Path: typhoon.sonic.net!feed.news.sonic.net!newsfeed.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp!newsfeed1.cidera.com!Cidera!newsfeed.cwix.com!feed2.news.rcn.net!rcn!newsfeed1.earthlink.net!newsfeed.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.earthlink.net!newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net.POSTED!not-for-mail Reply-To: "Casey Sheldon" From: "Casey Sheldon" Newsgroups: alt.magick References: <3caaec21.3089625@trialnews.peoplepc.com> <3caa6fac.36769892@trialnews.peoplepc.com> <01c1db7a$04ab1ae0$d8865f18@federalist> <3cabc7b9.35167250@trialnews.peoplepc.com> <361f09a8.0204041158.28dc210a@posting.google.com> <3cade518.1868978@trialnews.peoplepc.com> <361f09a8.0204051502.3224145c@posting.google.com> <3cae3f17.24910674@trialnews.peoplepc.com> <361f09a8.0204081036.36c2606a@posting.google.com> <3cb3424f.5875621@trialnews.peoplepc.com> <361f09a8.0204091102.6f44961@posting.google.com> Subject: Re: Kelippot in Jewish Qabala (was Re: Beg. Enoch) Lines: 87 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 Message-ID: Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 08:20:24 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 216.224.160.105 X-Complaints-To: abuse@earthlink.net X-Trace: newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net 1018426824 216.224.160.105 (Wed, 10 Apr 2002 01:20:24 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 01:20:24 PDT Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net Xref: typhoon.sonic.net alt.magick:296988 > Kaplan and Scholem's interpretations do not correspond with eachother. I don't see the differences, could you provide examples? Meditation and Kabbalah, p. 40, an excerpt written by Chaim Vital "From then on, people only made use of techniques involving the universe of Asiyah. Since this is the lowest of the universes, its angels have only a little good, and are mostly evil. Besides this, this is a level where good and evil are closely intertwined [and it is very difficult to separate them]. This does not bring any enlightenment, since it is impossible to perceive good alone, and one's perception is therefore a combination of good and evil, truth and falsehood. This is the significance of the Practical Kabbalah. It is forbidden to make use of it, since evil necessarily attaches itself to the good. One may actually intend to cleanse his soul, but as a result of the evil, he actually defiles it. Even if one does gain some perception it is truth intermingled with falsehood. This is especially true today, since the ashes of the Red Heifer no longer exist. [Since one cannot purify himself,] the uncleanliness of the Husks attaches itself to the individual who attempts to gain enlightenment through the Practical Kabbalah. Therefore, "he who watches his soul should keep far from them." For besides polluting his soul, he will also be punished in purgatory (Gehinom). We also have a tradition that such an individual will be punished in this world." "Uncleanliness of the Husks" seems to be equated with the evil mentioned in the previous paragraph. Meditation and Kabbalah, p. 286, an excerpt written by the Baal Shem Tov "When an extraneous thought comes to you, this is a sign that you are being cast out. But if you are wise, you can use that thought itself to bind yourself to God all the more. The thought consists of letters that are part of the Divine Presence's body, but they fell as a result of the Breaking [of the Vessels]. The combination of these letters therefore becomes bad, intermingled with the Husks. This is like sweetmeats intermingled with other things. Each thing is good by itself, but mixed together they are vile and disgusting. This likewise becomes evil." The intermixture of the Divine Presence and the Husks is said to become evil. Meditation and Kabbalah, p. 291, an excerpt written by the Baal Shem Tov "When you wish to attach your thoughts to the Creator in the supernal worlds, the [Evil] Husks (K'lipot) do not allow you." [Evil] added by Kaplan. I only note this, because he consistently adds the word evil to the word Husks and the word K'lipot. Okay, one more point I'd like to mention here, though. What about Sefer Yetsirah? Many have said that it, too is full of Gnostic influences, which I might add are not all similar to Xtianity, and yet, do we simply discard a useful tool of undoubtable Kabbalistic importance? SY was Abulafia's first training manual, so should we throw out good ole' Raziel??? Scholem was a Kabbalistic scholar of the highest order. Assert that he is a tainted source if you will, but I'm not buying it without some citations from other Jewish Mystics. Kaplan states in his commentary to the Sefer Yetsirah that on the level of Chokmah we must learn from evil. However, he also states that on this level, one loses individuality. I think this is more than the ego loss that many struggle to attain. This is loss of any sort of identity, and it is only at this level that one can see through the division between good and evil. He even says that this is above the Understanding which is associated with the Neshamah. So, good and evil don't exist, but only to people who've already gone the way of Enoch and Elijah. To the rest of us, evil is still here. -- Casey Sheldon "If it is at night, light many candles, so that your eyes are well illuminated... Then begin to permute a number of letters. You may use only a few, or you may use many. Transpose and permute them quickly, until your heart is warmed as a result of these permutations, their motions, and what is derived from these permutations. As a result of these permutations, your heart will become extremely warm. From the permutations you will gain new knowledge that you never learned from human traditions nor derived from intellectual analysis. When you experience this, you are prepared to receive the influx." - Abraham Abulafia, Life of the Future World