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Climbing Jacob's Ladder: Finding Spiritual Freedom Through the Stories of the Bible
This book re-unites us to the spiritual heritage and practices of the west through a new look at the biblical stories that have shaped our cultural psyche. Drawing on 16 Biblical stories, Dr. Epstein explores the struggles faced by the biblical heroes and heroines. These real-life people living real-life events are but us. Who of us has not been tempted like Adam and Eve lulled by the serpent’s promise that they could control the future? Or like Lot's wife, immobilized by regret of things past, as she glances back at the destruction of Sodom? Like our biblical forefathers and mothers, we too suffer from the inner terrorists or false selves that act as roadblocks in our quest for freedom. To discover the personal meaning of these tales for ourselves, Dr. Epstein provides visualizations (mental or guided imagery) to practice after each story.
The author keeps a sharp focus on how the 10 commandments (and three vows) are lived out by the biblical figures, and the karmic consequences (reciprocity for ones actions) follow in due course. For example, Jacob’s trickery (lying) of his father is mirrored in Laban’s swapping of wives on Jacob’s wedding day; Ruth’s goodness towards her mother-in-law is repaid in Boaz’s kindness towards her.
To re-ignite the western spiritual tradition, Dr. Epstein suggests three practices we can By practicing these simple methods, we can achieve self mastery and spiritual freedom – and climb our own ladder to reach the “top” or highest aspect of ourselves.
The author keeps a sharp focus on how the 10 commandments (and three vows) are lived out by the biblical figures, and the karmic consequences (reciprocity for ones actions) follow in due course. For example, Jacob’s trickery (lying) of his father is mirrored in Laban’s swapping of wives on Jacob’s wedding day; Ruth’s goodness towards her mother-in-law is repaid in Boaz’s kindness towards her.
To re-ignite the western spiritual tradition, Dr. Epstein suggests three practices we can By practicing these simple methods, we can achieve self mastery and spiritual freedom – and climb our own ladder to reach the “top” or highest aspect of ourselves.
176 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1999
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September 10, 2023
Be careful of the Jewish bias
It is very hard to connect to a book that is full of so much Jewish bias.
The book started well with explaining the parasites and psychological aggragates both inside and outside of ourselves and how they steal our energy and essence. From then on it simply went downhill.
The Truth, the irrefutable truth is that of Logos, not Mythos. It must be something that sits at the core of every religion, not just Judaism. The very fact the author failed to address it already shows the bias, error and sin of priding one group over all else - Something the Jews have sinned in from their very existence and hence the endless hostility directed towards them.
The interpretations of the stories are narrowing between decent to ridiculous. Painting sinners such as Abraham who sought to slice the throat of his son simply because a voice (could as well be the devil masquerading as God) commanded him, or Moses when he murdered an Egyptian soldier and thus commited thou shalt not murder. Or David when he mass slaughtered countless men and thus committed thou shalt not murder x100000. Not to mention how David convinced a man to go to war and die because he lusted after his wife.
The bible is full of sinners portrayed as saints. Its enough for you to see what the Jews are doing to the Palestinians nowadays and the corruption of the Israeli Knesset led by right-wing government which is not far from thd money-lenders and corrupt people in the temple which Jesus drove away.
Be very careful with such books. Any book that puts a group of people as chosen and everyone else in the world as gentiles meant to serve them is a gospel of the devil.
It is very hard to connect to a book that is full of so much Jewish bias.
The book started well with explaining the parasites and psychological aggragates both inside and outside of ourselves and how they steal our energy and essence. From then on it simply went downhill.
The Truth, the irrefutable truth is that of Logos, not Mythos. It must be something that sits at the core of every religion, not just Judaism. The very fact the author failed to address it already shows the bias, error and sin of priding one group over all else - Something the Jews have sinned in from their very existence and hence the endless hostility directed towards them.
The interpretations of the stories are narrowing between decent to ridiculous. Painting sinners such as Abraham who sought to slice the throat of his son simply because a voice (could as well be the devil masquerading as God) commanded him, or Moses when he murdered an Egyptian soldier and thus commited thou shalt not murder. Or David when he mass slaughtered countless men and thus committed thou shalt not murder x100000. Not to mention how David convinced a man to go to war and die because he lusted after his wife.
The bible is full of sinners portrayed as saints. Its enough for you to see what the Jews are doing to the Palestinians nowadays and the corruption of the Israeli Knesset led by right-wing government which is not far from thd money-lenders and corrupt people in the temple which Jesus drove away.
Be very careful with such books. Any book that puts a group of people as chosen and everyone else in the world as gentiles meant to serve them is a gospel of the devil.
Displaying 1 of 1 review