Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz
Aramaic Scholar & Mystic
About Dr. Douglas-Klotz
Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz is a world-renowned scholar, author, and spiritual teacher whose work bridges the ancient Aramaic language of Jesus with contemporary spirituality. His translations of the Aramaic words of Jesus — particularly the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes — reveal layers of meaning that have been obscured by centuries of Greek and Latin translation.
A pioneer in the field of Aramaic spirituality, Douglas-Klotz draws on the living Sufi mystical tradition, body-centered prayer, and the deep ecology of the Semitic languages to offer a radically different reading of Jesus’ teachings. His approach invites us to experience the words of Jesus not as abstract theology, but as embodied, practical wisdom for everyday life.
He is the founder of the Abwoon Study Circle and the Abwoon Network, international communities dedicated to exploring the Aramaic roots of the Abrahamic traditions. The word abwoon — the opening word of the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic — means “O Breathing Life” or “O Parent of the Cosmos,” a translation that transforms the prayer from a petition to a participation in the sacred breath of creation.
Douglas-Klotz studied at the University of Edinburgh and has taught at universities, retreat centers, and spiritual communities around the world. He is a senior teacher in the Sufi Ruhaniat International lineage.
Selected Works & Resources
- Prayers of the Cosmos — Meditations on the Aramaic words of Jesus, including the Lord’s Prayer and Beatitudes
- The Hidden Gospel — Decoding the spiritual message of the Aramaic Jesus
- Desert Wisdom — Sacred Middle Eastern writings from the Goddess through the Sufis
- Blessings of the Cosmos — Wisdom of the Aramaic Jesus
The Abwoon Network
Dr. Douglas-Klotz’s community, the Abwoon Network, offers retreats, courses, and resources for those seeking to explore the Aramaic roots of the Lord’s Prayer and the teachings of Jesus in their original linguistic and cultural context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Abwoon” mean?
“Abwoon” is the opening word of the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic. Douglas-Klotz translates it as “O Breathing Life” or “O Parent of the Cosmos” — a rendering that reveals the prayer as an invocation of the sacred breath that animates all creation, rather than a petition to a distant father figure.
How does his approach differ from other Aramaic scholars?
While scholars like Dr. George Lamsa and Dr. Rocco Errico focus on textual and linguistic accuracy, Douglas-Klotz brings a body-centered, mystical approach rooted in the Sufi tradition. He emphasizes that Aramaic words carry multiple simultaneous meanings — cosmic, communal, and personal — and that the full depth of Jesus’ teachings can only be accessed by holding all these meanings at once.
What is the Abwoon Study Circle?
The Abwoon Study Circle is an international community founded by Dr. Douglas-Klotz for those exploring the Aramaic roots of the Abrahamic traditions through body prayer, chant, and contemplative practice. It draws together Christians, Sufis, and seekers from many traditions.
b’shlama · b’shalom · salam
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