the idiots guide to kabbalah

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"Kabbalah is a method that answers life's deepest question: "What is life about?" p. 13

"Human perception is limited. You and I really cannot feel or truly imagine anything outside of it. Through honest self-examination, and with the help of Kabbalah books, you can begin to discover that you are enclosed within yourself." p. 29

"You and I do not commit to any action unless we believe that it will, in some way, bring us happiness." p. 35

"The notion of being reborn into a different identity is not reincarnation in Kabbalah. It is more personal. In Kabbalah, a reincarnation is every time you make a step in spiritual growth." p. 145

"Don't expect to defeat your ego. You can't because it's you. To battle the ego means to try to go above it and to become giving, to see that everything you do stems from an intention to receive and, when you see you can't defeat your ego, to ask for the Creator's help in doing this." p. 173

"Many teachings and religions in the world talk about abstinence. The more one diminishes one's corporal pleasures and the more one secludes oneself, the better it is for one's spiritual ascent. Kabbalah is unique because its method suggests the opposite: leave mundane and earthly things as they are, stop messing with your body and its habits, and deal only with the point in the heart (desire for spirituality). Rather than working to diminish your desires, Kabbalah suggests that you leave them alone, because restraining your desires will not correct your soul." p. 200

"Altruism, one of the primary principles of Kabbalah, is defined as care for the well-being of one's fellow person. Research of altruism reveals that not only does it exist in nature, but it also is the very basis for the existence of every living thing. p. 251

Part 1: The phenomenon, Fallacies, and Facts
Kabbalah Goes Pop!
From Hollywood to your 'hood, Kabbalah is popular; and there's a good reason.
What Is Kabbalah, and What Does It Have to Do with You?
Kabbalah explained: it's the will to receive, and it helps you to give.
Is Anybody Out There?
Reality is not what you see, and Kabbalah accomplishes more as you think.
The Desire for Spirituality
When physical desires leave you wanting, try spirituality to fill the void.
Debunking the Myths.
A look at what Kabbalah is not
The Condensed History of Kabbalah
Kabbalah from Adam to the present in a dozen pages.
Kabbalah Revealed
The roots of Kabbalah: up the ladder to the Creator.

Part 2: Before the Big Bang
The Reality Cycle
A 6,000-year journey through the five spiritual world.
How the Creator Set Things Up
The story of creation according to Kabbalah.
Decoding the Spiritual Language
How to read the Bible or Torah from a Kabbalah point of view.
Letters, Numbers, Names
The spiritual nature of the Hebrew language
Reincarnation
Souls keep coming back until they get it "right."

Part 3: Kabbalah and Your Life
Just Me and My God
Using Kabbalah in you daily life.
Praying with Results
If you work in prayer, your prayer works for you.
Correction Is a Matter of Intention
Harnessing the power of Kabbalah.
Studying Kabbalah
Choosing books, teachers, and groups for your study and transformation.
Kabbalah Music
When words fail, music carries you to spiritual heights

Part 4: Kabbalah in Today's World
The Global Village and the First Man
In an interconnected world, your desires can change the world.
The Malady: Trapped in the Ego Cage
The nature (and purpose of the global crisis.
Diagnosis Is Half the Cure
How Kabbalah allows us to take personal and societal action
Cure Me
"Love thy friend as thyself."
Cure All
Resolution of the crisis: altruism and the fall of the Tower of Babel, again.

One of the great things about "The Idiot's Guide" is its sidebars sprinkled throughout the text to help make the content more relative and digestible. Here are the extras you will find in The Idiot's Guide to Kabbalah.

Kab-Trivia
Did you know that few books about Kabbalah were written before 198? And most were written after 2000? Check out these boxes for little tidbits of Kabbalah knowledge.

Word of Heart
In these boxes, you'll find inspiring quotes and selected poems from great Kabbalists and other reflecting the chapter's 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, you'll 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.

The Least You Need to Know
At the end of each chapter, you will find bullet-point summaries that will help you review and capture the essence of the material.

Find the right books There is a special force in books of Kabbalah: any person who studies those books under the right guidance can attain the spiritual degree of the author.
Find the right teachers The teacher's role in Kabbalah is very subtle. The teacher must direct the student away from him, and toward the Creator. And how do you know your teacher is the right one? Follow your heart!
Find the right groups for Kabbalah study All of the great Kabbalists studied in groups. The group provides strength. Everybody has only a small desire for spirituality. The way to augment the will for spirituality is through joint desire.">