Aryeh Kaplan (1934–1983)

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Kaplan-Si-vous-etiez-Dieu/1620544

> SI VOUS ÉTIEZ DIEU ?, de Aryeh Kaplan, Éditions Otsar - Paris.(1991). — Né à New York, l'auteur de ce livre, Aryeh Kaplan, fut un Rabbin éminent également détenteur d'une maîtrise de physique. Décédé prématurément, il eut le temps d'écrire 47 ouvrages très remarqués. Dans un style accessible à tous, il nous livre ici des vérités naguère réservées à quelques rares initiés. Une fois de plus il nous mène au-delà des idées reçues. Nous évoluons dans les tréfonds de l'âme, les mystères de l’univers et sa finalité. En bref, c'est un livre qui nous invite à réfléchir, à agir et à réagir.
—La voix séfarad, 34e année /Volume I, Déc.-janv. 2005, (p. 48)

> RÉSUMÉ. — Écrit dans une langue accessible à tous, cet ouvrage nous ouvre les yeux, éveille notre curiosité et notre imagination et pénètre nos cœurs d'un message qui nous force à réfléchir, à agir et à réagir. Il nous entraîne, bien au-delà de notre univers fait de superficialité et de mondain, dans un autre où la lumière de Dieu confèrera à nos existences une nouvelle signification et un autre but. Le Rabbin Aryeh Kaplan a su - et il était seul à pouvoir le faire - percer les secrets du rideau divin et révéler au grand public des vérités naguère réservées aux savants et aux rabbins. Dans cet ouvrage émouvant et d'une grande profondeur, il nous transporte une fois de plus au-delà des idées reçues et de ce qu'elles ont de superficiel. Il nous fait évoluer avec beaucoup de perspicacité dans les tréfonds de l'âme et dans les mystères du monde et de ses buts. Écrit dans une langue accessible à tous, cet ouvrage nous ouvre les yeux, éveille notre curiosité et notre imagination et pénètre nos cœurs d'un message qui nous force à réfléchir, à agir et à réagir.… (mehr)

Questo libro riassume millenni di ricerche spirituali, patrimonio un tempo di una élite. Aryeh Kaplan, un grande maestro contemporaneo, ci permette di seguirlo passo passo verso un mondo al quale tutti aspiriamo, quello del riavvicinamento al Creatore dell'Universo. Le tecniche meditative ebraiche sono messe in parallelo con quelle dell'Oriente ed esaminate nella loro peculiarità. Aryeh Kaplan, con la sua erudizione e la sua profonda sensibilità, ha trasformato una intuizione in certezza: quella della dimensione meditativa della preghiera ebraica. Questa guida pratica introduce il lettore alla meditazione mantrica, a quella contemplativa e alla visualizzazione in un contesto ebraico, e insegna come utilizzare la meditazione per rafforzare le preghiere tradizionali. Per mezzo di esercizi semplici e spiegazioni chiare, Kaplan ci offre i mezzi per sviluppare il nostro potenziale spirituale attraverso pratiche meditative autenticamente ebraiche. (fonte: retro di copertina)… (mehr)

To most people, the very word Kabbalah implies the mystical experience par excellence, but most modern books about this subject shed very little light into its ancient mystical and magical aspects. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan has therefore translated the Sefer Yetzirah, the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts, and now brings its theoretical, meditative and magical implications to light. He expounds on the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of the Sefirot, souls and angels. When properly understood, the Sefer Yetzirah becomes the instruction manual for a very special type of meditation meant to strengthen concentration, and to aid the development of telekinetic and telepathic powers. These powers were meant to help intiates perform feats that outwardly appeared magical. The magical kabbalah is closely related to the meditative kabbalah, and uses various signs, incantations, and divine names by which initiates could influence or alter natural events. This translation includes the meditation in five dimensions, the transtition from Binah to Chakhmah consciousness, the point of infinity, kabbalistic astrology, Ezekiel's vision according to the Sefer Yetzirah, and the mystery of the 231 gates.

Also included is a digest of all major commentaries on teh text of Sefer Yetzirah and a bibliograph of many of teh major kabbalistic works that discuss it, as well as extensive notes regarding various aspects f te translatin. Rabbi Kaplan's translation is based on the Gra version, which has been thought to be the most authentic. Aslo included is the short verions, the long version, and the Saadia version, making this volume the most complete work on the Sefer Yetzirah in English.

Contents

Introduction
The text
Authorship
The Talmudic Period
Texts and commentaries
Sefer Yetzirah
Chapter One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six
Appendixes
Appendix I: Other versions of Sefer Yetzirah
Short version
Long version
Saadia version
Appendix II: The 32 paths of wisdom
Appendix III: The gates
Appendix IV: Editions and commentaries
Printed editions
Other books containng Sefer Yetzirah
Manuscripts
Commentaries
Translations
Notes
Index
(Bibliography)… (mehr)

'(this is) the first book to read on the subject. It is a gentle, clear introdiuction and provides exercises and practices that can be used right away by any Jew who wants a deeper prayer experience.'-Rodger Kemenetz, author of The Jew in the Lotus

'New and old davveners can learn from this sainted teacher how to deepen their holy processes....One can, with the help of God and the aid of this manual, tap into the Cosmic.'-Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi

'A guide to Jewish prayer and meditation that is both grounded in the tradition and genuinely mind-expanding. For anyone seeking to connect with the spriitual side of Judaism, this book is essential.'-William Novak

'At a time when Jews are rediscovering theri hunger for spirituality, Kaplan's clear and comprehensive book could well be one of the most important Jewish books of our time.'-Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Aryeh Kaplan, who died in 1983, was a well-known Orthodox rabbi and teacher of Jewish meditation. He is the author of many books, including a translation of the Torah commentary Me'am Lo'ez.

Contents

Introduction
1 What is meditation?
2 Why medititate?
3 Techniques
4 States of consciousness
5 Jewish meditation
6 Mantra meditation
7 Contemplation
8 Visualization
9 Nothingness
10 Conversing with God
11 The way of prayer
12 Relating to God
13 Unification
14 The ladder
15 In all your ways
16 The commandments
17 Between man and woman
18 Remolding the self… (mehr)