What is Kabbalah?
When most people today speak of Kabbalah they usually refer to Jewish Mysticism. Wikipedia defines it as:
“Kabbalah (Hebrew: קַבָּלָה, lit. “receiving”) is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. It is a set of esoteric teachings meant to define the inner meaning of both the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and traditional Rabbinic literature, as well as to explain the significance of Jewish religious observances.”
For me Kabbalah is much more than mystical Judaism. Although it is a Hebrew word and it is usually used to refer to a teaching firmly set in Judaism, it is a word that refers to a process very much present in the Christian Spirituality as well. Kabbalah is a Hebrew word that literally means ‘Receiving’. Kabbalah can therefore refer to the process of ‘receiving’ something from someone. Kabbalah can be regarded as the process of receiving some sort of personal (often mystical) teaching from a teacher. This teaching is usually very personal and is not shared widely in the public. The image often associated with Kabbalah is that of a teacher whispering some mystical teaching in the ear of his disciple. It is therefore commonly accepted that this process if receiving is a very personal process. It takes place within a close relationship. Jesus’ personal teaching to his disciples can therefore also be considered a form of ‘Kabbalah’.
Another way in which Kabbalah can be understood is as the ‘receiving’ of a mystical revelation from God or the Beloved. When the Beloved whispers a revelation in our ear, while we are wrapped in his warm embrace through mystical union, this too can be considered Kabbalah. Kabballah is therefore a process of ‘receiving’ resulting from a close and intimate relationship with God and Christ. True Kabbalah can only take place within a living and real relationship between two friends, or between God and man. It is a natural process that emanates from intimate relationship between two beings.
If Kabbalah is understood in this way we can see that it is closely related, if not identical to the Greek concept of Gnosis. Wikipedia defines Gnosis as:
“…, ‘A knowledge of spiritual mysteries.’ …The term being Koine Greek has, nonetheless, a much broader application than being exclusive to any sectarian group or groups. In Byzantine and Hellenic cultures gnosis is a special knowledge or insight of the supernatural,[2] in some sense mature understanding or knowledge.[3] It refers to the knowledge that comes from experience rather than from rational or reasoned thinking. Knowledge as in revelation and or intuitive knowledge…”
Over the coming weeks I will be posting some of my thoughts on Kabbalah and the role it can play within a balanced life. I hope all the readers out there will join in the discussion.
In my next post I will start by sharing some of my ideas about how Jewish Kabbalah can aid a Christian Mystic to build a living relationship with the ‘Beloved’ or Christ.
Have a great day.
A.V.O
