In the last twenty years, North America has seen an explosion of interest in meditation. But many books on meditation rely on complex, intellectual studies of philosophy and theology, rendering them inaccessible to the beginner. Well-known meditation practitioner Jeff Roth has changed that by offering a fresh take on meditation that draws on life experience and living life with greater clarity opposed to the traditional method of rigorous study. Drawing on twenty-five years of bringing meaningful and accessible spiritual practice to the Jewish community, Roth presents Jewish contemplative techniques that foster the development of a heart of wisdom and compassion. This contemporary approach to meditation focuses on using the distilled wisdom of Buddhism and Judaism as a lens to learn from life experience. By combining these two traditions, he presents a model that allows westernersboth Jews and non-Jewsto embrace timeless eastern teachings without sacrificing their birth traditions.

AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Wake UpAre You a Mystic?