If you want to be singled out in the world
so that the secrets of the world and the mysteries of wisdom should be revealed to you,
study this Mishnah and be careful about it until the day of your passing.
Do not try to understand what comes after you,
but do investigate the words of your lips.
You should try to understand what is in your heart and be silent,
so that you will be worthy of the beauty of the Merkavah.
Hekhalot Zutarti, section 335
6 comments:
Thanks, those are beautiful thoughts.
I was introduced to merkavah/qabbalah by means of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Manachem Schneerson and the musings of Talmudist Adin Steinsaltz, and found them to be mentally challenging and stimulating.
Which is by no means to say that I comprehend it all, but it presents a fascinating journey.
Cool! I thought you were only going to include Gnostic works, but this is a good passage from Hekhalot Zutarti.
Anything beyond the canon!
"Do not try to understand what comes after you,
but do investigate the words of your lips.
You should try to understand what is in your heart and be silent."
Indeed, Dr. D, though I thought I might find a kindred spirit with regard to mystical experiences (though not my objective for being here), I realize as the text suggests (though certainly not that you were singling me out), perhaps this is not the place.
The pinnacle of the mystic's journey is silence. This is found in the Hermetic literature, Gnostic literature, and Jewish mystical literature. It is a return to the beginning before God spoke.
"The pinnacle of the mystic's journey is silence. This is found in the Hermetic literature, Gnostic literature, and Jewish mystical literature. It is a return to the beginning before God spoke."
Amen, Dr. D.
I appreciate that!
But to be honest, you've opened up a whole other can of worms :-).
So, if you have time, can you say something about the meaning of the following:
"Silence?"...because though Jesus was much more than a mystic, he was certainly more outspoken than he was silent?
And one more IF you have time...
What does this mean:
"It is a return to the beginning before God spoke."
Ok, there was silence, "before God spoke," no?, but what kind of silence? And why silence? And is this "God" who spoke a Supreme Being(s) (similar but obviously far superior to us) (in your humble opinion) who could not help but "speak," seeing as he/she/they broke his/her/their silence as they spoke through the various holy people throughout the ages?
Well, if you have time, and I respectfully don't figure you to have all the answers, but you definitely know your stuff and then some, if you'll pardon my expression. I mean to pick (and translate!) passages from ancient (sacred?) texts as easily as one can pick and read passages from the Bible...that's some serious studying which is certainly no news to you or any of your compadres, I'm sure!
Anyways, thanks, Dr. D!
I appreciate your site!
And I hope you don't mind a novice like me expressing my thoughts and questions about the things you post.
PS. If you choose to be silent concerning my questions...
I understand :-).
Post a Comment