Rami Shapiro, a renowned teacher of spirituality across faith traditions, is an award-winning storyteller, poet and essayist. He is author of The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice, Recovery—The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice and The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature: Selections Annotated & Explained (all SkyLight Paths), among other books.Rami Shapiro is available to speak on the following topics:Writing—The Sacred Art: Beyond the Page to Spiritual PracticeStop Playing God: 12 Steps as Spiritual PracticeBiblical Wisdom for Post-biblical Times: An Exploration of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and JobThe Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Cultivating Compassion in Daily LifeHasidic Wisdom: An Exploration of Hasidic Storytelling, Theology and Contemplative PracticeSaints and Sages: Biblical Prophets, Ancient Rabbis and the Building of a Just WorldRabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi (z"l), the inspiration of the Jewish Renewal movement, is widely recognized as one of the most important Jewish spiritual teachers of our time. Professor at Temple University, he authored many books including Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; First Steps to a New Jewish Spirit: Reb Zalman's Guide to Recapturing the Intimacy & Ecstasy in Your Relationship with God (both Jewish Lights); From Age-ing to Sage-ing and Wrapped in a Holy Flame.

• Foreword ixPreface xviiIntroduction xixKey Philosophical Ideas xxxiiiCore Spiritual Practices xliii1. The Five Kinds of Humans 32. God, Wisdom, and Your Essential Nature 73. The Three Mothers: Wisdom, Reason, and Knowing 114. The Three Garments: Thought, Word, and Deed 135. Unity Beyond Thought 176. The Necessity of Opposites 217. Using the Body for Good 238. Using the Body for Evil 279. The Secret Yearning for the Good 3110. The Purpose of Transformation 3511. Redemption from Evil 3912. Bringing Light into the Darkness 4313. Internal Conflict 4714. Becoming an Inbetweener 4915. Serving God 5116. The Essential Task 5517. The Practice of Comprehension 5718. The Nature of Wisdom 6119. The Candle of God 6520. The Unchanging One 6921. God's Speech 7122. Other Gods 7323. Torah and God Are One 7524. The Interplay of Opposites 7725. Folly 7926. The Profit of Sadness 8127. Passive Restraint 8528. Distracting Thoughts 8929. A Dull Heart 9330. Cultivating Humility 9731. Working with Sadness 9932. Love Your Neighbor 10333. Attaining True Joy 10534 Generosity 10935. The Task of Self 11136. No High or Low in God 11337. Illuminating the World 11738. The Necessity of Intent 11939. Acting without Ulterior Motive 12140. Revealing the Hidden God 12541. Love and Awe 12942. Your Inner "Moses" 13343. Two Types of Awe 13744. Higher Grades of Love 13945. Compassion for God 14346. Way of Friendship 14747. Release from Bondage 14948. The Finite and the Infinite 15349. The Purpose of Creation 15550. Run and Return 15751. The Dwelling of God 16152. Perceiving the One 16353. The One Is within You 165Notes 167Glossary of Hebrew Terms 168Books Cited in Tanya 173Suggestions for Further Reading 177

"Rami Shapiro is one of the great Jewish spiritual teachers of our generation. This volume opens one of the all-time classics of Jewish spirituality for beginning students of all faiths. Through his poetic translations and paraphrases, he not only unlocks Tanya but also adds a classic of his own to our library of personal yearning."—Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Emanu-El Scholar, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco; author, The Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition and other books"A masterful unfolding of Tanya … paves a way for readers to find a path to God that is a 'returning through kindness.' I can't ever imagine teaching Tanya again without pointing toward this edition."—Reb Mimi Feigelson, mashpiah ruchanit (spiritual mentor); lecturer of Rabbinics, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University"With insight and nuance ... opens the mystical wisdom of Hasidism to spiritual seekers of all faiths. Both the translation and the commentary guide the reader to a transformed religious consciousness."—Dr. Eitan Fishbane, author, As Light Before Dawn: The Inner World of a Medieval Kabbalist

