The Essence of Kabbalah - by Brian L Lancaster Paperback

Book Synopsis

A compelling guide to Jewish mysticism for spiritual seekers and history lovers, blending ancient Kabbalistic texts with modern insights for a deeper sense of meaning and connection.

The Essence of Kabbalah explains the mysticism of the Torah and the other books in the Hebrew Bible, and presents an overview of the historical trends that have shaped Kabbalah as it is known today. It examines the interpretative methods that are viewed as unlocking the secrets of the Torah-those teachings that point to the inner fabric of creation.

Acclaimed author Brian Lancaster explores key extracts from the seminal works of Kabbalah-the Sefer Yetsirah, the Bahir and the Zohar, and presents the major teachings of influential kabbalists. He places Kabbalah in the context of Judaism as a whole, and illustrates the ways in which Judiasm's teachings, prayers, and rituals express a concealed inner tradition. Further, he shows how contemporary scholarship and science are enabling a creative dialogue with the ancient teachings preserved within Kabbalah, leading to a 21st century renaissance in the importance of mysticism for providing a much-needed and profound sense of connectedness and purpose in our world.

About the Author

Dr. Brian Lancaster has studied Kabbalah for over thirty years both in the UK and Israel. He is unique in having a background of research in neuroscience in addition to his in-depth knowledge of the world's mystical traditions. He is Honorary Research Fellow in the Centre for Jewish Studies at Manchester University, UK, where he taught on the Psychology of Religion. He is Professor Emeritus of Transpersonal Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University and the founding director of the Alef Trust.

Brian Lancaster has written or contributed to a number of programmes on the media in the UK and overseas, including the BBC's All in the Mind, 'Fire from Sinai' in the series Seeds of Faith, and Beyond Belief. His books include Mind Brain and Human Potential (1991), winner of the Science and Medical Network Best Book Award, The Elements of Judaism (1993), and Approaches to Consciousness: the Marriage of Science and Mysticism (2004).