History of Kabbalah

[sephir]

I only beg to differ when you said that kabbalistic writings are not esoteric. Kabbalah is completely esoteric knowledge immersed in mathematics, geometry, numerology and other philosphical areas. Or maybe our definitions of what is esoteric are different.

Hello. Well, I'm a kabbalist for many years, hence I allowed myself to emphasize that what I've been learning is probably not the same you might have heard about. You are right saying that there is something like "esoteric kabbalah", however it's not kabbalah itself. I don't really like to talk about history (since it's unverifiable), but I belive the following is the most accurate version :

Kabbalah, as a precise science, was born in Babilon 5000 years ago, and by this time, it has been entirely hidden. Since genuine kabbalistic sources are written using a special language code (called the language of branches), they were impossible to understand, regardless of access to books written by kabbalists, hence the books themselves haven't been hidden at all - by this day they are available in numerous religious stores. XI century is a period of growing interest in Kabbalah. Many of kabbalistic ideas, symbols, terminology etc. were adapted as inspiration for philosophy, art, magic, esoteric, science, thus developing completely new currents having nothing to do with Kabbalah itself. The "esoteric Kabbalah" is coming from this period, and apart from adapted kabbalistic terminology and charts, there is nothing common with Kabbalah.

There are very few sources considered to be a genuine kabbalistic works. All of them are written using the code I mentioned, and they make no sense at all without knowing one, even if reader perfectly knows ancient Hebrew and Aramit. There were many attepts to figure out what those books are about, but the result was obvious. Hence, today very few people have any idea what genuine Kabbalah is, and all the speculations are mainly based on what is coming from the Middle Age.

[tehuti]

Hello. Well, I'm a kabbalist for many years, hence I allowed myself to emphasize that what I've been learning is probably not the same you might have heard about. You are right saying that there is something like "esoteric kabbalah", however it's not kabbalah itself. I don't really like to talk about history (since it's unverifiable), but I belive the following is the most accurate version :

Kabbalah, as a precise science, was born in Babilon 5000 years ago, and by this time, it has been entirely hidden. Since genuine kabbalistic sources are written using a special language code (called the language of branches), they were impossible to understand, regardless of access to books written by kabbalists, hence the books themselves haven't been hidden at all - by this day they are available in numerous religious stores. XI century is a period of growing interest in Kabbalah. Many of kabbalistic ideas, symbols, terminology etc. were adapted as inspiration for philosophy, art, magic, esoteric, science, thus developing completely new currents having nothing to do with Kabbalah itself. The "esoteric Kabbalah" is coming from this period, and apart from adapted kabbalistic terminology and charts, there is nothing common with Kabbalah.

There are very few sources considered to be a genuine kabbalistic works. All of them are written using the code I mentioned, and they make no sense at all without knowing one, even if reader perfectly knows ancient Hebrew and Aramit. There were many attepts to figure out what those books are about, but the result was obvious. Hence, today very few people have any idea what genuine Kabbalah is, and all the speculations are mainly based on what is coming from the Middle Age.

I am aware that we today have many "kabbalistic" lineages which are later inventions or modifications, hermetic Kabbalah and all other forms are simply revised (or by some pulverized) for usage nowadays. The original doctrines and tenets of Kabbalah are either lost to the majority of modern mystery schools, or kept locked into the Vaults of Inner Orders.

By "esoteric" I mean the cryptic nature of spiritual/philosophic/scientific knowledge which tend to reveal itself only to those with greater understanding. All real spiritual secrets are veiled in allegory and devised into symbols, concepts and paradigms. This is esoteric. Contrary to esoteric , also exists exoteric knowledge which is only a literal interpretation of the symbols, myths and legends without a Key of intellectual/spiritual understanding.

Do you have any resources, websites or literature on early Kabbalah except Sepher Yetzirah or Zohar? I would be greatful to you. I am only a begginer.

[sephir]

By "esoteric" I mean the cryptic nature of spiritual/philosophic/scientific knowledge which tend to reveal itself only to those with greater understanding.

My understanding is that Kabbalah is both :
1) a precise science describing in detail the forces governing the world we perceive through 5 senses.
2) an exact method of development an additional sense allowing us to clearly perceive and investigate those forces in scientific way.

Kabbalah has nothing to do with philosophy, religion, God and spirituality whatsoever. It's just a science, like physics. Kabbalists say : what cannot be attained, cannot be named - it means, that all the upper mechanisms and dynamics governing the physical world have been revealed in scietific way using an additional sense. I realize how ridiculous it sounds, but it's truth - kabbalists investigate the upper forces using additional sense of percetion, as physicists investigate the forces of physical world using physical senses.

