The Way

Michael Berg

Description

"The simple and practical wisdom I have gained by reading this book and studying Kabbalah is immeasurable."
--Madonna

"This book will inspire your soul. Michael Berg has accomplished the monumental task of translating the eternal truths of life into spiritual common sense. Without a doubt, The Way will become one of the sacred texts of your own life."
-Caroline Myss, Ph.D., author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Sacred Contracts

The spiritual way of Kabbalah has grown from a hidden treasure into a widespread mainstream movement that has helped people from every walk of life, all around the world, to improve their lives. In this bestselling book, Michael Berg of The Kabbalah Centre-the world's leading educational institution teaching the wisdom of Kabbalah-shows you how to recognize and understand the key spiritual laws in order to improve your life and the lives of everyone around you. The Way will teach you meditation and prayer techniques and how to reduce emotional chaos and increase personal harmony. At once groundbreaking and so clearly written that it is accessible to anyone following any spiritual path, The Way provides the spiritual power tools to attain true fulfillment and happiness.
Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

The Night Fear.

The Benefits.

Using this Book.

Questions to Keep in Mind.

PART ONE: THE WAY OF KABBALAH.

Chapter 1: Creating Fulfillment.

Chapter 2: Kabbalah through the Ages.

Chapter 3: The Light and the Vessel.

PART TWO: GETTING READY FOR THE LIGHT.

Chapter 4: The Work of Living.

Chapter 5: Building a Relationship with the Creator.

Chapter 6: The Twelve Spiritual Laws of the Way.

PART THREE: SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION.

Chapter 7: Understanding Our Thoughts and Feelings.

Chapter 8: Using the Spiritual Tools.

Chapter 9: Sharing the Way.

Glossary.

Bibliography and Sources for Further Reading.

Index.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Cábala
• Mysticism
• Michael Berg
• The Way
• Kabbalah Centre
• Kabbalah
• Judaism
• Religion
• Kabbale

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 15 août 2007
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780470250662
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Way
Using the Wisdom of Kabbalah for Spiritual Transformation and Fulfillment

