David A. Cooper

Abraham Abulafia-whose 'theory of ecstatic knowledge' inspired the Jewish world of the thirteenth century-once set out on a pilgrimage to the mystical River Sambatyon. In Jewish mythology, this great body of water was the magical boundary that stranded the ten lost tribes of Israel outside the Holy Land. It became the metaphor for Abulafia's life journey, and his spiritual teachings: to explore the barriers that must be encountered if we wish to break through the limits of ordinary consciousness.

With Ecstatic Kabbalah, Rabbi David A. Cooper brings you some of the most influential teachings from the vast expanse of Kabbalistic thought. While many of these teachings have been lost, Abulafia's techniques have survived to become a cornerstone of this spiritual tradition. Join Rabbi Cooper to learn a wealth of these practical tools including: how to access your me'orer penimi, the 'inner mover' who guides you through vieils of confusion; Hebrew prayer-chants to awaken creativity; the 'Abulafia practice of 'doublets'' to merge body and mind, and other keys for experiencing the ecstatic life of the Kabbalistic mystics.

Rabbi David A. Cooper is an author, lecturer, teacher, meditation guide, and an active student of the world's great spiritual traditions. He has been called 'one of today's leading teachers of Jewish meditation.' Rabbi Coper is the author of many books, including A Heart of Stillness: A Complete Guide to Learning The art of Meditation; Silence, Simplicity, and Solitude, The Handbook of Jewish Meditation Practice, and Three Gates to Meditation Practice. His bestselling God is a Verb; Kabbalah and the Practice of Mystical Judaism has been translated into several languages, and has sold over 1000,000 copies. He is also he author of the audio learning series The Mystical Kabbalah and The Holy Chariot. Rabbi Cooper has been interviewed nationwide on NPR, television, and various newspapers. For more information, please visit his website: www.rabbidavidcooper.com

'Wisdom surrounds us, penetrates us, lives within us. The 'secrets' are so obvious, so close, so simple-they only await our discovery.'-Rabbi David A. Cooper

The secrets of Kabbalah are not something we learn form outside of ourselves, but rather they are to be discovered within our own minds. But how? If ancient spiritual teachings were that easy to access, wouldn't we have discovered them by now? According to Rabbi David A. Cooper, the secrets to unlocking the knowledge and power within us is to engage in daily mystical practices. With this new integrated learning program, Kabbalistic insights reveal themselves as Rabbi Cooper guides you through the techniques that invoke their wisdom.

'Rather than longing to become enlightened, you can take simple actions that themselves are enlightened,' Rabbi Cooper teaches. With him, you will discover how Yah breathing meditation quiets your mind and instills peace. The experience of the Divine at every moment-and in any situation-with the Kabbalistic principle of Shiviti. Sherma chant to inspire introspection and personal growth, and much more. Prepare to receive the secrets Kabbalists have held sacred for centuries, and to infuse their strength and power into your own life with Ecstatic Kabbalah.

Ten authentic Kabaistic practices on audio include:

Ahavat olam-a melodic chant tor receiving the Divine's immeasurable love. The 'magic mirror exercise' to see the world through God's eyes. Chants from the great mystic Abulafia for invoking clarity and creativity. The Pure Soul mantra to open your heart, and other timeless exerecises, techniques, and guided meditations to enhance our spiritual practice.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 Enlightenment
Chapter 2 Kabbalah
Chapter 3 Abraham Abulafia
Chapter 4 Abulafia's practices
Chapter 5 Names of God
Chapter 6 The sense of presence
Chapter 7 Seeing through God's eyes
Chapter 8 The thirteen attributes
Appendix
About the author… (more)

This is an excellent book for anyone who is open to the mystical Wisdom Tradition in any of its forms. It provides a coherent spiritual cosmology and ethical framework which I think makes sense even outside of its Jewish roots. Kabbala 'opens up' monotheism and allows for a discussion of good and evil, suffering, justice, death and beyond in a much more satisfying way than mainstream Christian theology. (I don't know much about mainstream Judaic teaching, so I can't comment on that.)

Rabbi Cooper is scholarly but approachable, both mystical and practical, serious and lighthearted. He shares enough stories about his personal life to make it clear that he truly does live according to these teachings, but it never becomes a "me-me-me" book.

Update: February 3, 2015
Now reading for the second time (in as many years), as part of a "spiritual book club" I started with my daughter.

Update: May 17, 2015
Just as good this time around. Truly, this is a book to buy, read, and re-read.… (more)