Part 17 (1/2)

In comparing Judaism to Buddhism, I have come to value the Jewish emphasis on adding a sacred dimension to daily life, especially through the Shabbat, which brings families together and allows every Jew to taste the sweetness of a spiritual life without retreating utterly from the world. As Jews we do not have to choose between family life and the monastery-we have a blueprint for combining both, if only we will follow it.

The Holocaust and its aftershocks, and the politics of Zionism, have both been key issues for American Jews. But the sadness and pain of our memories-and the tensions of political struggles, both internal and external-have often obscured our inner joy.

Jonathan Omer-Man described to the Dalai Lama ”a path of joy.” ”People are very much into bringing more fun into Judaism,” he told me, ”but fun is not joy. Joy is ecstatic knowledge with all parts of one's being, an integrated way of knowing. It's truly a quest.”

It is time now to continue that quest-and essential to Jewish survival.

Notes and References

INTRODUCTION.

p. 1 I studied the modern history of Tibet I studied the modern history of Tibet. The best single source is John Avedon, The best single source is John Avedon, In Exile from the Land of Snows In Exile from the Land of Snows (New York: Vintage, 1986.) The International Campaign for Tibet, 1518 K Street, NW, Suite 410, Was.h.i.+ngton, DC 20005 publishes (New York: Vintage, 1986.) The International Campaign for Tibet, 1518 K Street, NW, Suite 410, Was.h.i.+ngton, DC 20005 publishes Tibet Press Watch Tibet Press Watch and other sources of information on events in contemporary Tibet. and other sources of information on events in contemporary Tibet.

CHAPTER 1 SPARKS.

p. 19 the kabbalah teaches that the Jewish soul is composed of many brilliant sparks the kabbalah teaches that the Jewish soul is composed of many brilliant sparks The The nitzatzot ha-neshamot nitzatzot ha-neshamot or ”sparks of the soul” is a development of the Lurianic kabbalah. For a brief account, see Gershom Scholem, or ”sparks of the soul” is a development of the Lurianic kabbalah. For a brief account, see Gershom Scholem, Kabbalah Kabbalah (New York: Meridian, 1978), pp. 347-48. For a beautiful account of kabbalistic teaching in general, as seen by a pract.i.tioner, see Aryeh Kaplan, (New York: Meridian, 1978), pp. 347-48. For a beautiful account of kabbalistic teaching in general, as seen by a pract.i.tioner, see Aryeh Kaplan, Inner s.p.a.ce Inner s.p.a.ce (Brooklyn: Moznaim, 1990). (Brooklyn: Moznaim, 1990).

p. 27 The history of the spread of Buddhism to the West The history of the spread of Buddhism to the West I am indebted to Rick Fields's I am indebted to Rick Fields's How the Swans Came to the Lake How the Swans Came to the Lake (Boulder: Shambhala, 1981), a very readable history. (Boulder: Shambhala, 1981), a very readable history.

Charles Prebish's book is American Buddhism American Buddhism (Duxbury Press, 1979). p. 11 (Duxbury Press, 1979). p. 11 A Torah scroll was unwrapped A Torah scroll was unwrapped See See New York Times New York Times, September 26, 1989. Baltimore Jewish Times Jewish Times, October 13, 1989.

CHAPTER 2 FLAMES.

p. 18 Lieberman had sent each of us Lieberman had sent each of us The Dhammapada The Dhammapada The text was The text was The The Dhammapada: The Path of Truth , trans. Ven. BalanG.o.da Maitreya, revised by Ruth Kramer (Novato, CA: Lotsawa, 1988). , trans. Ven. BalanG.o.da Maitreya, revised by Ruth Kramer (Novato, CA: Lotsawa, 1988).

p. 21 The historian Arthur Hertzberg The historian Arthur Hertzberg See Hertzberg's excellent account, See Hertzberg's excellent account, The Jews in America, Four Centuries of an Uneasy Encounter: A History The Jews in America, Four Centuries of an Uneasy Encounter: A History (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989). (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989).

See also Charles Liebman, ”Orthodoxy in American Jewish Life,” American Jewish Year Book American Jewish Year Book, 1965 (66) (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1965), pp. 21-27.

CHAPTER 4 HEIGHTS.

p. 42 the Torah portion the Torah portion The portion was The portion was Lekh Lekha Lekh Lekha.

p. 45 active at the inception of the chavurah movement active at the inception of the chavurah movement See Richard Siegel, Michael Stra.s.sfeld, Sharon Stra.s.sfeld, See Richard Siegel, Michael Stra.s.sfeld, Sharon Stra.s.sfeld, The First Jewish Catalog The First Jewish Catalog (Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1973) pp. 296-318. Zalman Schachter's article, ”A First Step: A Devotional Guide,” is an excellent introduction to Jewish renewal spirituality. (Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1973) pp. 296-318. Zalman Schachter's article, ”A First Step: A Devotional Guide,” is an excellent introduction to Jewish renewal spirituality.

p. 48 Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik Rabbi Soloveitchik died in 1993. His major works are: Rabbi Soloveitchik died in 1993. His major works are: Halakhic Man Halakhic Man, trans. Lawrence Kaplan (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1983), and The Lonely Man of Faith The Lonely Man of Faith (New York: Doubleday, 1992). (New York: Doubleday, 1992).

CHAPTER 5 BLESSINGS.

p. 61 the long history of Jewish blessings the long history of Jewish blessings See Hayim Donin, See Hayim Donin, To Pray As a Jew To Pray As a Jew (New York: Basic Books, 1980).

p. 63 Yitz felt the Dalai Lama himself had removed such claims in his latest autobiography Yitz felt the Dalai Lama himself had removed such claims in his latest autobiography Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama XIV, Tenzin Gyatso, Dalai Lama XIV, Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama (New York: HarperCollins, 1990), p. xiii. (New York: HarperCollins, 1990), p. xiii.

