact with the Creator. And when you do, you will need no further guidance. So welcome to The Complete Idiots Guide to Kabbalah.
What Youll Find in This Book
The book is set up in four parts with three appendixes. Heres what youll find inside:
Kabbalah is a science that describes the laws of the spiritual world. In Part 1, The Phenomenon, Fallacies, and Facts, well talk about Kabbalah in general, from an overview of basic principles to some background on how it began. Well delve into the issue of humanitys natural connection with the root of Kabbalah and the basics of human pleasure and desire.
Well continue our spiritual journey in Part 2, Before the Big Bang, by delving into pure and ancient Kabbalah knowledge. It starts with Kabbalahs cycle of reality, which explains how we were created, what we are doing here, and how and at which point we begin our ascent to the Upper World. Well discuss how the world was created according to Kabbalah and how that ancient knowledge explains whats wrong with our world today and what needs to be done to fix it.
From there, well show you how Kabbalah can be applied more specifically to you personally, on a day-to-day basis. This broad nature is what makes Kabbalah so unique. Part 3, Kabbalah and Your Life, discusses your personal relationship with the Creator, your family, your friends, your co-workers, and the world at large. Well also discuss how Kabbalah has been used in the past and show you how to practice spiritual development without leaving your modern lifethrough contemporary methods like the web and virtual groups.
The present appearance of Kabbalah is directly connected to the state of the world today. In Part 4, Kabbalah in Todays World, we will explore the reasons for the global crises we are facing from the Kabbalistic point of view and discuss ways to cure them. Finally, well end with a brief tour of how Kabbalah will affect your future.
Youll also find three helpful appendixes to help enhance your journey and point you in the right direction if youd like to learn more: a glossary, a list of resources, and a list of organizations and associations.
Extras
Weve included five kinds of sidebars sprinkled throughout the text for your Kabbalah education and entertainment:
Word of Heart
In these boxes, youll find inspiring quotes and selected poems from great Kabbalists and others reflecting the chapters topic of discussion.
Red Alert
Check out these boxes for cautions and things to avoid concerning Kabbalah, including misconceptions to be mindful of.
definition
In these boxes, youll find definitions of Kabbalah words and terms you may not be familiar with.
On Track
These boxes give you tips on putting the points in the text into practice most effectively.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Eli Vinokur, Josia Nakash, Mutlu Meydan, Ron Gilboa, and Rachel Laitman (research); Chaim Ratz (research and reviews); Katrin Weibel (proofreading); Leah Goldberg (assistance); and Avihu Sofer (administration and contracts) at Ashlag Research Institute (ARI). Thanks to the staff at Canright CommunicationsChris Schaeffer, Hannah Frank, Libby Munn, and Lindsay Knightfor writing and research support. Thanks to John Woods at CWL Publishing for the opportunity. Thanks to Bob and Judith Wright for their spiritual counsel. Special thanks to Christina Canright for love, support, encouragement, and inspiration. And thanks to the Creator for all.
Trademarks
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
Part 1
The Phenomenon, Fallacies, and Facts
The list of well-known Kabbalists reads like a whos who in Hollywood. But Kabbalah is more than a pop craze. Its a spiritual way of life.
In this part, well explain the general phenomenon and its popularity, and give an overview of what exists today in the world regarding the word Kabbalah. Well discuss what Kabbalah is and what it isnt, and give some background on how it got started.
After reading these chapters, youll understand why Kabbalah is becoming so trendy. Youll learn that its more than just a passing fad, but a science detailing the spiritual worlds that Western science cant explain based on empirical evidence.
So read on, and get ready to enter the world of Kabbalah!
Chapter 1
Kabbalah Goes Pop!
In This Chapter
Kabbalah comes out of hiding
New answers for new questions
The current popularity of Kabbalah
Mix-and-match spirituality and Kabbalah
The future of Kabbalah
It is written in The Book of Zohar, the pinnacle of Kabbalah books, that Kabbalah will thrive and become popular at the end of days. With all the publicityreams of newsprint and great numbers of items in Internet search listsit appears that the end of days is here.
