Jewish Wisdom on the Afterlife:
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What happens to us after we die? |
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What is "consciousness" and can it survive without the trappings of the physical body? |
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Can we remember past lives? |
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Do near death experiences prove immortality of the soul? |
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In Jewish Wisdom on the Afterlife, renowned author and scholar DovBer Pinson explores the Jewish understanding of life after death. Rabbi Pinson presents a basic understanding of what it means to be mortal and how an understanding of our immortality can serve us in the present and empower us to live life more meaningfully, today. Format:
Softcover |
PURCHASE JEWISH WISDOM ON THE AFTERLIFE HERE
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"Important Book on the Jewish View of the
Afterlife" January 25, 2009There is no one specific thread of thought that passes through all traditional Jewish texts regarding the afterlife. In Jewish Wisdom on the Afterlife, Rabbi Pinson has culled as many of the various sources that are available on this subject to present a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the soul, and - by extension - what occurs when a soul departs the earthly realm of existence.
CHAPTER ONE: Here & Now: Sanctification of Time
"Death is as inseparable an element of life as lived existence itself."
Rabbi Pinson discusses the connection between the present and the future. Are we living for the "now" or the world
to come that is so often referred to by the sages? How much value did the sages place on the afterlife
versus the here and now?
CHAPTER TWO: Who Are We?
"When the body and soul work in unison - when they are both engaged in positive acts and thoughts - the body becomes a vehicle to experience freedom."
What constitutes our 'beingness', our sense of existence? Is the body more than just a home for the soul? Do they work independently or in tandem with one another? Rabbi Pinson discusses the true nature of the body and the soul and their relationship to one another.
CHAPTER THREE: Consciousness
"To live in a state of Yechidah - unique oneness - is to live life in perfect symmetrical harmony with the Creator and creation. Interpersonally, this means the ability to see other human beings for who they are, beyond all the trivial prejudices and biases, and observe their core."
How have the Rabbis' ideas of consciousness developed from biblical, talmudic, and post-talmudic times? How does the "yetzer" (the soul's inclination) function? Rabbi Pinson explains the concept of good and bad within the soul as well as the many different levels of the soul and each of their own specific components.
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CHAPTER FOUR: Immortality
"The ultimate goal of life is to disappear, to merge with the infinite wisdom and goodness of the universe - and to shed all sense of selfhood."
This section explores the multiple levels upon which immortality and eternity are experienced, and looks at the range of such expressions, from the more apparent, where the soul lives on, to the more esoteric where the preservation of the physical is realized.
CHAPTER FIVE: Near-Death Experience
"When we run across inconsistency in near-death imagery, this only reinforces the beautiful truth that each soul is different and unique. Each person operates with a distinct mind and unique power of imagination; each individual's soul is simply another facet of the Infinite's oneness."
An in depth discussion on the phenomenon of near death experiences, the ten stages of "NDE", encounters with angels, "seeing the light," and instances in the the bible of those who have "returned" from death.
CHAPTER SIX: Soul Leaving Body
"Souls retain awareness and are very much connected with the people they loved and cared for. Through the small part of the soul that stays connected to the grave and the luz bone, souls in the upper/deeper realms of existence stay apprised of what occurs in the lower/outer realms."
When does the soul's process of leaving the body begin and where does it go? What is the 'tzeil' - shadow - and why does it leave and then return again to the body? How does the soul stay connected with the physical realm?
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PURCHASE JEWISH WISDOM ON THE AFTERLIFE HERE
CHAPTER SEVEN: Reincarnation
"Souls do not reincarnate to rectify previous misdeeds...they exist to reach their own actualization and individuation. In each evolving incarnation, the soul articulates another element of its nature."
What does Adam, the first man, have to do with the soul and reincarnation? Do souls necessarily reincarnate as humans? How does reincarnation differ from transmigration? Rabbi Pinson discusses Judaism's belief in reincarnation, understanding one's purpose, the various stages the soul takes when reincarnating, and the soul's purpose in reincarnating.
CHAPTER EIGHT: Individual Memory, Collective Memory
"Though our memories are founded on the various experiences of life, they are also very much colored by the prism of our soul's particularity, which we have from birth."
How are our experiences and knowledge actualized through our memory? What knowledge are we born with and what relation does this have to our soul's make up? Rabbi Pinson explains the imprints that life experiences have on the soul and how these are affected in the afterlife by both positive and negative actions.
CHAPTER NINE: Afterlife Journey
"Some people need to go through elaborate afterlife stages of progression, while others attain the goal more swiftly."
Where does the soul go after the body dies? Do heaven and hell exist in Jewish thought and what do those popular terms really mean? Rabbi Pinson discusses the connection between what the soul accomplished while the body lived and how the soul experiences the afterlife. He also elaborates on the soul's journey and the different levels of transition it goes through.
PURCHASE JEWISH WISDOM ON THE AFTERLIFE HERE
CHAPTER 10: Eternity & Corporeal Existence
"Since the soul is a spark of God, a part of the All, the soul contains images of the totality. All of reality is contained within the soul; all forces and energies, whether they are physically based or spiritually oriented, are enclosed within."
Rabbi Pinson takes a very close look at the notion of resurrection in the Bible and its relation to the body and soul and 'Olam Habah,' the World to Come. He analyzes the nature of resurrection and how it will affect all living beings and their continued existence in the future.
CHAPTER 11: U'vechain: And Therefore...
"The simple awareness that every action taken or not taken has everlasting ramifications will compel many to be more mindful and pay more attention to their behavior. From this vantage point, the belief in an afterlife is the belief in life itself."
A discussion on the desire of man to understand the nature of existence, his need to find meaning in life and in death, and how the World to Come can exist in the here and now.
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Rabbi DovBer Pinson is a world-renowned scholar, author, thinker, and beloved spiritual teacher. Through his books and lectures, he has touched and inspired the lives of thousands.
Amongst his published works are: Reincarnation and Judaism: The Journey of the Soul; Inner Rhythms: The Kabbalah of Music; Meditation and Judaism: Exploring the Jewish Meditative Paths; and Toward the Infinite: The Way of Kabbalistic Meditation.
Rabbi DovBer Pinson is an internationally acclaimed speaker and has lectured in both scholarly and lay settings throughout the globe.
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Table of Contents, Introduction, |
