Jewish Mysticism

[Creator]

I posted in the Occult forum about Hermetic Qabbalah - as in the magickal teachings of The Golden Dawn. This thread is about "ordinary" Kabbalah - Jewish mysticism.

Some links:

www.inner.org/Nav_library/index.php
www.inner.org/Nav_time/index.php

[Summer]

I once read about a group of ancient Jewish Kabbalah called the " Merkebah Riders". I would like to hear more about this group of Jews that new so much about mysticism. Any one know more about them?

[Creator]

The Merkabah Riders

Hekhalot literature refers to a body of Jewish mystical writings tracing back to the period 200-700 CE. Literally taken to mean heavenly "halls" or "palaces," Hekhalot indicates the pathway through which the mystic traverses en route to the divine throne.A prominent feature of Hekhalot literature is Merkabah Mysticism, a Jewish mystical tradition concerned with an ecstatic experience through which the mystic aims to achieve a personal and intimate communion with God.

"Yorede Merkabah" (riders in the heavenly chariot), who, by asceticism and prayer, entered a state of ecstasy in which the heavens opened before them and disclosed their mysteries. These mysteries, and the means by which the "Merkabah-ride" can be achieved, are described in the "Hekalot Rabbati," of which thirty fragments have survived. The allusion to a "throne-chariot" of God in Ezekiel, in fact, is the descriptive root of the term Ma'aseh Merkabah or "work of the divine chariot.

Scholars of the early Rabbinic Period aspired to become "Merkabah-Riders" in their quest to unveil the heavenly secrets believed to be hidden within the text of Ezekiel I.8
What is definitive for the Merkabah tradition is the template provided by the mystical encounter recorded in Ezekiel I. It is informative to review parts of the text of the first chapter of the prophetic book:

... the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was on him there. As I looked a storm wind came out of the north; a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, something like gleaming amber. In the middle of it was something like four living creatures... As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them... When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose... And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form... Like the bow in the cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

Alongside their devoted interest in scriptural exegesis, rabbis identified with this contemplative system and believed that the initiated are about to set themselves free from the limitations of bodily existence as being disciples of the Merkabah elevated them to the highest level of spiritual insight. The early Hekhalot text known as Hekhalot Rabbati details an account of the ascentdescent experience of such Merkabah-Riders:

Their horses of darkness, horses of shadow, horses of gloom, horses of fire, horses of blood, horses of hail, horses of iron, horses of cloud... This is a description of the guardians at the door of the Seventh chamber, and the horses at the door of each chamber. All the masters who would descend into the Merkavah would also ascend again and not be harmed, even though they saw everything in this Chamber. They would ascend in peace and return, and would stand and bear witness to the fearsome, confounding visions of things not found in the place of any mortal king. Then they would bless, praise, sing out... and give glory to Tutrosyay, the Lord, God of Israel, who rejoices in those who descend to the Merkavah.

As the goldsmith distinguishes between precious and base metals, so can the Merkabah-riders distinguish between the pious and the wicked. Any wrong done them is severely punished. They are so exalted that they may not stand up before any save a king, a high priest, or the Sanhedrin.

The Order Of The Merkabah Riders:
northernway.org/school/aom.html

[Summer]

wow! That is very interesting indeed. I want to be a Merkabah rider, LOL! Seems like it would take a whole lot of work though. Thanks for the info Creator.

[michael]

I AM a Merkaba Rider.
So if you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them for you.

[Summer]

I'm speechless! (for the moment) ;D

[pablo]

Qabala actually came after the merkaba mystics.

[jimmyRRpage]

Just a link on Kabbalah I thought would interest people:

www.aish.com/spirituality/kabbala101/