Book Review The Essential Kabbalah (The Heart of Jewish Mysticism) Daniel Matt

All of Life Connected to the Mystical
The Essential Kabbalah describes Kabbalah as a way of relating to the esoteric, inner, hidden dimension of life that is both concealed and revealed. Again, as in the book God is a Verb, reality here is described as a reflection of, and in symbiotic relationship with, other realms of reality. The mundane and the sacred are connected. We are advised to raise our consciousness and raise Holy Sparks in ourselves and in the world to discover our authentic identity and interconnectivity with all of life.

The Tree of Life and the Sefirot
The Tree of Life illustrates the drama of emanation, from En Sof to creation: in other words, Emanation, Creation, Formation, and Actualization. This is the full gamut of coming into being and passing away (yogic prakriti?). The Sefirot represent the stages of God’s inner life, aspects of Divine personality (although God is undifferentiated). There is nothing else but God and God animates everything. If God’s gaze were withdrawn for even a moment, all existence would be nullified.

The Path of Ascent Back to the One
We are on a ladder of ascent back to the One. The book suggests that “Grace” can intervene to help one understand God “If you are deserving, you will understand the mystery of God on your own.” (page 27). The book describes awareness practices not unlike Eastern mediation activities. Whatever one implants firmly in the mind becomes the essential thing. Wait for the secret to be revealed to you in the course of time.

Prepare to meet your God. Learn from a teacher on the path of integrity.
The methodology rewards those purifying themselves. “One that understands this secret understands the immense power a human has to build and to destroy. (page 79)
Purify your body.
Wear all white.
Hear the voice of God in everything.
Devote your heart.
Forget yourself totally (your ego?) or God cannot clothe himself in you.

The book describes an awakening that suggests a Kundalini awakening. The purpose is to maintain the endurance of the one who apprehends with the joy of apprehension. Bringing pleasure, delight, trembling, joyful exuberance. The idolatrous mirror of thought is annihilated. It is said that this awakening is impossible to articulate or describe in words.

Who am I?
The greater you are the more you need to search for yourself. (p. 124) Go to your Self. You are a channel for the divine attributes. You are entirely soul.