Do you have any resources, websites or literature on early Kabbalah except Sepher Yetzirah or Zohar? I would be greatful to you. I am only a begginer.

There are two significant problems when it comes to studying genuine sources of Kabbalah.

1) Hebrew is really necessary, as well as Aramit if you want to study Zohar. If you ask me about studying translated materials, I will say : it makes no sense. There are kabbalistic schools that claim it works, but the results indicate otherwise. Don't get me wrong, there is no magical power in the letters, but Hebrew is indeed a very special language, invented by kabbalists (basing on Aramit). Believe me, they had a serious reason to invent a new language for describing their descoveries. If they had spoken English, they would have inveted Hebrew anyway. It's a mistake to disregard the importance of Hebrew when it comes to studying Kabbalah.
2) Knowledge of the Language of Branches, which is learnt by word of mouth. As far I know, it hasn't been written down at all. To understand the basics I suggest you to study Talmut Eser ha Sfirot (6 volumes), but when it comes to reality, it's a good idea to find a genuine Kabbalist as a teacher.

I do not have any web resources to share, but I suppose you would be able to find some english translation of Talmut Eser ha Sfirot in the internet. Reading at least the first volume will give you some clue how the genuine sources look like.

[Celtaur]

I'm a "absolute beginner" in learning about Qabalah and have little input on the topic but I'm greatly enjoying this conversation. Thank you for giving me things to consider and think about.

[tehuti]

My understanding is that Kabbalah is both :
1) a precise science describing in detail the forces governing the world we perceive through 5 senses.
2) an exact method of development an additional sense allowing us to clearly perceive and investigate those forces in scientific way.

Kabbalah has nothing to do with philosophy, religion, God and spirituality whatsoever. It's just a science, like physics. Kabbalists say : what cannot be attained, cannot be named - it means, that all the upper mechanisms and dynamics governing the physical world have been revealed in scietific way using an additional sense. I realize how ridiculous it sounds, but it's truth - kabbalists investigate the upper forces using additional sense of percetion, as physicists investigate the forces of physical world using physical senses.



There are two significant problems when it comes to studying genuine sources of Kabbalah.

1) Hebrew is really necessary, as well as Aramit if you want to study Zohar. If you ask me about studying translated materials, I will say : it makes no sense. There are kabbalistic schools that claim it works, but the results indicate otherwise.
2) Knowledge of the Language of Branches, which is learnt by word of mouth. As far I know, it hasn't been written down at all. To understand the basics I suggest you to study Talmut Eser ha Sfirot (6 volumes), but when it comes to reality, it's a good idea to find a genuine Kabbalist as a teacher.

I do not have any web resources to share, but I suppose you would be able to find some english translation of Talmut Eser ha Sfirot in the internet. Reading at least the first volume will give you some clue how the genuine sources look like.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, Kabbalah and all their offshoots are indeed using scientific methods in determining the reality as we perceive it. I never thought of Kabbalah as religion or some organized philosophy school.

Regarding the knowledge of Hebrew, I know very few words which are constantly repeating in Gematria correspondences, only very crude basics, I'm afraid.

So far, my knowledge is entirely based on hermetical Kabbalah as thought in modern hermetical way (OTO, Golden Dawn,...) and some correspondences with Tarot, astrology and sacred geometry. I find it to very eclectic and comparative study. I don't rely entirely on official explanations given by some modern occultists. I use the method of filtration when drawing conclusions or at least when absorbing the information.

I was also directed by some guy on croatian forum to delve more in Michael Laitman material. He said that his teachings are genuine Kabbalah revealed for the first time after centuries of hidden circulation. I was frustrated then when I realized how much I'm in ignorance and confusion about lineages and genuine tenets/doctrines. I am still confused now, but from the time I first saw Tree of Life, I grew much courageous and self-dependent, but I'm still in the stage of infancy when compared to you or other more advanced individuals. I'm not initiated in any system of teachings.

This is not so frustrating for me as it sounds, but I still didn't found one particular path/tradition to follow with consistency. So, I rather study that which is available to me at the present moment (more scholar approach).

I found some translations of the Talmut Eser ha Sfirot on the web, but I also need Hebrew spellings to be able to study Gematria from it. This translation unfortunately lacks Hebrew characters.

