Recently, I finished reading a book called Climbing Jacobs Ladder by Alan Morinis. This book is his personal story of overcoming a major business failure and finding the ancient teachings of Mussar. To the best of my understanding at this point, Mussar is like the Jewish answer to Buddhism. As defined in Everyday Holiness: The Path of Mussar, another of Morinis' books, Mussar "shines light on the causes of suffering and shows us how to realize our highest spiritual potential, including an everyday experience infused with happiness, trust, and love." Mussar is a life practice that much like Buddhism is performed through meditation, silence and retreat, and journal practices. This practice is of great interest to me due to my return to Jewish roots as well as having had a history in Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Mussar
Recently, I finished reading a book called Climbing Jacobs Ladder by Alan Morinis. This book is his personal story of overcoming a major business failure and finding the ancient teachings of Mussar. To the best of my understanding at this point, Mussar is like the Jewish answer to Buddhism. As defined in Everyday Holiness: The Path of Mussar, another of Morinis' books, Mussar "shines light on the causes of suffering and shows us how to realize our highest spiritual potential, including an everyday experience infused with happiness, trust, and love." Mussar is a life practice that much like Buddhism is performed through meditation, silence and retreat, and journal practices. This practice is of great interest to me due to my return to Jewish roots as well as having had a history in Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy.
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I enjoyed seeing this photo! I'm a soon-to-be rabbinical student who is still grappling with the extent she can practice Buddhism! But I guess breathing is breathing is breathing. Doesn't matter what name you put on it!
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