Rami Shapiro, a renowned teacher of spirituality across faith traditions, is an award-winning storyteller, poet and essayist. He is author of The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice, Recovery—The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice and The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature: Selections Annotated & Explained (all SkyLight Paths), among other books.Rami Shapiro is available to speak on the following topics:Writing—The Sacred Art: Beyond the Page to Spiritual PracticeStop Playing God: 12 Steps as Spiritual PracticeBiblical Wisdom for Post-biblical Times: An Exploration of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and JobThe Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Cultivating Compassion in Daily LifeHasidic Wisdom: An Exploration of Hasidic Storytelling, Theology and Contemplative PracticeSaints and Sages: Biblical Prophets, Ancient Rabbis and the Building of a Just WorldRabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi (z"l), the inspiration of the Jewish Renewal movement, is widely recognized as one of the most important Jewish spiritual teachers of our time. Professor at Temple University, he authored many books including Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; First Steps to a New Jewish Spirit: Reb Zalman's Guide to Recapturing the Intimacy & Ecstasy in Your Relationship with God (both Jewish Lights); From Age-ing to Sage-ing and Wrapped in a Holy Flame.

• Foreword ixPreface xviiIntroduction xixKey Philosophical Ideas xxxiiiCore Spiritual Practices xliii1. The Five Kinds of Humans 32. God, Wisdom, and Your Essential Nature 73. The Three Mothers: Wisdom, Reason, and Knowing 114. The Three Garments: Thought, Word, and Deed 135. Unity Beyond Thought 176. The Necessity of Opposites 217. Using the Body for Good 238. Using the Body for Evil 279. The Secret Yearning for the Good 3110. The Purpose of Transformation 3511. Redemption from Evil 3912. Bringing Light into the Darkness 4313. Internal Conflict 4714. Becoming an Inbetweener 4915. Serving God 5116. The Essential Task 5517. The Practice of Comprehension 5718. The Nature of Wisdom 6119. The Candle of God 6520. The Unchanging One 6921. God's Speech 7122. Other Gods 7323. Torah and God Are One 7524. The Interplay of Opposites 7725. Folly 7926. The Profit of Sadness 8127. Passive Restraint 8528. Distracting Thoughts 8929. A Dull Heart 9330. Cultivating Humility 9731. Working with Sadness 9932. Love Your Neighbor 10333. Attaining True Joy 10534 Generosity 10935. The Task of Self 11136. No High or Low in God 11337. Illuminating the World 11738. The Necessity of Intent 11939. Acting without Ulterior Motive 12140. Revealing the Hidden God 12541. Love and Awe 12942. Your Inner "Moses" 13343. Two Types of Awe 13744. Higher Grades of Love 13945. Compassion for God 14346. Way of Friendship 14747. Release from Bondage 14948. The Finite and the Infinite 15349. The Purpose of Creation 15550. Run and Return 15751. The Dwelling of God 16152. Perceiving the One 16353. The One Is within You 165Notes 167Glossary of Hebrew Terms 168Books Cited in Tanya 173Suggestions for Further Reading 177

"Rami Shapiro is one of the great Jewish spiritual teachers of our generation. This volume opens one of the all-time classics of Jewish spirituality for beginning students of all faiths. Through his poetic translations and paraphrases, he not only unlocks Tanya but also adds a classic of his own to our library of personal yearning."—Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Emanu-El Scholar, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco; author, The Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition and other books"A masterful unfolding of Tanya … paves a way for readers to find a path to God that is a 'returning through kindness.' I can't ever imagine teaching Tanya again without pointing toward this edition."—Reb Mimi Feigelson, mashpiah ruchanit (spiritual mentor); lecturer of Rabbinics, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University"With insight and nuance ... opens the mystical wisdom of Hasidism to spiritual seekers of all faiths. Both the translation and the commentary guide the reader to a transformed religious consciousness."—Dr. Eitan Fishbane, author, As Light Before Dawn: The Inner World of a Medieval Kabbalist

