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
- Round numbers in Torah
statistics
- Prayer in uncertainty
Addenda
- Logic in Defense of
Zionism
- 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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