Kabbalah notes -II

Meditation on Hebrew letters (for example Alef, Bet).

Seder Hishtalshelut – the process and way of divine energy (Light) descending from higher worlds (planes) to the lower ones, to be manifested in the physical world.

Kabalah Maasit (Practical Qabbalah) – includes incantations of divine names, inscriptions of names on amulets. (this practices should be avoided from all individuals, who are not spiritually fit or high)

Another important text is Jewish tractate Hagigah.

Medieval scholars of Kabbalah – Nahmanides –(Ramban) 1194-1270

(famous for commentaries on Torah).

~ Bahia ben Asher (the Rabbeinu Behaye)

~ Isaac the Blind (1160- 1235)

~ Adam Rishon – the collective consciousness, soul

Sephirot ~

Sephirot (pl) form of Sephira (sg) are the ten emanations (attributes) of God. Sephirots are 10 channels of infinite divine creative life force (consciousness) thought which the concealed Divine essence is revealed to mankind.

1. Keter (Crown) – essence of divine supreme Will

2. Chohma – Wisdom (in the zone of conscious intellect)

3. Binah – Understanding (in the zone of conscious intellect)

4. Chesed – Kindness (in zone of Primary emotions)

5. Geburah – Severity (Power) – (in zone of Primary emotions)

6. Tiferet – Beauty – in the zone of Primary emotion)

7. Netzah – Victory – in the zone of secondary emotions

8. Hod – Splendor – (Surrender) – in the zone of secondary emotions

9. Yesod – Foundation – in the zone of secondary emotions

10. Malchut – Kingship – vessel to bring action of masculine

There is one additional sephira between the group of Ghohma and Binah – Daat – knowledge;

History and scholars ~

    Kabbalah is believed to have very ancient origins, from the time of Moses. It was actually revealed to him on a mount Sinai, together with the ten commandments from Elohim. Some suggest that there is connection between these commandments and 10 sephirot from tree of Life. The Idea of Kabbalah in this way is completely infused with books of Torah and Judaism.

Kabbalah started its contemporary appearance since 13^th century, when was revealed the book “Zohar” contributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. He lived in the ear after destruction of the Second Jewish temple – 70 year BC.

Ein Sof ~

Ein Sof is a central concept in Kabbalah referring to the Endless, infinite source, God creator. Its derived from Ein – nothing, no, Sof –limitation.

Ohr Ein Sof – infinite Light

In Zohar is explained how the God created the universes before the process of creation. “He was alone, without form and without resemblance of anything else. Who then can comprehend how he was before the creation?” … “But after he created the form of the Heavenly Man, He used him as a chariot wherein to descend, and he wishes to be called after his form, which is the sacred name YHWH.”

In this view Ein Sof is seen as “nameless God”, that transcend the mind and efforts to be comprehended.

Gershom Sholem explains that Ein Sof (infinite Source) is emanation of the ten sephirot. The process of creation started before the time with “Ayin” – nothing.

Then it came “Ein Sof” – endless, unlimited source

Then it came “Ohr Ein Sof” – infinite Light

Then it came the “Tzimtzum” – contraction of Light

What is Tzimtzum?

Tzumtzum explains how the worlds were created by Ein Sof. There was a contraction of the infinite Light, so that empty space occurs. In this empty space the creation could expand (the worlds) then the spiritual world was created and his physical manifestation. Free will of existing worlds was important aspect, as then the worlds started to live by “themselves” in the space-time. Olam (the world) is concealed, that means the spiritual realms are always hidden from the physical realm.

It is described that Ein Sof – infinite God – existed alone, when his will arose to create the worlds. Then he contracted himself in the center of His light. He restricted this light to fill the periphery of the central space, that became a vacuum, void, hollow space. This space was also away from the central point, where was the Ein Sof. This space was like white sheet on which to be written the new creation (olams).

After the Tzimtzum:

“He drew down from the Ohr Ein Sof (Light of infinite) a single straight line of light, from his light, surrounding the void from above to below, and it chained down descending into that void. In the space of that void, He emanated, created, formed and made the worlds.”

[ from Etz Chaim “Arizal” ] 

nina Lea-nour *