According to your opinion, does hermetic Kabbalah seriously corrupts the nature of original teaching or is it contains many tenets which are universal? Is it due to the ecclesiastical manipulation or misinterpretation of initiates? Or both?

I just like to hear some opinions from more advanced and mature person on the Path.

[sephir]

I don't rely entirely on official explanations given by some modern occultists. I use the method of filtration when drawing conclusions or at least when absorbing the information.

It's a good attitude to study kabbalah, since kabbalah gives you a possibility to believe nothing and check everything out on your own. This is why kabbalah students are usually atheists rejecting any authority and belief system.

I was also directed by some guy on croatian forum to delve more in Michael Laitman material.

I'm well acquainted with the school established by Michael Laitman. This is indeed a good source of theoretical knowledge. However, Michael Laitman is not going to reveal kabbalistic method allowing one to acquire that addition sense I mentioned before. Among his numerous students nobody crossed machsom (hebr. "a boarder" dividing our perception from upper information). Without knowing the method that cause a clear perception of non-physical forces, Kabbalah turns into phylosophy, purely theoretical study.

It's written in the introduction to Talmud Eser ha Sfirot, that XX century begins a long period of dissemination of Kabbalah. However, dissimination itself doesn't not include the mothod. The method is supposed to remain carefully hidden. These are the words of Bhaal ha Sulam. Michael Laitman is indeed a genuine Kabbalist, a student of the son of Bhaal ha Sulam, and he knows undoubtedly what he's doing. But I'm positive his teachings are not going to lead one to practical side of Kabbalah. However it's a good source to find some purely theoretical knowledge.

This is not so frustrating for me as it sounds, but I still didn't found one particular path/tradition to follow with consistency.

I doubt there is one genuine path. Apart from Kabbalah I devoted about 11 years to check out everything what I could to find out more about the world I live in. Kabbalah provides entire knowledge through experience what is beyond our 5 senses - it allows one to sense the world regardless of physical senses, hence beyond time, space, form. The world beyond physical illusion created by 5 senses consists of forces, that's all. However, esoteric paths provide a great opportunity to investigate the world on a little lower lever, within physical manifestations.

I found some translations of the Talmut Eser ha Sfirot on the web, but I also need Hebrew spellings to be able to study Gematria from it. This translation unfortunately lacks Hebrew characters.

I suggest you to read the translation anyway, so that you can realize how special genuine kabbalistic sources are. You'll notice, the text refers to something completely unknown, what has nothing to do with all we might know. Your attempt to read such a text will help you to determine whether Kabbalah is something you might be interested in, or not.

According to your opinion, does hermetic Kabbalah seriously corrupts the nature of original teaching or is it contains many tenets which are universal? Is it due to the ecclesiastical manipulation or misinterpretation of initiates? Or both?

Hermetic Kabbalah has nothing to do with the genuine one. There is only one difference. Hermetic Kabbalah (as everything else) is about physical world. It might seem otherwise, but in fact, it's a pure truth when compared with genuine Kabbalah, that allows one to truly enter into non-physical area. There is no way to tell something about that area, because it cannot be imagined and compared with anything we know from physical senses. This is why kabbalists created a new language (Hebrew) to describe and compare their discoveries.

In other words, there is nothing physical (except the books) in genuine Kabbalah. There is no physical nor mental practices, and there is no physical or mental discoveries. There is no word to be found in kabbalistic books refering to physical world. To sum it up, if you know and understand what the author is talking about, it cannot be genuine Kabbalah.

[Haruth]

This is why kabbalists created a new language (Hebrew) to describe and compare their discoveries.

I have no idea why, but this single statement has been a real light bulb moment.

Thanks Sephir.

<~~~~~~now just got to find out what it is meant to be illuminating...

Namaste

[tehuti]

Hermetic Kabbalah has nothing to do with the genuine one. There is only one difference. Hermetic Kabbalah (as everything else) is about physical world. It might seem otherwise, but in fact, it's a pure truth when compared with genuine Kabbalah, that allows one to truly enter into non-physical area. There is no way to tell something about that area, because it cannot be imagined and compared with anything we know from physical senses. This is why kabbalists created a new language (Hebrew) to describe and compare their discoveries.

In other words, there is nothing physical (except the books) in genuine Kabbalah. There is no physical nor mental practices, and there is no physical or mental discoveries. There is no word to be found in kabbalistic books refering to physical world. To sum it up, if you know and understand what the author is talking about, it cannot be genuine Kabbalah.

