This paperback recounts Rodger Kamenetz's six-year quest to learn more about meditation, mysticism, and the Jewish renewal movement. After noting his susceptibility to Buddhism, the author of The Jew in the Lotus opens up the gateway to his inner life and his questions about God, pain, prayer, and service of others.

From Rebbe Zalman, he learns that "God is reality" and that he needs to "find your own risk." Next, he studies meditation with Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man in Los Angeles who helps him understand the importance of working with the negative. Three of his disciples encourage Kamenetz to see pain as a door, to cherish blessing prayers, and to practice humility. The author's next tutorial is under Arthur Green, a professor of Jewish thought at Brandeis University. They discuss the challenges facing the Jewish reform movement and the use of meditation as a way of opening the heart.

In the final chapter, Kamenetz gives a seder for a Tibetan monk and glimpses the presence of Elijah, the pioneer of hope. This excellent work demonstrates three of the most important elements of the spiritual renaissance of our time: the probing of one's own religious tradition, the exploration of ancient wisdom traditions, and the emphasis upon spiritual practice over belief systems.