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)