Kabbalah & Yoga

Kabbalah, Yoga and Avraham Abulafia

Hosted by Bhaktifest, The Center for Spiritual Studies & Afikei Ruah

Join us for a weekly online course on the teachings of Rabbi Avraham Abulafia, a thirteenth-century Kabbalist and explorer of human/divine consciousness. The 10-part course, which will be led by Avraham Leader and Rabbi Dr. Orna Triguboff, is an introduction to the meditation, breathing and mindfulness techniques developed by Abulafia, along with textual study of his pioneering work in the study of consciousness, voice, language and the potential for prophecy. All the classes will be recorded and can be watched or listened to at your convenience. They will be about 1 1/4 hours long.

Avraham Abulafia developed a very sophisticated system of meditation, sound and physical movements that is reminiscent of some of the techniques used in Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism and other Eastern disciplines, yet with his own distinct emphasis based on ancient Kabbalistic traditions. For him, attaining prophecy is what we today would call a higher or altered state of consciousness. He also saw language as a potential means of bringing different peoples and religions closer rather than as a barrier and source of mistrust.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Avraham Leader is an internationally acclaimed teacher of various schools of Kabbalah and a founder of Matzref – The School for the Study of the Consciousness Teachings of Rabbi Avraham Abulafia. Avraham is one of the founders of the Jerusalem prayer group known as the Leader Minyan, and he has published new editions and translations of primary Kabbalistic texts. His students over the past thirty-five years include teachers, researchers, rabbis and beginners.

Rabbi Dr. Orna Triguboff serves at Emanuel Synagogue Sydney, Australia, and is the Spiritual Director of the Neshama Life Association, an organization that fosters spiritual development through Kabbalah. She received her rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Zalman Schachter Shalomi and the Aleph Jewish Renewal Association. Orna has been a Hatha Yoga teacher since 2002, trained by Acharya Upendra Roy. She received her Ph.D. from Sydney University, Australia. Her studies focus on angels in Jewish texts and 16th Century Lurianic Kabbalah.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL STUDIES

The Center for Spiritual Studies Inc, is a non-profit foundation founded in 1973 with the mission to transform lives and communities through social service and spreading spiritual wisdom. We produce festivals, spiritual retreats, tours and travels, and events such as Bhaktifest and Shaktifest and host webinars with a spiritual focus. Find out more www.bhaktifest.com

ABOUT AFIKEI RUAH

The Hebrew words Afikai Ruah mean streams of spirit. Our mission is to identify and support projects in Israel and around the globe to bridge wisdom traditions to further the collective evolution of individuals, communities and nations.