Sunday, March 1, 2015

ZEN JUDAISM - by Avi Sion

ZEN JUDAISM

Avi Sion,  Ph. D.



First published, 2008-9.


Abstract


Zen Judaism is a frank reflection on the tensions between reason and faith in today’s context of knowledge, and on the need to inject Zen-like meditation into Judaism.

This work also treats some issues in ethics and theodicy.

This book is drawn from the author’s larger work Logical and Spiritual Reflections.


Buy it or read it online


All of Avi Sion’s published books can be purchased at Amazon.com (in paperback or kindle/.mobi form), and at Lulu.com (in hardcover, paperback or e-book/.epub form), as well as other online stores.

They can also be read online free of charge, chapter by chapter, at www.TheLogician.net and, in '3D flipbook' format, at www.AviSionBooks.com, as well as in GoogleBooks and other Internet locations. They are also available in many university and public libraries.


Contents


1.         God and Creation
2.         Torah and faith
3.         Bible text and commentary
4.         Tradition vs. innovation
5.         The rabbinical estate
6.         Judaic illogic
7.         Jewish meditation
8.         Enlightenment without idolatry
9.         Good people
10.       A world of mercy
11.       Understanding injustice
12.       Forgiveness
13.       Actions and reactions

Appendices
  1. Round numbers in Torah statistics
  2. Prayer in uncertainty

Addenda
  1. Logic in Defense of Zionism
  2. The Chanukah lights miracle

References


Further description


Wise men think out their thoughts; fools proclaim them. (H. Heine)

I have no desire or intent to weaken or destroy Judaism; if anything, quite the contrary, I wish to strengthen and save it. But I regard that objective facts and rigorous logic must imperatively be taken into consideration; they cannot just be ignored, as some try to do. Some retreat is often necessary; but retreat is not defeat. There is much to be gained by adopting a “Zen attitude” in the face of this necessary adaptation to reality. That is to say, by looking on unpleasant truths in the way a meditator looks upon change and disturbance. Unperturbed, cool, without resistance, with equanimity.



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