CHAPTER 6 CONTACT.

p. 65 how the rebbe tied his shoes how the rebbe tied his shoes Attributed to a disciple of Dov Baer, the great Maggid of Mezhirech. See Martin Buber, Attributed to a disciple of Dov Baer, the great Maggid of Mezhirech. See Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim: Early Masters Tales of the Hasidim: Early Masters (New York: Shocken, 1961), p. 107. (New York: Shocken, 1961), p. 107.

p. 68 Katz believed that Judaism and Buddhism had contact in the past Katz believed that Judaism and Buddhism had contact in the past For a fuller account and references, see Nathan Katz, ”Contacts between Jewish and Indo-Tibetan Civilizations through the Ages: Some Explorations,” For a fuller account and references, see Nathan Katz, ”Contacts between Jewish and Indo-Tibetan Civilizations through the Ages: Some Explorations,” The Tibet Journal The Tibet Journal 16, no. 4 (1991): 90-109. The Jataka tale Katz cites is found in the 16, no. 4 (1991): 90-109. The Jataka tale Katz cites is found in the Mahoshadha Jataka Mahoshadha Jataka, which he compares to the judgment tale of King Solomon (1 Kings 3:16-28).

CHAPTER 7 THE ANGEL OF TIBET AND THE ANGEL OF THE JEWS p. 72 Kavvanah Kavvanah is an important element of Hasidic devotional practice is an important element of Hasidic devotional practice The term is used in the Talmud ( The term is used in the Talmud (Eruv, 95b) but developed to its height by Rabbi Isaac Luria and his followers in Safed, from whom it pa.s.sed to the Hasidim. See Gershom Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism (New York: Shocken, 1973), pp. 275-78. (New York: Shocken, 1973), pp. 275-78.

p. 75 The deep way is the way of kabbalah The deep way is the way of kabbalah Major scholarly works on kabbalah include the following texts: Gershom Scholem, Major scholarly works on kabbalah include the following texts: Gershom Scholem, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism; Gershom Scholem, Kabbalah Kabbalah (New York: Meridian, 1978); Gershom Scholem, (New York: Meridian, 1978); Gershom Scholem, On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism (New York: Schocken Books, 1965); Moshe Idel, (New York: Schocken Books, 1965); Moshe Idel, Kabbalah: New Perspectives Kabbalah: New Perspectives (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988). For books on kabbalah from the point of view of a pract.i.tioner, see: Aryeh Kaplan, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988). For books on kabbalah from the point of view of a pract.i.tioner, see: Aryeh Kaplan, Inner s.p.a.ce Inner s.p.a.ce (Brooklyn: Moznaim, 1990); Aryeh Kaplan, (Brooklyn: Moznaim, 1990); Aryeh Kaplan, Meditation and Kabbalah Meditation and Kabbalah (York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1989). (York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1989).

p. 76 In Tibetan Buddhist teaching In Tibetan Buddhist teaching An excellent popular introduction can be found in Nancy Ross, An excellent popular introduction can be found in Nancy Ross, Buddhism: A Way of Life and Thought Buddhism: A Way of Life and Thought (New York: Vintage, 1981), pp. 101-140. (New York: Vintage, 1981), pp. 101-140.

p. 76 The four supernal worlds The four supernal worlds These are known as the These are known as the olamot olamot, or universes. See Kaplan, Inner s.p.a.ce Inner s.p.a.ce, p. 137 p. 77 The four worlds cosmology comes straight out of the Lurianic kabbalah The four worlds cosmology comes straight out of the Lurianic kabbalah For a brief scholarly discussion of this history, see Scholem, For a brief scholarly discussion of this history, see Scholem, Major Trends Major Trends, p. 272.

p. 77 Rabbi Schachter's update Rabbi Schachter's update A recently published account of four worlds davening can be found in A recently published account of four worlds davening can be found in Worlds of Jewish Prayer Worlds of Jewish Prayer, ed. Shohama Wiener and Jonathan Omer-Man (Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1993). See also Zalman Schachter's introduction to the Or Chadash Or Chadash siddur published by the P'nai Or Religious Fellows.h.i.+p, 7318 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119; and by the same publisher, siddur published by the P'nai Or Religious Fellows.h.i.+p, 7318 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119; and by the same publisher, Gates to the Heart Gates to the Heart.

p. 85 Shunyata Shunyata is also called by the Tibetans ”dependent arising is also called by the Tibetans ”dependent arising” See the See the Prajnaparamita-hridaya Prajnaparamita-hridaya, or Heart Sutra. The topic was developed in the writings of the Indian Buddhist Nagarjuna. For two contemporary discussions by Tibetan Buddhist pract.i.tioners, see Chogyam Trungpa, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism (Berkeley: Shambhala, 1973), and Thubten Chodron, (Berkeley: Shambhala, 1973), and Thubten Chodron, Open Heart, Clear Mind Open Heart, Clear Mind (Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion, 1990). For the Dalai Lama's own account of (Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion, 1990). For the Dalai Lama's own account of shunyata shunyata, see The Dalai Lama at Harvard The Dalai Lama at Harvard (Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion, 1989). See also The Dalai Lama, ”Dependent Arising,” (Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion, 1989). See also The Dalai Lama, ”Dependent Arising,” Cho Yang: The Voice of Tibetan Religion and Culture Cho Yang: The Voice of Tibetan Religion and Culture. (Dharamsala) 3, 1990.

CHAPTER 8 ALWAYS REMIND.