There are many spiritual paths, but within them the quest for a deep spiritual connection is the same. Kabbalah, often referred to as Jewish mysticism, considers such esoteric ponderings of existence, life purpose, and much more. Although based on the ancient teachings of Judaism, Kabbalah is a field of study pursued not only by the Jewish, but by people of many different faiths. Such great minds as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Plato, Pythagoras, Newton, Shakespeare and Freud have all studied Kabbalah. Kabbalah is the Hebrew word which means "to receive." This is because it is believed while wisdom may be gained from study, spiritual understandings of our reality can only be "received." This implies that the recipient must be a fitting vessel and completely ready for receiving such special and holy ideas. Thus, traditionally, Kabbalah was not even taught to people until the age of 40, when they had completed their education in the Bible and practical Jewish law. Then, they were eligible to study the Zohar, also referred to as The Tree of Life, considered by some to be the Holy Grail. Yet, even though much of the wisdom of Kabbalah is meant for serious students of Judaism, there are many aspects of Kabbalah that are open and beneficial to all people. Many insights into life's ultimate purpose can be understood through the concepts of Kabbalah. You can learn invaluable things about yourself and the universe from studying the many different aspects of these mystical concepts through its philosophy and meditation. One of the principals of Kabbalah is that it is an elusive study, meaning many things are not explained but rather left for the student to comprehend on his or her own. Therefore, if you delve into Kabbalah, you need to be willing to contemplate the teachings deeply and personally in order to get closer to finding the truth.
