Meditation and Kabbalah by Aryeh Kaplan

Author:Aryeh Kaplan
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781609253905
Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser Conari

In the Tikuney Zohar, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says, “Whenever one pronounces a word, he must keep in mind that speech is Adonoy (), and voice is YHVH (). One must bring them together, unifying them in the Concealed Unity (Ain Sof), which binds them together and makes them as one. one's intent must be directed to this alone. This is not voice or speech, but thought.”32

It is explicitly taught that the Tetragrammaton (YHVH) is associated with the Sefirah of Tiferet-Beauty. Since the voice that emanates from [God's] “mouth” is also associated with Tiferet, it is related to [the Tetragrammaton]. Similarly, speech is related to the name Adonoy, which is associated with the Sefirah of Malkhut Kingship.

Thought, however, is the Infinite Being (Ain Sof), through which these two Attributes are unified.

In the entire worship service, there is no allusion to the Infinite Being (Ain Sof), other than the thought that the worshipper directs toward It. This, however, is everything. It unifies all the Attributes and Influences. This is the mystery of the Basic Essence that infuses all the Sefirot, through which the Sefirot have power to function. Due to this, the action itself is also ascribed to [this Essence]. This is explained in detail in the “Gate of Essence and Vessels.”

This does not mean that one should meditate on the Sefirot or try to imagine them, since this is impossible, as we have already explained. Rather, it means that the Sefirot are associated with ten names, [spelled with the four letters] of the Tetragrammaton. These names are only differentiated by their vowels, as explained in the “Gate of the Tetragrammaton.”33 . . . (The Names are given in the Table).

One who meditates should concentrate on these Names. He should keep in mind that nothing can allude to the Attribute that he seeks other than the Tetragrammaton that is depicted in his mind. These consist of the Four Letters, vocalized in the appropriate manner. If he does this, he can procede without fear.

One should also keep in mind that these Four Letters themselves allude to the Ten Sefirot. This denotes the fact that all Ten Sefirot agree to the action desired of any single Sefirah.

It is best if one can depict each Tetragrammaton in the color [associated with the particulr Sefirah]. His prayer will then help all the more. The only condition is that he should keep in mind that nothing in this world can depict the action of that Attribute, other than the color associated with it.

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