"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller
Kabbalah is the mystical branch of Judaism, but one does not need to be Jewish to practice or study it. In fact, Aaron Hamilton, a member and youth mentor for New York City's Kabbalah Center explains, "Actually, it is believed that Judaism came from Kabbalah, not the other way around."
It has a fascinating 4,000 year history that traces its secrets from Eden to Egypt and Moses to Madonna, Kabbalah's modern maven. And what's surprising is that it incorporates concepts that are considered "new age" such as astrology and numerology, as well as discussing spiritual concepts in terms of energy and psychology. Each religion has its own language and architecture, so those just beginning to explore Kabbalah may find the new words and detailed steps challenging. But as with most mystical branches of religion, the emphasis is on the spiritual experience and its application to enriching our lives now, rather than focusing on a reward at our life's end.
A story in Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth describes a religious conference in which all the monks understood each other but the priests, speaking in terms of rules and codes rather than experience, had trouble finding common ground. No matter what we study, when we truly open our minds and seek to understand, we can find ways to connect to each other - whether it's Buddhism or Judaism or quantum physics - as illustrated in the video clip above (click HERE to view) which shows a meeting of minds when scientists from the film What the Bleep met up with Kabbalah leaders in 2005.
If learning more about Kabbalah appeals to you, go to www.kabbalah.info or www.kabbalah.com to find a wealth of information and perhaps the answers you seek.
