The Kabbalah: its doctrines, development, and literatureGinsburg, Christian D. (Christian David)
Religion
The Kabbalah: its doctrines, development, and literature
Ginsburg, Christian D. (Christian David)
Cabala
In order to ascertain how often a certain number of letters can be
transposed, the product of the preceding number must be multiplied with
it. Thus—
Letter 2 × 1 = 2
3 × 2 = 6
4 × 6 = 24
5 × 24 = 120
6 × 120 = 720
7 × 720 = 5040 and so on.
Accordingly, the material form of the spirit, represented by the
twenty-two letters of the alphabet, is the form of all existing beings.
Apart from the three dominions, the macrocosm, time, and microcosm, it
is only the Infinite who can be perceived, and of whom this triad
testifies; for which reason it is denominated “the three true
witnesses.” [47] Each of this triad, notwithstanding its
multifariousness, constitutes a system, having its own centre and
dominion. [48] Just as God is the centre of the universe, the heavenly
dragon is the centre of the macrocosm; the foundation of the year is
the revolution of the Zodiac; whilst the centre of the microcosm is the
heart. [49] The first is like a king on his throne, the second is like
a king living among his subjects, and the third is like a king in war.
The reason why the heart of man is like a monarch in the midst of war
is, that the twelve principal organs of the human body [50] “are
arrayed against each other in battle array; three serve love, three
hatred, three engender life, and three death. The three engendering
love are the heart, the ears and the mouth; the three for enmity are
the liver, the gall and the tongue; but God, the faithful King, rules
over all the three systems. One [i.e., God] is over the three, the
three are over the seven, the seven over the twelve, and all are
internally connected with each other.” (Chapter vi, Mishna iii.) Thus
the whole creation is one connected whole; it is like a pyramid pointed
at the top, which was its beginning, and exceedingly broad in its
basis, which is its fullest development in all its multitudinous
component parts. Throughout the whole are perceptible two opposites,
with a reconciling medium. Thus, in the macrocosm, “the ethereal fire
is above, the water below, and the air is between these hostile
elements to reconcile them.” (Chapter vi, Mishna i.) The same is the
case in the heaven, earth and the atmosphere, as well as in the
microcosm. But all the opposites in the cosmic, telluric and organic
spheres, as well as in the moral world, are designed to balance each
other. “God has placed in all things one to oppose the other; good to
oppose evil, good proceeding from good, and evil from evil; good
purifies evil, and evil purifies good; good is in store for the good,
and evil is reserved for the evil.” (Chapter vi, Mishna ii.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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