Part 18 (1/2)

CHAPTER 22 A LAST SECRET.

p. 273 Other scholars have speculated Other scholars have speculated Earlier writers on Gnosticism a.s.sociated Earlier writers on Gnosticism a.s.sociated the movement with Christianity, but Gershom Scholem argued for a Jewish origin to the teachings. Many scholars have seen a Buddhist influence on Gnostic teachings. An early article is J. Kennedy's ”Buddhist Gnosticism: the System of Basilides,” J.R.A.S. J.R.A.S., 377ff. The Buddhist scholar Edward Conze writes, ”It seems to me remarkable that during the same period of time-i.e., from ca. 200 B.C. onwards-two distinct civilizations, one in the Mediterranean, the other in India, should have constructed a closely a.n.a.logous set of ideas concerning 'Wisdom,' each one apparently independently from its own cultural antecedents.” He notes several similarities between ”Chochma and Sophia on the one side and the Prajnaparamita on the other.” See Conze, B.C. onwards-two distinct civilizations, one in the Mediterranean, the other in India, should have constructed a closely a.n.a.logous set of ideas concerning 'Wisdom,' each one apparently independently from its own cultural antecedents.” He notes several similarities between ”Chochma and Sophia on the one side and the Prajnaparamita on the other.” See Conze, Buddhist Studies Buddhist Studies: 1934-1972 (San Francisco: Wheelwright Press, 1972), p. 20.

Gershom Scholem notes the similarities between the tzaddik and the bodhisattva, though he finds the two systems historically unconnected. See Scholem, On the Mystical Shape of the G.o.dhead On the Mystical Shape of the G.o.dhead (New York: Schocken, 1991), p. 212. However, in the same essay, he writes of ”vestiges of an early Jewish Gnostic tradition” reaching kabbalists in medieval Jewish Europe ”from the Orient.” If Gnosticism could be proven to have been influenced by Buddhism, this would establish a link. Moshe Idel, commenting on similarities between mandalas used in Hindu meditation and the diagrams of (New York: Schocken, 1991), p. 212. However, in the same essay, he writes of ”vestiges of an early Jewish Gnostic tradition” reaching kabbalists in medieval Jewish Europe ”from the Orient.” If Gnosticism could be proven to have been influenced by Buddhism, this would establish a link. Moshe Idel, commenting on similarities between mandalas used in Hindu meditation and the diagrams of sefirot sefirot, writes that ”one cannot underrate the possibility that Hindu traditions infiltrated into Kabbalah, perhaps via the intermediacy of Sufi material.” See Idel, Kabbalah: New Perspectives Kabbalah: New Perspectives, p. 108.

CHAPTER 23 IN A POOL OF NECTAR.

p. 277 his monks robes lightly touching the floor his monks robes lightly touching the floor See Arthur Magida, ”A Museum for Americans,” Baltimore See Arthur Magida, ”A Museum for Americans,” Baltimore Jewish Times Jewish Times, April 30, 1993.

Glossary A Note on Spelling For Hebrew words, I've followed the convention of spelling the Hebrew letter koof koof with a with a k k (kabbalah), and (kabbalah), and khof khof with with kh kh (Shekhinah, halakhah). The (Shekhinah, halakhah). The kh kh sound does not appear in English. It should be p.r.o.nounced like the sound does not appear in English. It should be p.r.o.nounced like the ch ch in the Scottish in the Scottish loch loch.

I've reserved ch ch to represent the Hebrew letter to represent the Hebrew letter het het, hence Chanukah, Chavurah.

For Tibetan words, I have followed the simplified spellings. Many consonants have been left out. For instance, the simplified spelling of the Dalai Lama's name is Tenzin Gyatso, whereas the more accurate transliteration is Bstan-'dzin-rgyamtsho.

HEBREW AND YIDDISH.

Adam Kadmon The first Adam, a fifth kabbalistic realm conceived as the mystical The first Adam, a fifth kabbalistic realm conceived as the mystical body of the original Adam.

ain sof lit., without bound. The impersonal aspect of G.o.d about which nothing can be, properly, thought or said. lit., without bound. The impersonal aspect of G.o.d about which nothing can be, properly, thought or said.

aleinu lit., ”it is inc.u.mbent upon us.” Prayer of divine sovereignty. lit., ”it is inc.u.mbent upon us.” Prayer of divine sovereignty. aliyah aliyah, pl. aliyot aliyot lit., going up. 1. One who is called to read from the Torah. 2. One who ascends by returning to live in Israel. lit., going up. 1. One who is called to read from the Torah. 2. One who ascends by returning to live in Israel.

a.s.siyah lit., action, doing. One of four kabbalistic realms. lit., action, doing. One of four kabbalistic realms.

atziluth lit., nearness. One of four kabbalistic lit., nearness. One of four kabbalistic olamim olamim (realms or worlds). (realms or worlds). ayin ayin Nothing. Nothing.

