eISBN: 9780814688304, E8830
How do you encounter the mystery of the other? This is the central question at the heart of spiritual direction and central to the human quest. Hineni—presence—is not an answer to the mystery but a response to the challenge. At a time when people on the edges of religion increasingly seek out spiritual direction as a way of confronting life's unanswerable questions, Hineni indicates a fundamental reality beyond labels. And in an age that seems to suffer from disconnection, Hineni indicates a way in.
A helpful resource for anyone interested in spirituality beyond easy answers or (in)convenient labels, Hineni: In Imitation of Abraham is a stark exploration of what it truly means to be present—to yourself, to the one before you, and to the one we call God.
Alisa Kasmir is a native New Yorker who lived in Chicago and London before settling in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. There, often with the help of her Labrador Pippa, she has long practiced spiritual companioning with individuals, groups, and at a senior rehab facility. Alisa holds a degree in spiritual direction from the Titus Brandsma Institute in Nijmegen and bachelor's and master's degrees from Northwestern University. Alisa was a classical singer and is the mother of two nearly grown sons.
eISBN: 9780814688304, E8830
"'I will not tell you how you should or could or ought or must respond hineni to the one before you. Rather, I offer a mirror for your own approach,' she says. Reading Kasmir may be for you, as it is for me, not just looking in the mirror, but going through the looking glass to a new adventure."
"Reading Alisa Kasmir's book felt like having a long and contemplative conversation with a close spiritual friend, while taking a long and restful walk alongside the seashore. It reads as a dialogue, seeking words for what it is, exactly: living a spiritual life and sharing this with others. Dogs pass by cheerfully, shaking off the salty water, awake in the moment.
"Kasmir crosses boundaries of Jewish and Christian traditions, and her account also resonates with traditions unmentioned, like the Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic.
"I highly recommend this pleasant, musical, and personal read both to those working in spiritual direction, as well as for spiritual practitioners looking to share and mirror their own experiences."