Thanks for literature recommendation. I was told pretty exactly the same about genuine Kabbalah being solely about spiritual worlds.

But one contradiction arises in ones rational mind, is that everything that has source in spiritual has to be manifested in material. The mirroring, as above so below, the leading principle of hermetism.

This would mean that both microcosmos and macrocosmos have the same nature, but they are in different in dynamics.

How are we to understand the Whole if we try to dismiss physical or microcosmical (human) levels? How are we to understand our subtle anatomy and placement in greater Order of things?

In hermetic Kabbalah there is a teaching about descending the Tree of Life (Flash of the Lightning/Sword) and ascending the Tree (Path of the Serpent). In teachings of theurgic ritual magick, the emphasis is given to the both modalities and principles.

I noticed that some Hebrew Kabbalists do their Middle Pillar meditation with visualization of Light ascending the Tree. The vibrate the Word at each Sephiroth.

Contrary to that technique, hermetic Kabbalists lead the Light through all Sephiroths downwards. I also used the same technique called the Middle Pillar Ritual in Golden Dawn fashion.

Have you any previous knowledge about this?

[sephir]

These are all profound and interesting issues you brought up. I suppose it's impossible to fully answer them on forum due to the lack of time, but here is some comment regarding the following :

But one contradiction arises in ones rational mind, is that everything that has source in spiritual has to be manifested in material. The mirroring, as above so below, the leading principle of hermetism.

This principle is undoubtedly coming from Kabbalah, however it's much more complex statement than it seems to be. Well, we got used to juggling such words as "spiritual", "physical", "worlds" etc, being sure we all understand each other. However in Kabbalah each word has as precise meaning as possible.

First of all, there is no something like "objective external world" (either physical or spiritual) in kabbalistic understanding at all. By "world" kabbalists mean the spectrum of inner Human's qualities, since the subjective illusion of external reality is created by inner dynamics. There is nothing outside except forces influencing our perception. The reality we perceive is the projection of inner qualities interracting with the forces beyond on similarity basis (nowadays, this ancient understanding is shared by contemporary physics). The perception dynamics are simple - we are capable to perceive things according to similarity of qualities. For example, we "hear" sounds thanks to capacity of ear to simulate the external vibration - in fact we don't sense external sounds, and we have no idea what's going on beyond our senses. All we can do is to sense our subjective reaction to unknown external information. All senses work the same way. Hence :

Physical World is a lowest measure of similarity with external forces. In fact, by physical world kabbalists mean a complete lack of similarity, thus, lack of perception of external forces. Being in this state, we perceive (still in subjective way) the results caused by external forces.

Spiritual World is a state of similarity to external forces, that allows one to clearly sense them, regardless of physical perception. This is why it's written : "Kabbalists live in two worlds".

Now we can go ahead with understanding "mirroring principle". Please note, it's not said that above and below are equal. They are utterly opposite. I'm honestly afraid to use the terminology that can be easily missunderstood, but I'll try : the Spiritual World is a spectrum of altruistic qualities, and the Physical one is fully egoistic. I'd like to emphasize, that the words "egoistic" and "altruistic" refer rather to scientific understanding of electrical charge (plus and minus) - it's by NO MEANS about being "good" or "bad". Our inner qualities are fully egoistic, this is why we are opposite to the spiritual World, and we are not capable to perceive it.

Kabbalists revealed that there are only altruistic forces surrounding us, so they are totally opposite to our inner inborn qualities, causing thus contrary perception. Once kabbalist developed some mesure of similarity to surrounding forces, he becomes capable of clear perception of external reality while still observing the world "below". Thus kabbalists observe in paralel the forces governing the physical events, and physical events themselves. What is worth to emphasize, both levels are indeed opposite. The upper level is considered to be level of roots causing the results on lower lever (branches). Hence the special language code used by kabbalists is named "the language of branches", which connects the results with their roots.

[tehuti]

I agree with all that you said, but I failed to say earlier that I don't see comparison of higher with lower in such simplistic way (there are many levels of Reality). The mirroring is actually the hermetic principle of polarity, as explained in Kybalion and Corpus Hermeticum. The REAL duality/polarity cannot exist since all is One and all resides within the Absolute (well, this is only true when we see reality from absolute angle with no concept of division). And I also agree on subjectivity being our practical guide in this level of reality. The objective perspective is ideal and goal, at least in illusion (we are already part of the Absolute).

We see only the fraction, a small fragment of Creative Mind being disguised as a matter, the lowest vibration of Spirit.