Pathway of Fire: Initiation to the Kabbalah

by Raphael

Book Overview

This book is not an essay on the Qabbalah nor a historical study on its origins, but a synthetic presentation in the form of sutra-aphorisms in order to be able to "comprehend" and "realize" its... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877287716
• ISBN13: 9780877287711
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Raphael's Pathway of Fire

The Kabbalah is one of the world's great esoteric traditions. Contemporary interpreters have focused on its psychological and magical aspects while ignoring its metaphysical foundation. In this book Raphael provides us with a deeper interpretation of Kabbalistic priniciples, reminding us that the Kabbalah is a sacred metaphysical tradition that provides a blueprint of reality, and not only a means of psychological self-understanding or magical-theurgic operations. The Sephiroth - the ten aspects of divine reality - are each interpreted metaphysically as spiritual principles that exist on the various levels of being - causal, subtle and gross. By showing us how manifestation arises and unfolds out of the one divine reality (Ain Soph) through the levels of being symbolized by the Sephiroth, Raphael provides us with a map of our inner spiritual reality and a pathway back to our own divine source. By drawing parallels to other spiritual traditions he reminds us that each of these systems are expressions of a single truth or reality - what he calls "The Tradition" - that underlies them all. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in a basic introduction to the Kabbalah and also for those already familiar with it, but who would benefit from a deeper understanding of its tenets and principles. About the author. Raphael's books demonstrate a deep inner understanding of the world's sacred traditions. He brings them alive and gives them a contemporary expression while remaining true to their original inspiration. Raphael reminds us that Occidental and Oriental sacred traditions are not to be approached academically or intellectually, but rather, that they are living spiritual pathways to truth that remain relevant today. His books provide the reader with the understanding and tools to follow these sacred paths, including Alchemy, Kabbalah, Orphism, or Platonism in the Western Tradition, or Yoga and the Advaita Vedanta of Sankara in the Eastern Tradition. Raphael is recommended to all spiritual seekers who want to ground their search in ancient wisdom while seeking a contemporary expression that appeals to reasoned analysis and which integrates modern philosophy, science and psychology. Raphael's books challenge us to see these traditions, ourselves and the world differently, and to take our spiritual seeking seriously. If you are willing to do so, his books are for you.

the esoteric part of the Old Testament & Unity of Tradition in the East and the West

Having read other books by Raphael about 'the pathway of fire' and 'Advaita Vedanta' i was curious to know what he writes about the Kabbalah, a system about which I hadn't known much before. However, as i was brought up in Christian tradition 'the esoteric part of the Old Testament' is of course of interest for me! My experience reading was (as with other Raphael-Books before) that my mind found it quite "tiring" at times. However, meanwhile (being an `experienced' Raphael-reader) ... ... i know the reason for this is that Raphael in his texts (on purpose!) does not address the rational mind but directly the buddhi (intuition of the universal) and the consciousness of the reader ... i experienced again and again that reading his books 'nevertheless' has a strong impact on me, deepens my knowledge und understanding, transforms my view of life & last not least deepens my spiritual practise. What this book is about? Well, here are some quotes (that made something "ring" in me): "the sephiroth are the keys that open the doors to divine knowledge and to the practical utilization of such knowledge" (p. 5). "A Sepheroth is an idea, a power-substance, an energy, a strength, depending upon the point from which one may wish to observe it. ... When one understands the sephiroth powers, one also understands the subtle laws that lie behind the gross world of names and forms which, in turn, represent the complexity of the elements of nature" (p. 6). "to pronounce the name of a particular sepirothic sphere means making it vibrate ... It means setting in motion the intelligence that governs that sphere" (p. 39). "For example, if we wished to invoke Kether and started to simply call out this name, we could wait for years and cosmic cycles without ever receiving a response ... When we evoke within ourselves a name or a word, we can notice - if we feel sensitive toward that word - that, like the echo of a trumpet or a bell, our being begins to vibrate, to respond until it is completely taken, exalted, at times even enraptured (Samadhi)" (p. 41). "one must distinguish between REALIZING a power (until one achieves unity with it), and placing oneself upon a plane of magical and objective dualism. The first method implies transfiguration, accord and comprehension of oneself, it means revolutionizing one's own incompleteness and limitedness; ... the second implies only empirical practice and training. The majority prefer ceremonial magic of formal order because they do not wish to transform themselves or work upon themselves, but simply want to gather crumbs of curiosity ... or work with energies to dominate the weak and ignorant, to use tricks that baffle the ingenious" (p. 44). "The individual operates through instinct (Yesod), feeling (Nezach) and imaginative mind (Hod); the universal operates through light-intuition (Tiphereth), love-harmony (Chesed) and will-power (Geburah)" (p. 47). "it is obvious that such a process of death and rebirth must be guided by an