MICHAEL BERG
For more information about The Kabbalah Centre, or to learn more about our classes, books, or audio programs, please call us at 800-Kabbalah, or visit our website at www.kabbalah.com .
The Kabbalah Centre: 50 locations worldwide including New York - Los Angeles - Miami - Toronto - London - Paris - Tel Aviv
Copyright 2001 by Michael Berg. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley Sons, Inc.
Design and production by Navta Associates, Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley Sons, Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012, [phone], fax [phone], email: [e-mail].
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
This title is also available in print as ISBN 0-471-08300-3. Some content that appears in the print version of this book may not be available in this electronic edition.
For more information about Wiley products, visit our web site at www.Wiley.com
To Rav and Karen Berg-my teachers and my parents: I will never be able to repay you for all you have given me. You have taught me all anyone needs to know, through your words, your actions, and most importantly, through your lives. All that I am is all from you.
To my brother and friend, Yehuda: Thank you for your friendship. May we continue together to reveal this wisdom to the world.
To Monica, my wife and my love: You are so much more than any man could hope for. You are my vision of love, joy, and fulfillment. For me, you are the epitome of both physical and spiritual beauty. You are my partner and my best friend. May we complete this journey together.
To our son, David: I hope I never take for granted the great gift that you are. For me, you are pure Light.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The night fear
The benefits
Using this book
Questions to keep in mind
PART ONE The Way of Kabbalah
CHAPTER 1 Creating Fulfillment
The Creator
The Light of the Creator
The rocky path to transformation
Accomplish what you came here for
CHAPTER 2 Kabbalah through the Ages
Abraham created a portal
The powers of the letters
The Zohar
Rabbi Luria and tikkun
Opening to the Light
Advanced Kabbalah
CHAPTER 3 The Light and the Vessel
Light and Vessel: The metaphysics of creation
The Light
The Vessel
The shattering
Reconnecting with the Light
The four central principles of the Way
Our own best interests
The intention of sharing
The story of one people-and of all people
The inner creation
The death of death
The Rabbi and the Landowner
The Upper Worlds
You have to earn it
PART TWO Getting Ready for the Light
CHAPTER 4 The Work of Living
The one-directional pathway
Proactive versus reactive
Going against our nature
Positive and negative, light and dark
We re all in the same boat
Take action in the real world
Put together the jigsaw puzzle
The source of pain and suffering
What is evil?
There are spiritual laws
The element of choice
Wheels of the Soul
Use your time well
CHAPTER 5 Building a Relationship with the Creator
A Great Gift, Well Disguised
Ask for it
The Master Builder
When you believe it, you ll receive it
It is never too late
Higher than the angels, lower than the worms
The Hell Within
Chaos and the meaning of angels
Without the Creator we are less than nothing
The Dark Angels, the Light Angels, and the Gray Angels
CHAPTER 6 The Twelve Spiritual Laws of the Way
1. Know that every day is an opportunity for transformation
2. Hear the Voice from Above
3. Understand that we are all mirrors
4. Trust in the Creator- emunah
The Rabbi and the Train
5. Ask for divine assistance
6. Realize that we are always being tested
7. Repent with joy
Cleaning the Barn
8. Be never satisfied
The Three Judges
9. Walk like the blind
10. Use death as a motivation
11. Experience the pain as our own
12. Don t judge others
PART THREE Spiritual Transformation
CHAPTER 7 Understanding Our Thoughts and Feelings
Live with joy
Appreciation brings joy
Realize that envy is a constant temptation
Know all the meanings of fear
We are truly not alone
Always be aware of anger
Embrace love
CHAPTER 8 Using the Spiritual Tools
Share
Our Inner Nature
S HARING IN A CTION
1. Be before doing
2. Be ruthless and without mercy
3. Realize that difficulties are more apparent than real
Practice charity
C HARITY IN A CTION
1. Give every day
2. Know what to give
3. Start small
4. Keep it quiet
5. Remember that money isn t everything
Pray
An Open Heart
H OW TO P RAY
1. Love your neighbor
2. Replace doubt with certainty
3. Pray the way that works best for you
4. Pray for others
5. Understand the answers
Practice Shabbat, the Sabbath
O BSERVING S HABBAT
1. Wear something special
2. Be charitable
3. Greet Shabbat
4. Sing Shabbat songs
5. Give blessing
Celebrate holidays and miracles
M AKING M IRACLES H APPEN
1. Shift your perspective
2. Pay attention to miracles
3. Borrow on your tzaddik
Study
S TUDY IN A CTION
1. Know where you re starting from and where you want to go
2. Pay attention
3. Give thanks
4. Scan the Zohar
Practice introspection and meditation
The Near-Catastrophe and Its Lesson
K ABBALISTIC M EDITATION T ECHNIQUES
1. Practice breathing meditation
2. Meditate on sacred verses
3. Practice spiritual conversation
4. Practice listening meditation
5. Practice creating love and forgiveness
6. Practice music meditation
7. Practice proactive visualizations
Go into daily life
CHAPTER 9 Sharing the Way
Kabbalah s answers to the fundamental questions
A call to action
The Envelopes Slipped under the Doors
Glossary
Bibliography and Sources for Further Reading
Index
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the many people who have made this book possible:
Most importantly my parents and teachers, Rav and Karen Berg. One cannot hope for better parents and guides. You have taught and helped millions of people, and I am lucky to be one of them.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Rabbi Isaac Luria, Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, Rav Yehuda Ashlag, Rav Yehuda Brandwein. This book is your wisdom. I hope I have done it justice.
Yehuda Berg, my brother, my friend, for your insights and help.
My wife, Monica, for your support, assistance, and love, and for giving me the greatest gift in our son, David.
Don Opper, Mitch Sisskind, Peter Guzzardi, and Muriel Nellis, whose help has been invaluable in bringing this book to publication.
Tom Miller, my editor at John Wiley, for his important additions and comments (which prove again that the last mile is the longest mile!).
All the people at the Kabbalah Centre, and the thousands of students who have learned with me and from me. You help me to understand these concepts better every day.
Introduction

The wisdom of Kabbalah is a five-thousand-year-old tradition whose purpose is to bring an end to all pain and suffering in the world .
When I was six years old our family was living in Jerusalem. At that time my father and mother had made the decision not only to devote their lives to following the spiritual teachings of Kabbalah, but also to bring those teachings to the world.
My father, Rav Berg, had been raised in a strictly observant Jewish environment in Brooklyn. After many years of study, he was ordained a rabbi and spent several years teaching in a yeshiva in New York City. But over time he grew disenchanted with the insularity and lack of inclusiveness in the Orthodox way of life. Eventually he began a career in business, while still remaining observant in his personal life. After many years of living this way, he made a trip to Israel, where he was introduced to Rabbi Yehuda Brandwein, the spiritual leader of the Kabbalah Centre in Jerusalem and one of the twentieth century s greatest masters of the spiritual teachings of Kabbalah. (Whenever I visit Jerusalem today and meditate on Rabbi Brandwein s great soul, I gain wisdom and strength to live according to kabbalistic teachings.) Through his relationship with Rabbi Brandwein, my father made the decision to end his business career and dedicate his life to Kabbalah. Before Rabbi Brandwein passed on, he designated my father to succeed him as the leader of the Kabbalah Centre.
My mother, Karen Berg, came to Kabbalah along a very different path. Her family had not been at all observant. Before meeting my father, she led the life of a secular Jewish woman. Yet it was she who first suggested to my father that the wisdom of Kabbalah should be brought to humanity as a whole-that the ancient teachings should be made available to anyone who had a true desire to learn, regardless of their background and religious identity, or their lack of one.
Even as small children, my brother and I were aware that this was a truly extraordinary undertaking. Kabbalah ( to receive in Hebrew) is a body of mystical wisdom that had long been kept secret from the world. Although it is