Perle Besserman Book order

Besserman's haunting novel of a modern day Kabbalah encounter is a cautionary tale about the spiritual/religious world as it exists today.

Unraveling the web of ancient traditions hidden in such texts as the Sefer Yetzirah and the Zohar, this book traces history and offers an accessible introduction to understanding Kabbalah and its practices. Jewish mysticism has flourished—sometimes brilliantly, sometimes darkly—over five thousand years. This pioneering, popular text on Jewish mysticism was the first written for a general audience, and in it, Perle Besserman offers a lively and accessible introduction to the methods, schools, and practitioners of this intriguing world. She traces the history of Kabbalah through the lives of its illustrious scholars and saints and unravels the web of ancient traditions hidden in such texts as Sefer Yetzirah and the Zohar. Running through these pages are the words of the outstanding Kabbalists and mystics—including Simeon bar Yohai, Isaac Luria, Abraham Abulafia, and the Baal Shem Tov—giving instructions on practices ranging from contemplation of the Bible’s secret teachings to ritual, ecstatic prayer, and intensive meditation.

Innovative Zen masters, often disguised as drifters or beggars, challenge conventional spirituality through their unorthodox behavior. This book explores the lives of these "boat-rockers" and rebels from 8th-century China to contemporary America, illustrating how their actions redefine the radical Buddhist movement. Their stories emphasize that spiritual awakening is a rebellious act against the foundations of suffering, highlighting the interconnectedness of personal growth and societal change.

Die Rebellen des Zen präsentieren unkonventionelle Lebenswege und Lehrstile, die Frauen gegenüber frei und undogmatisch sind. Acht kreative Zen-Reformer werden als Archetypen des freien Zen-Geistes vorgestellt und bieten eine Brücke zu einer modernen, ganzheitlichen Praxis für spirituell Suchende.

Exploring the feminine side of Kabbalah, this book offers women a transformative approach to Jewish mysticism that has historically excluded them. Perle Besserman, a bestselling author, guides readers through innovative adaptations of traditional practices, integrating meditation and personal memoir. She provides step-by-step rituals aimed at helping women forge their own connections to the divine, thus reclaiming and redefining their spiritual heritage in a contemporary context.

Many Zen Buddhist practitioners have come to question some of Japanese Zen's less democratic aspects -- from the strict, male-dominated hierarchies to the racial overtones. At the same time, modern American Buddhists often find it difficult to integrate zazen (seated Zen meditation) with lives of family, work, and social engagement. This book offers a fascinating guide to overcoming both these dilemmas. A study of how one Zen group returned to an ancient Chinese tradition of community meditation practice without a leader or hierarchy, this book also outlines an authentic, grassroots approach, urging people from all walks of life to come together in meditation and the study of dharma. Grassroots Zen focuses on the challenge of truly becoming one with the moment in our frantically paced society; of finding a space for the passing self; and of achieving balance between Zen practice and daily life, as well as individuality in community. A thoughtful and absorbing work, Grassroots Zen is an important book for those seeking a practice that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.