Sepher Yetzirah

By Aryeh Kaplan and W. Wynn Westcott

Book Overview

The Sepher Yetzirah is the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts.

When properly understood, Sepher Yetzirah becomes the instruction manual for a very special type of meditation meant to strengthen concentration and to aid the development of telekinetic and telepathic powers.

This enhanced edition includes a completely revised version of the original William Wynn Wescott translation and newly revised editions of two landmark Kabbalah works from 1913, 'Jewish Mysticism' by J. Abelson and 'The Cabala, Its Influence on Judaism and Christianity' by Bernhard Pick.

Sample topics covered in this definitive volume: THE THIRTY-TWO PATHS OF WISDOM, ESSENISM, THE MERKABAH (CHARIOT), PHILO: METATRON: WISDOM, SOME GENERAL FEATURES OF THE 'ZOHAR, ' THE TEN SEFIROT, THE SOUL, NAME AND ORIGIN OF THE CABALA, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CABALA IN THE PRE-ZOHAR PERIOD, THE CABALA IN THE POST-ZOHAR PERIOD, THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCTRINES OF THE CABALA, THE CABALA IN RELATION TO JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY.

There are notes, footnotes and detailed bibliographies to all three books.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1497444470
• ISBN13: 9781497444478
• Release Date: March 2014
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Disappointed

Don't buy this. Dont read it. Dont ingest it. Just dont. 0 stars nothing.

Return. Wrong book sent

This is a small and not the right book. Needs to be returned.

Practitioner Commentary

Before his tragic death, Rabbi Kaplan was a practicing Kabbalist who wrote several ground-breaking books on Kabbalah. Notably, he wrote 3 books on Jewish Meditation and commentaries on both the Sefer Yetzirah and the Book Bahir. His Sefer Yetzirah provides considerable commentary and explanation of the text, though much of it is still a mystery--so don't expect a complete exposition of a definitive sort. None exists at least in English as far as I can determine. But, this one is about as good as you get today. The so-called Book of Creation (actually in Kabbalah/Hebrew it's really the book of Formation since Yetzirah is the World of Formation and Beriah is the World of Creation) is replete with esoteric symbology. Symbols (as opposed to signs) do not have a definitive meaning. They aren't supposed to. They have many "meanings." Thus, this text, though obviously very heavy duty metaphysically, is very difficult to understand today. It is also one of the 3 main texts in Kabbalah. So, this is a book for the serious student of Kabbalah to ponder and meditate upon for a long, long...time.

Must Have For Any Serious Student Of The Kabbalah

There is a lot of garbage that is printed on the various aspects of and subjects pertaining to Kabalistic thought and creation, but this is NOT one of them. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan was a truly phenomenal man, worthy of praise from mystics, rabbis, and the curious alike. It is truly a wonderful coincidence for those lucky enough to meet or sit in on lectures with Rabbi Kaplan that he lived in the last century. Rabbi Kaplan made Kabala accessible to those whose only language is English. While I would recommend other books by this great man, I would also recommend, more than words can express, this work in particular. If you SERIOUSLY want to learn about the Kabalistic paths, this book is one of the best in English to help you along your journey, safely, and honestly. Good Luck!

Excellent

Beside the Sephir Yetzirah translated by Carlo Suares and published by Shambhala Books, this is the best. I don't know if the Suares translation is available anymore, but his knowledge of the cabalistic code is how I first learned Cabala. Notwithstanding, there is nothing by Rabbi Kaplan that is not excellent. He was a great scholar. This is by far the most complete treatment of all the Yetziratic material there is. The Sephir Yetzirah is a very holy book.