The Way: Using the Wisdom of Kabbalah for Spiritual Transformation and Fulfillment

257 Pages·2001·0.75 MB·English

by  Michael Berg

fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page i
The Way
Using the Wisdom of Kabbalah
for Spiritual Transformation
and Fulfillment
ﱫﱬ
MICHAEL BERG
JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.
New York • Chichester • Weinheim • Brisbane • Singapore • Toronto
fcopyebk.qxd 8/15/01 10:14 AM Page ii
For more information about The Kabbalah Centre, or to
learn more about our classes, books, or audio programs,
please call us at 800-Kabbalah, or visit our website at
www.kabbalah.com.
The Kabbalah Centre: 50 locations worldwide including
New York — Los Angeles — Miami — Toronto —
London — Paris — Tel Aviv
Copyright © 2001 by Michael Berg. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Design and production by Navta Associates, Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108
of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written per-
mission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate
per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers,
MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for
permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012, [phone], fax
[phone], email:
fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page iii
To Rav and Karen Berg—my teachers and my parents: I will
never be able to repay you for all you have given me. You have
taught me all anyone needs to know, through your words, your
actions, and most importantly, through your lives. All that I am
is all from you.
To my brother and friend, Yehuda: Thank you for your friend-
ship. May we continue together to reveal this wisdom to the
world.
To Monica, my wife and my love: You are so much more than
any man could hope for. You are my vision of love, joy, and
fulfillment. For me, you are the epitome of both physical and
spiritual beauty. You are my partner and my best friend. May
we complete this journey together.
To our son, David: I hope I never take for granted the great gift
that you are. For me, you are pure Light.
fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page iv
fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page v
Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
The night fear 4
The benefits 6
Using this book 7
Questions to keep in mind 8
PAR T ONE
The Way of Kabbalah
CHAPTER 1
Creating Fulfillment 11
The Creator 14
The Light of the Creator 16
The rocky path to transformation 18
Accomplish what you came here for 20
CHAPTER 2
Kabbalah through the Ages 24
Abraham created a portal 25
The powers of the letters 26
The Zohar 28
Rabbi Luria and tikkun 29
v
fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page vi
C O N T E N T S
Opening to the Light 30
Advanced Kabbalah 32
CHAPTER 3
The Light and the Vessel 35
Light and Vessel: The metaphysics of creation 36
The Light 38
The Vessel 39
The shattering 40
Reconnecting with the Light 43
The four central principles of the Way 45
Our own best interests 46
The intention of sharing 47
The story of one people—and of all people 49
The inner creation 51
The death of death 53
The Rabbi and the Landowner 53
The Upper Worlds 57
You have to earn it 58
PAR T TWO
Getting Ready for the Light
CHAPTER 4
The Work of Living 63
The one-directional pathway 65
Proactive versus reactive 66
Going against our nature 68
Positive and negative, light and dark 70
We’re all in the same boat 71
vi
fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page vii
CONTENTS
Take action in the real world 73
Put together the jigsaw puzzle 73
The source of pain and suffering 75
What is evil? 76
There are spiritual laws 79
The element of choice 80
Wheels of the Soul 82
Use your time well 85
CHAPTER 5
Building a Relationship with the Creator 88
A Great Gift, Well Disguised 89
Ask for it 91
The Master Builder 93
When you believe it, you’ll receive it 94
It is never too late 94
Higher than the angels, lower than the worms 95
The Hell Within 96
Chaos and the meaning of angels 100
Without the Creator we are less than nothing 103
The Dark Angels, the Light Angels, and the Gray Angels 105
CHAPTER 6
The Twelve Spiritual Laws of the Way 109
1. Know that every day is an opportunity for
transformation 110
2. Hear the Voice from Above 110
3. Understand that we are all mirrors 111
4. Trust in the Creator—emunah 112
The Rabbi and the Train 112
vii
fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page viii
C O N T E N T S
5. Ask for divine assistance 116
6. Realize that we are always being tested 117
7. Repent with joy 121
Cleaning the Barn 122
8. Be never satisfied 123
The Three Judges 123
9. Walk like the blind 127
10. Use death as a motivation 128
11. Experience the pain as our own 129
12. Don’t judge others 131
PAR T THREE
Spiritual Transformation
CHAPTER 7
Understanding Our Thoughts and Feelings 135
Live with joy 136
Appreciation brings joy 137
Realize that envy is a constant temptation 139
Know all the meanings of fear 142
We are truly not alone 143
Always be aware of anger 144
Embrace love 146
CHAPTER 8
Using the Spiritual Tools 149
Share 150
Our Inner Nature 150
SHA R I N G I N AC T I O N 154
1. Be before doing 154
viii
fm.qxd 7/16/01 11:16 AM Page ix
CONTENTS
2. Be ruthless and without mercy 155
3. Realize that difficulties are more apparent
than real 156
Practice charity 157
CHA R I T Y I N AC T I O N 160
1. Give every day 160
2. Know what to give 160
3. Start small 161
4. Keep it quiet 163
5. Remember that money isn’t everything 164
Pray 165
An Open Heart 169
HOW TO PR AY 172
1. Love your neighbor 172
2. Replace doubt with certainty 173
3. Pray the way that works best for you 174
4. Pray for others 175
5. Understand the answers 176
Practice Shabbat, the Sabbath 177
OBS E RV I N G SH A B B AT 182
1. Wear something special 183
2. Be charitable 183
3. Greet Shabbat 183
4. Sing Shabbat songs 184
5. Give blessing 184
Celebrate holidays and miracles 185
MAK I N G MI R A C L E S HA P P E N 189
1. Shift your perspective 189
2. Pay attention to miracles 190
3. Borrow on your tzaddik 191
Study 193
ix