Words of Light : Spiritual Wisdom from the Dead Sea Scrolls

by Hanson, Kenneth, Ph.D.

• ISBN13: 9781571780904
• ISBN10: 1571780904
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-03-01
• Publisher: Council Oaks Distribution

Summary

More than two thousand years ago a dedicated group of religious visionaries - the Essenes or "Sons of Light" - fled the opulence of Jerusalem and sequestered themselves in a desert stronghold at Qumran to forge a purer, more spiritual way of life. The Dead Sea Scrolls that they transcribed and secreted away in limestone caves would lie hidden until their sensational discovery in 1947. Words of Light reconstructs the daily lives of the Essenes, for whom every act was a form of spiritual discipline. Culling from his own translations of the most evocative passages from the scroll texts, as well as drawing on historical accounts and recent archaeology, Hebrew scholar Dr. Ken Hanson has created a little book of desert virtues - and a handbook of spiritual living for contemporary readers. Words of Light shows how we may share in the timeless vision of the Sons of Light, with its emphasis on community, simplicity, learning and perseverance, to achieve spiritual wealth, contentment and serenity.

Author Biography

Kenneth Hanson currently teaches Jewish history at the University of Central Floriday, religion and philosophy at Rollins College, and lectures widely on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Kabbalah.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Simplicity	p. 8
Encountering the Eternal
Community	p. 27
Tapestry of the Living
Vision	p. 48
Ordering the Mind
Labor	p. 71
Conquest of the Self
Time	p. 89
Cease to Be Whirled Around
Learning	p. 111
Sanctuaries of Wonder
Perseverance	p. 138
The Steadfast Soul
Silence and Right Speech	p. 157
The Flute of My Lips
Manna	p. 178
The Sacramental Meal
Abundance	p. 198
Simple Perfection
Notes	p. 219
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