Kabbalah Primer
Dr David Fialkoff
Table of Contents
Introduction
Self and Other, Resisting the Flow, Fortress Ego, Disease as Cure, Mystical Science
Part One
Unity
Enlightenment as loss of ego-self
Wholeness And Separation
The dynamic poles of existence
Ego and Higher Self
Survival self versus identity with others
"This also is for good"
Optimism as an effective strategy
Holism
Everything is meaningful
G-d's Song
The code of ongoing creation
Peace in Heaven
Unity of conflicting elements.
Demystification
Truth is simple and not far from you
A Note on Language
Terminology/Vocabulary
Openness
Not knowing is okay, essential
On One Foot
The bottom line� the rest is commentary
Life's Purpose
Free Will, Independence
Humility
Giving up preconceptions yields new perspectives
Reality
Being here now, as it is
Darkness and Light
Mutual exclusivity versus mutual dependence
Part Two
Kabbalah Healing: The Method
Tzimtzum/Constriction and Diminution
Limitation and constraint as the natural order
The Prince in the Provinces
The advantages of negativity
Vessels and Lights
Creating the space to receive
The Ten Sefirot/Divine Attributes
Putting pants on G-d
The Tree of Life
Divine geometry of life
G-d's Image
The microcosm reflects the macrocosm; as above so below
The Primordial Man/Adam Kadmon
The Four Worlds
Last in action, first in thought
Orders of Infinity
A mathematical parable
Flatland
A geometric parable
Sparks
Sin of the Tree of Knowledge
Bread of Shame
Earning versus inheriting
Evil
Disease run amok
Tying Things Together: Mitzvot/Commandments
The guidebook to the universe
"Charity": "The Mitzvah"
Righteousness: the right thing to do
Bitul/Self Negation
Negativity comes because the ego needs to be negated
Divine Sexuality
The heavenly root of instinct
The Shechinah/The Divine Presence
Moments of enlightenment, of G-d in the world
A Dwelling Below
The world coming to G-d of its own accord
Israel in Egypt: Slavery and Redemption
The purpose of exile. The work of negativity
Torah
The esoteric and exoteric ground of reality
E=MC2
Einstein's Unified Field Theory
Angels
Biblical science: gravity, nuclear forces
Free Will
Its blessing and curse render us partners in creation
Miracles
Supernatural and natural
Heaven/The World to Come/Olam haBa
Perception of G-d, the reward of righteousness
Fear of G-d
Respecting the negative; the wingspan of emotions
Reincarnation
Karma: getting it right
Collective Soul
The lie of the individual
Five Levels of Soul
Soul connection
A Map of the Soul
Hierarchy of faculties
The Animal Soul/Nefesh Behamis and the G-dly Soul/Nefesh Alokis
Orienting the strength of desire
Self Sacrifice/Mesiras Nefesh
Going beyond yourself
Yearning and Retreat : Ratza v'Shuv
Surfing the ups and downs
An Arousal from Below Stimulates an Arousal [a response] from Above
Reaping what you sow; attitude is everything
Indwelling and Encompassing Light : Memalay and Soviv
Transcending the order of creation
Judgment and Repentance: Din and Tshuva
The advantage of sin
A Descent for the Purpose of an Ascent: Yiridah Storich Aliyah
You have to go down to go up
Oneness
From One to infinity to One
Thought, Speech and Deed
Garments of the soul
The Four Levels of Life
Interdependence of mineral, vegetable, animal and man
The King's Banquet
Appearance versus true substance
Prayer: Speaking to G-d
Giving voice to the inward.
Personal Prayer
Personal versus formal relationship with G-d
Wordless Prayer
An impulse beyond words
The Name YHVH on the Tree
Names of G-d
***
|