Meditation and the Bible

by Aryeh Kaplan

Book Overview

A highly radical interpretation of the Bible demonstrating the methods of meditation used by the Prophets to attain their unique states of consciousness. First English translation from ancient unpublished manuscripts, with commentary.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877286175
• ISBN13: 9780877286172
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Very Insightfull

If you have an interest in the Profits of the Old Testament and the way the prayed, meditated and had visions. You will find this book quite insightfull. Aryeh Kaplans way of writing is easy to understand, and full of long forgotton knowledge. With all the sources he used to write this book listed after each chapter. Every page will leave you waiting for the next! I found this book to be very interesting and it answered many questions I had on both medatation and the bible. I highly recommend this book to everyone and esspecially those looking for a deeper spiritual understanding of GOD.

Save That Space Next to the Bible!/ Meditation And The Bible, A Revised, Critical Review (Nov. 2009)

Revised review- Nov. 28 2009 *Introduction **Overview ***Things needed ****Conclusion *This book, Meditation And The Bible, is still one of the most important books I own. After so many years, I still refer to this book when wanting to have an academic view of a verse or a word, refresh my memory on the importance of meditation or just wanting to revisit his conversation on the behavior and spiritual habits of the prophets. **The book is broken down into many sub-topic of meditation: 1. The Tradition-- the behavioral habits of the prophets 2. The Prophets-- A look at historicity, philology and the Divine Names 3. Verbal Archeology-- The expanded use of and the interconnection of the Psalms, prophetic passages, and psychological preparation. If there is one thing you'd find consistent throughout this book, it's this: this book is essentially the study of and the use of words: the Divine words, in particular. Rabbi Kaplan uses and extensive bibliography to support his thesis of the meaning of words as it pertains to passages ("parsha"). *** This is an academic book. It can be read as a stand-alone book or as a reference for a bible study. I suggest that a separate notebook be kept just for this book as it is very in-depth and there are exhaustive conversation regarding root words, and passages. **** I can't over emphasize this book. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, of Blessed Memory, produced one of the most important scholarly works to the Bible, since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Meditation is a largely misunderstood subject and often dismissed as a relic of Oriental mysticism, or worse, as an introduction to the occult as stated by the conservative Christian wing. What it is, however, is an invaluable tool for spiritual growth. As with all things that help us to grow, wisdom and self-discipline are the keys. Meditation and the Bible, provides the foundation and Rabbi Kaplan's book, Jewish Meditation: A Practical Guide provides the exercises.

Fascinating Insights from a Jewish perspective.

This book should be read by anyone interested in meditation. Kaplan explores several key Hebrew ideas concering meditation and enterting God's presence. As a Christian, I found his ideas helpful and inspiring.

The Jewish viewpoint on Meditation

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, author of this book, was an orthodox Jew with a rare gift for explaining Jewish mysticism in clear, accurate layperson's terms. When this book first came out, it was a major theological breakthrough, in that it presented an authentically JEWISH view of meditative practices that are hinted at in the Bible. In my opinion, it is required reading for anybody -- Jew or gentile -- who wants to understand how Jews meditate, with authentic references to prove that meditation is kosher. I highly recommend it!

How to Meditate!!!

This is an interesting book. Within its pages contains knowledge of true Biblical Meditation. This book teaches you how to meditate by showing you the mysterious secrets of meditation used by the Holy Prophets of God!! If you have ever wondered what the Prophets did in the Bible to attain the states of consciousness needed to see into the future or just to receive Divine Guidance in their everyday lives you will find answers in this book. Aryeh Kaplan does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the whole spectrum of meditation including history, word studies, and countless examples of meditation in the Bible. Chapters include: Internal Isolation, Enlightenment, Spiritual Power, Ezekiels Vision, Prophetic Methods, The Prophetic Position, Floating Distractions, Explosive Emotions and much more. I recommend this book to Christians who are seeking a deeper walk of Faith and to those of all faiths who desire to enrich their minds and inner most being by having a working knowledge of Meditation. This is a good book to have around the house when you are trying to prepare a Bible Study or are getting ready to teach a workshop on New Age Meditation and need some quick, solid reference notes. The mysterious Urim and Thumim are also disscussed in this book along with all the other things in the Bible that contemporary religion has no really good answers for. Lots of Scripture references for the student of the Bible. You will enjoy this book, very informative.