Baal Shem Tov lit., Master of the Good Name. Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov was the founder of Hasidism. lit., Master of the Good Name. Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov was the founder of Hasidism.

baalei teshuvah lit., those who return. Jews returning to religious observance. lit., those who return. Jews returning to religious observance. bar mitzvah bar mitzvah lit., son of the commandment. Male who has pa.s.sed a Jewish literacy test by reading from the Torah and haftarah. lit., son of the commandment. Male who has pa.s.sed a Jewish literacy test by reading from the Torah and haftarah.

barkhu The call to prayer, from the Hebrew The call to prayer, from the Hebrew berekh berekh, or knee. Recited with bowed head and bent knee.

bat mitzvah lit., daughter of the commandment. Female, same as bar mitzvah. lit., daughter of the commandment. Female, same as bar mitzvah. beriah beriah lit., creation. One of four kabbalistic worlds. lit., creation. One of four kabbalistic worlds.

binah lit., understanding. One of the ten sefirot. lit., understanding. One of the ten sefirot.

birkat hamazon Prayer after the meal. Prayer after the meal.

boychik (Yiddish) Boy or son, affectionate. (Yiddish) Boy or son, affectionate.

brakha, pl. brakhot brakhot Blessing. Blessing.

bsar vdam Flesh and blood. Flesh and blood.

chavurah, pl. chavurot chavurot lit., a fellows.h.i.+p. A small informal Jewish prayer group. lit., a fellows.h.i.+p. A small informal Jewish prayer group. chazzan chazzan Cantor. Cantor.

chesed lit., loving-kindness, mercy. One of the ten sefirot. lit., loving-kindness, mercy. One of the ten sefirot.

chokham, hokham A wise person, and specifically a Torah scholar. A wise person, and specifically a Torah scholar. chokhmah, hokhmah chokhmah, hokhmah Wisdom. Also, one of the ten sefirot. Wisdom. Also, one of the ten sefirot.

chutzpah (Yiddish) Nerve. (Yiddish) Nerve.

clal yisrael (also, (also, klal yisrael klal yisrael) The community of Israel.

daven (Yiddish) To pray. (Yiddish) To pray.

drash, also drush drush A midrash. A midrash.

Etz Chaim lit., tree of life. Hymn in praise of the Torah, from pa.s.sage in Proverbs. lit., tree of life. Hymn in praise of the Torah, from pa.s.sage in Proverbs. galut galut Exile. Exile.

gevurah lit., strength, power. One of the ten sefirot. lit., strength, power. One of the ten sefirot.

gilgul Reincarnation. Reincarnation.

glatt lit., smooth. Very stringent standard of kashrut. lit., smooth. Very stringent standard of kashrut.

gornisht (Yiddish) Nothing. (Yiddish) Nothing.

goyim Gentiles. Gentiles.

haimish (Yiddish) ”Home-like,” friendly and familiar, comfortable. (Yiddish) ”Home-like,” friendly and familiar, comfortable. halakhah halakhah The body of Jewish law. The body of Jewish law.

Hallel Group of psalms chanted in praise of G.o.d. Group of psalms chanted in praise of G.o.d.

Hallelujah Praise G.o.d. Praise G.o.d.

hasid pl. pl. hasidim hasidim A pious person, and in Talmudic texts, a saint. A pious person, and in Talmudic texts, a saint. Hasid Hasid, pl. Hasidim Hasidim Member of a religious and mystical spiritual revival movement, beginning in the eighteenth century in the Ukraine and Poland. Member of a religious and mystical spiritual revival movement, beginning in the eighteenth century in the Ukraine and Poland. hitbodedut hitbodedut lit., self-isolation. A form of Jewish meditation taught by Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav, involving an individual's calling out to G.o.d. lit., self-isolation. A form of Jewish meditation taught by Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav, involving an individual's calling out to G.o.d. hitbonenut hitbonenut lit., self-understanding. A form of Jewish meditation taught in the Lubavitch tradition, involving a contemplation of all things in relation to G.o.d. lit., self-understanding. A form of Jewish meditation taught in the Lubavitch tradition, involving a contemplation of all things in relation to G.o.d. hod hod lit., glory or majesty. One of the ten sefirot. lit., glory or majesty. One of the ten sefirot.

kabbalah lit., tradition. Body of Jewish esoteric doctrine and lore. lit., tradition. Body of Jewish esoteric doctrine and lore. Kaddish Kaddish An ancient Aramaic prayer in praise of G.o.d's powers, recited as prayers for the dead and at other points in the prayer service. An ancient Aramaic prayer in praise of G.o.d's powers, recited as prayers for the dead and at other points in the prayer service.

kappoteh (Yiddish) Liturgical robe or caftan. (Yiddish) Liturgical robe or caftan.

kavvanah, pl. kavvanot kavvanot intention. Meditation prior to prayer or holy act. intention. Meditation prior to prayer or holy act. keter keter lit., crown. One of the ten sefirot. lit., crown. One of the ten sefirot.

keter malkhut lit., crown of sovereignty. A Jewish mystical path. lit., crown of sovereignty. A Jewish mystical path. kiddush kiddush Blessing over wine, recited at the Sabbath and holidays. Blessing over wine, recited at the Sabbath and holidays. kippah kippah Skullcap. Skullcap.

kreplach Delicious Jewish wonton. Delicious Jewish wonton.

l'chaim To life. Traditional Jewish toast. To life. Traditional Jewish toast.

Lekha Dodi lit., Welcome to the Bride. Sixteenth-century mystical Sabbath hymn, composed by Solomon Alkabez, in Safed. lit., Welcome to the Bride. Sixteenth-century mystical Sabbath hymn, composed by Solomon Alkabez, in Safed.