Rami Shapiro, a renowned teacher of spirituality across faith traditions, is an award-winning storyteller, poet and essayist. He is author of The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice, Recovery—The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice and The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature: Selections Annotated & Explained (all SkyLight Paths), among other books.Rami Shapiro is available to speak on the following topics:Writing—The Sacred Art: Beyond the Page to Spiritual PracticeStop Playing God: 12 Steps as Spiritual PracticeBiblical Wisdom for Post-biblical Times: An Exploration of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and JobThe Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Cultivating Compassion in Daily LifeHasidic Wisdom: An Exploration of Hasidic Storytelling, Theology and Contemplative PracticeSaints and Sages: Biblical Prophets, Ancient Rabbis and the Building of a Just WorldRabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi (z"l), the inspiration of the Jewish Renewal movement, is widely recognized as one of the most important Jewish spiritual teachers of our time. Professor at Temple University, he authored many books including Davening: A Guide to Meaningful Jewish Prayer, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; First Steps to a New Jewish Spirit: Reb Zalman's Guide to Recapturing the Intimacy & Ecstasy in Your Relationship with God (both Jewish Lights); From Age-ing to Sage-ing and Wrapped in a Holy Flame.

• Foreword ixPreface xviiIntroduction xixKey Philosophical Ideas xxxiiiCore Spiritual Practices xliii1. The Five Kinds of Humans 32. God, Wisdom, and Your Essential Nature 73. The Three Mothers: Wisdom, Reason, and Knowing 114. The Three Garments: Thought, Word, and Deed 135. Unity Beyond Thought 176. The Necessity of Opposites 217. Using the Body for Good 238. Using the Body for Evil 279. The Secret Yearning for the Good 3110. The Purpose of Transformation 3511. Redemption from Evil 3912. Bringing Light into the Darkness 4313. Internal Conflict 4714. Becoming an Inbetweener 4915. Serving God 5116. The Essential Task 5517. The Practice of Comprehension 5718. The Nature of Wisdom 6119. The Candle of God 6520. The Unchanging One 6921. God's Speech 7122. Other Gods 7323. Torah and God Are One 7524. The Interplay of Opposites 7725. Folly 7926. The Profit of Sadness 8127. Passive Restraint 8528. Distracting Thoughts 8929. A Dull Heart 9330. Cultivating Humility 9731. Working with Sadness 9932. Love Your Neighbor 10333. Attaining True Joy 10534 Generosity 10935. The Task of Self 11136. No High or Low in God 11337. Illuminating the World 11738. The Necessity of Intent 11939. Acting without Ulterior Motive 12140. Revealing the Hidden God 12541. Love and Awe 12942. Your Inner "Moses" 13343. Two Types of Awe 13744. Higher Grades of Love 13945. Compassion for God 14346. Way of Friendship 14747. Release from Bondage 14948. The Finite and the Infinite 15349. The Purpose of Creation 15550. Run and Return 15751. The Dwelling of God 16152. Perceiving the One 16353. The One Is within You 165Notes 167Glossary of Hebrew Terms 168Books Cited in Tanya 173Suggestions for Further Reading 177

"Rami Shapiro is one of the great Jewish spiritual teachers of our generation. This volume opens one of the all-time classics of Jewish spirituality for beginning students of all faiths. Through his poetic translations and paraphrases, he not only unlocks Tanya but also adds a classic of his own to our library of personal yearning."—Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Emanu-El Scholar, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco; author, The Way Into Jewish Mystical Tradition and other books"A masterful unfolding of Tanya … paves a way for readers to find a path to God that is a 'returning through kindness.' I can't ever imagine teaching Tanya again without pointing toward this edition."—Reb Mimi Feigelson, mashpiah ruchanit (spiritual mentor); lecturer of Rabbinics, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University"With insight and nuance ... opens the mystical wisdom of Hasidism to spiritual seekers of all faiths. Both the translation and the commentary guide the reader to a transformed religious consciousness."—Dr. Eitan Fishbane, author, As Light Before Dawn: The Inner World of a Medieval Kabbalist