Basic Introduction to Jewish Mysticism
This is a draft introduction to mystical concepts in Judaism, and reflects my own personal approach in understanding Rabbe Nachman's literature. The ideas expressed here are "draft" and represent "work in progress".
The key to understanding Rabbenu Nachman's lessons and teachings is the Sefirot. There are many books available on the Kaballistic concept of the Sefirot, and a full explanation would go way beyond the scope of this introduction. But in a sense, all that explanation, is not necessary to be a Torah Jew. Being a Jew always was and always should be simple, and within the reach of everyone. Unlike the mystical formulas and elaborate philosophies of non-Jewish Qabalah, the truth is Jewish Mysticism should be simple, down-to-earth, practical and innate -- an integral part of the Torah-Soul, the spark of G-dliness that exists within every Jew. In fact it is that Torah spark
Its as simple as telling a story, or thinking a thought. Everything that we know, or think about, has a beginning, middle and an end. The Kabbalists simply divided this three phase process into ten steps, called the Sefirot. Every thing has them, and our mental image of any concept or object is a reflection of the Divine ten step process that went into its creation. Anything that can be called a "thing" or has a "name", has these ten steps that distinguish it from any other "thing" or "name". The Universal Story Breslov has a tighter and more simplified scheme of the Sefirot. A "Univesal story" as it were. The basic theme is that if any two objects have the same quality, they are at their root the *same objeect*. This is the whole premis of Likutei Halachot, where rapid fire relationships are made between many, many diverse objects. And is related to the concept of Rabbi Nachmans ability to reunite the sparks / essense of diverse objects and people.
For example when building a house you would have these ten steps
- . Need a house (keter)
- . Rooms in a house (chochma)
- . Hallways (binha)
- . blueprint (daat)
- . hire workers (chesed)
- . negotiate payment (gevurah)
- . budget (tiferet)
- . talent and training (netzach)
- . supplies (hod)
- . build house (yesod)
- . live in it (malchut)
We say in davening, "MeChadesh bechol Yom Tamid Maaseh Bereshit". HaShem is renewing the acts of Creation at every moment. This means that "the seven days of Creation" are happening at every instant. Torah, which is the blueprint for creation is being replayed over-and-over again. This means that every moment has an aspect of Avraham avinu, every moment has an aspect of "going out of Egypt", every moment has an aspect of "Moshe Rabbenu". And every moment has an aspect of "Moshiach". Every moment has a begining, middle and an end.
Rabbenu Nachman stress importance of keeping our "Koach HaDimion", faculty of imagination or ability to draw analogies, pure. Our goal is to draw a connection between what is written in the Torah and our specific situation, here and now. Letters The Aleph-beis
- א Pattern
- ב Group
- ג Increase
- ד Extension, periphery, outer limit
- ה Specification, example
- ו Active
- ז Memory
- ח Sense
- ט Action
- י Individual
- כ Relation
- ל Direction
- מ Generalization
- נ Source, cause
- ס Quanity
- ע Object
- פ Expression
- צ Limitation, control
- ק Stimuli, input
- ר Thought
- ש Attribute
- ת Goal, desire
Every throught is made up of basic elements. These elements are the twenty two hebrew letters. Aleph is pattern. Beth is group. Gimmel is increase. Av (father) is pattern of group. Ba (come) is grouping of pattern. Ga (pride) is increase of pattern. And so on. In hebrew, words that are similiarly spelled, have a definable connected meaning. Gematria is an example of this.
