Reveals the transformative spiritual work by which the soul can reach ever higher dimensions of consciousness.
* Relates the soul levels of the Zohar to the various paths the soul may travel toward ultimate realization.
* Introduces a new meditative technique called "the Transformative Moment".
Throughout the history of the Jewish esoteric tradition, humankind has been understood to play a pivotal role in the perfection of the cosmos, uniting the finite with the infinite in the perfection of divine personality. Working from an original synthesis of the major kabbalistic traditions of cosmology derived from the Bible, the Zohar, and the school of Isaac Luria, Leonora Leet has erected a new framework for understanding the mechanism of the transformative spiritual work that enables the human soul to reach increasingly higher dimensions of consciousness. This analysis extends the frontiers of Leet's prior works on the Kabbalah to provide a new illumination of human possibilities.
Leet first considers the false temptations of worldly power and pleasure that lead to the fall of the soul and then the means of its redemption. She develops a powerful meditative technique called "the Transformative Moment," whose workings are exemplified by Jacob and Joseph and that allow the individual to progress through all the higher levels of the soul, even possibly to attain the miraculous powers of the legendary spiritual masters. She further correlates the hierarchy of soul levels with Ezekiel's Throne vision to show the various paths the soul may travel toward self-realization: sex, love, power, knowledge, holiness, and unification. The first four paths relate to the four-faced living creatures (Chayot) of Ezekiel's Throne vision-the bull-ox, lion, eagle, and man. The final two paths correlate to the prophet and the envisioned man on the throne he recognizes to be his divine higher self, the knowledge that defines the secret doctrine of the whole of the Jewish mystical tradition culminating in the Kabbalah.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Speculative Kabbalah:
This is the author's personal model based mostly on Kabbalah but also other mystical, metaphysical, spiritual traditions. It's an interesting account, far more erudite than the many introductory Kabbalah books available today. While I don't agree with all of her assumptions, assertions, & conclusions, her analysis is well thought out; notably Luria's system (though stemming to a degree from his master Cordovero) was HIGHLY speculative in the 16th century. She also includes her own meditation (Appendix... more info
Map of the journey:
I've just read this book and i thought it to be just one of the best descriptions of the stages of the path that i've ever read (and i assure you that i've read many )
Miss Leet seems to write from her own experience and also with great knowledge about the Jewish Tradition .
It's interesting to all those familiar with the Gurdjieffian Stages of the path ( the seven levels of "men".Today , in our post-patriarcal society ,would be better to speak of "human beings" ) to have that in mind when she... more info
Light, not beyond synthesis:
As mentioned by another reviewer, the content is rather light. It's interesting though, as it presents the Jewish viewpoint in a "theosophical"-like style. Its interest however lies mainly in comparing the cosmological view of the Kabbalah with other traditions. If your interest goes beyond factual aspects (suppose you'd like to get some experience) i would not recommend this one. There is no practical message about how one would do something to leverage the framework presented in this book.
Profound, more meat than most:
In contrast to the other person reviewing the book, i found much to grapple with and like in this book. Being new to the Kaballah, and gravitating toward substantive accounts of anything, i found Leet's book to be supremely useful in understanding the Hebraic and Jewish Kaballah. Leet gives a lengthy comparison of the Lurianic and Zoharic traditions and synthesizes them into a new model of the cosmic process. If and when you make it through the introduction, then she examines the 'fall' of man... more info
