La cábala práctica: Una guía a la sabiduría judía para la vida diaria

by Laibl Wolf, Antonio Cutanda Morant (Translator)

UNA GUÍA A LA SABIDURÍA JUDÍA PARA LA VIDA DIARIA La Cábala es una antigua fuente de sabiduría judía que explica las leyes de la energía espiritual. Hasta hace bien poco, la Cábala estaba reservada a una elite, a aquellos que tras muchos años de erudición y práctica se les permitía entrar en este reino místico. Sin embargo, uno no necesita consagrar toda su vida a un intenso estudio para cosechar los ricos frutos de la Cábala. Comprendiendo unos cuantos conceptos básicos, podemos enriquecer inmensamente nuestra existencia. Entonces, podremos empezar a realizar nuestros sueños más profundos y alcanzar nuestras más importantes metas, convirtiéndonos en las personas que anhelábamos ser. Aprendiendo a comprender las Sefirot -las diez propiedades espirituales que fluyen desde la fuente cósmica hasta nuestro corazón- , podemos conectar con el universo y transformar profundamente nuestra experiencia vital cotidiana. La Cábala Práctica recurre a una antigua sabiduría, pero ofrece una interpretación moderna y unas técnicas de fácil comprensión para ahondar en nuestro interior y en nuestro mundo. Laibl Wolf es un rabbí aotodoxo, abogado y psicólogo educativo. Viaja por todo el mundo dando conferencias y talleres sobre la Cábala y el equilibrio mente/emoción. Rabbí Wolf vive en Australia.

Genres: Judaism, Jewish, Spirituality, Religion, Judaica, Philosophy, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 1999

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kabbalah is the ancient Jewish wisdom that unlocks the secrets of the universe and allows us to reach our full potential.

In this volume, Rabbi Laibl Wolf explains how the basics of Kabbalah and how we can use it to create balance in our lives and relationships and further our goals.
He begins by explaining the roots of Kabbalah with the Hebrew patriarch Abraham, and it's similarities with Hinduism and Buddhism.

Explaining that some of Abraham's sons migrated from the Land of Israel to India.
In Brahman Indus means the |"other sider"- the Ivri! (Hebrew). Furthermore the Deity BRAHMAN, is simply a rearrangement of the basic letters of the father's name ABRAHAM. Abraham's great grandson Ashurim said to have created the spiritual commune known as the ashram".

The author explains the blueprint of the Cosmos and who the kabbalists are before introducing the ten sefirot, the ten divine attributes that manifest through the four "worlds" or "realms" called Olamot, and which actualize the lowest Olam as the ten aspects of personality consisting of mind and emotion.
He examines each of the ten sefirot (attributes) we need for balance and fulfilment.
These are
Chochma- wisdom
Bina- understanding
Da'at- knowledge
Hessed- kindness
Gevurah- strength
Tiferet- The beauty of balance
Netzach- connection
Hod- empathy
Yesod- determination and dedication and
Malchut- sovereignty, and the combination of the other nine sefirot into one.
The book includes meditations and words by luminaries such as Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama, explaining how their insight into ancient wisdom fits in with the wisdom of kabbalah and therefore ultimately Judaism.
It provides a blueprint for fulfillment, understanding and living life to the full, all through a meaningful connection with the Creator.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book for the beginner. It will not mislead you as so many other books I have read on the subject might. The author goes onto my list as one of the good ones for this subject. I think it is important to have a list of people you trust regarding this subject. It also depends on your level of training. Do you know Hebrew, or can you handle Hebrew words interspersed throughout a text after they are defined? Most Jews can do this who have studied anything at all.

If you are utterly baffled by Judaism, I suggest a different book. Try one of these...

Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know about the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History by Joseph Telushkin

To Be A Jew: A Guide To Jewish Observance In Contemporary Life by Hayim Halevy Donin

This is My God: A Guidebook to Judaism by Herman Wouk

The authors I trust in regard to Kabbalah are the following (not a comprehensive list):

Daniel C. Matt

Areyeh Kaplan

Gershom Scholem

Herbert Weiner

Lawrence Fine

Arthur Green

Joseph Dan

And now, Laibl Wolf.

I hope that helps.

[Maximus · Rating 3 out of 5]

What this book does well is introduce fundamental kabbalistic concepts with concrete examples. I’d recommend this book for someone completely unfamiliar with the topic. The author examines mental and emotional processes through the lens of Kabbalah to describe the four worlds and ten spheres very clearly.

[Scott Vawser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guy is amazing, a true legend. The concepts are deep and mystical and he has done quite the job of making them more digestible for the lay person like me. Having said that, I’m no Jew and carry a strong faith in another tradition so I had less invested in really sinking my teeth into the many complicated concepts. I think I took some pearls and gems and just enjoyed a more superficial reading of it...I’m sure I did not do justice to this great work.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a somewhat religious Jew, I was looking for something legitimate written by an Orthodox Rabbi to give me a foundation in Kabbalah. And, as a yoga teacher, I really appreciated how this Rabbi wove in Hindu and Buddhist thought in a very open-minded way. Great read!

[Charles · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a bad book. It is not only inaccurate when it comes to Kabbalah (calling da'at a sephira and often ignoring keter), but it discusses other cultures in insensitive and racist ways, places Kabbalah into the New Age movement, and praises Deepak Chopra. Avoid this book.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading it to completion once before several few years ago, I attempted to read it again August 27 2011 and I get the feeling I am not supposed to be reading it right now. I do not know if it is the subject or the author as this is not exactly the world's most entertaining read.

Dec 12, 2012, I was able to finish the book. I am not entirely sure why but it was much easier this time. I was able to get through several chapters each day for the past two days.

[Morgoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Internal transformation to live the Kabbalah

After read this book I am not the same person, Kabbalah is science and an art, in order to practice it we need profound changes in our inner self to improve ourselves as human beings. This book aboard the 10 sephirots and their relationship in our body and our daily lives: mind, emotions, relationships.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of moderately interesting exercises in here but it felt like a severe watering down of the Kabbalah and trying to equate it to the sanitized New Age-friendly variants of Buddhism and yoga we see all too much of.

[Lingui5t · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very instructive. Needed more practical examples. A little too filler-y for me.

[Liga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot.

[Lady B of house Sefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great pshaat level introduction to the basics of Kabbalah and it's everyday application to life through mindfulness and meditation.

[Melodie Wendel-Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the diagrams and brief descriptions of the 10 Sefirotics (spiritual energies in body); but a chapter to each wasn't as engaging and neither were exercises.

[Barthelemy Jacques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand

Mr. Wolf took a difficult subject and breaks it down in a way everyone could understand! That’s genius! Thank you!

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent - looking forward to more from him!

[Allison]

Just the little I have read so far makes me go "wow .... "!!

[Jan Druetzler-katz]

Excellent. Would make a great discussion group book.

[Cathrine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I own this book and I've only read a part of it. Don't know when I'll get back to it.

Had to shift it to my Read shelf in order to stop seeing it as 'reading'. :/

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful and easy to read. Quite happy I own this book <3

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of the history, concepts(sefirot), etc.
Some of the meditation exercises seem a bit of a stretch to me.

[Manuel Araujo · Rating 3 out of 5]

No lo entiendo, supongo que es porque no es para principiantes este libro.