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Maps, Models and Metaphors for the Messianic Age
The Prophetic Confluence
Between Science and Kabbalah
Joel David Bakst ©2001
The past few decades have brought a great interest in expanded human potential replete with a growing library in what has been called the confluence of mysticism and the "New Sciences". Kabbalah, the Jewish esoteric tradition, has long envisioned and even required an evolving interface between scientific discovery and esoteric truth.
Within the ancient volumes of the Holy Zohar (the Book of Radiance - the most influential work of Jewish mysticism) a vision of a new global paradigm is recorded not to begin unfolding until many centuries in the future.
"In the 6th century of the 6th millennium (i.e., in the years 5,500-5,600 in the Hebrew calendar corresponding to the years 1740-1840 CE.) the gates of wisdom from above (Kabbalah) and the fountains of wisdom from below (science and technology) will be opened up and the world will make preparations to enter the 7th millennium just as one makes preparations on the 6th day of the week when the sun is about to set [for the 7th day – the Shabbat]."
This passage has been explained by the sages of Israel, and specifically by the Gaon of Vilna, as well as from Hassidic masters as referring to the fact that from the 18th and especially from the 19th century onward the Kabbalah would experience a profound renewal clarifying and rendering more accessible her own esoteric traditions.[4] Any student of contemporary Judaism cannot but be astounded by the recent dramatic growth of the Kabbalah and its new and ever increasing popularity.[5]
Paralleling the revelations of "wisdom from above", this prophecy necessitates revolutionary discoveries occurring simultaneously in the secular world, the "wisdom from below". Stimulated by the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, the wellsprings of theoretical models and new technology have incessantly been bursting forth. A wholly new paradigm of scientific thought - and consciousness - is emerging. The year 1840 witnessed the emergence of electromagnetic theory, which in turn paved the way for the invention of radio waves, telecommunications, television, computers, and the investigation of atomic energy and the atomic bomb. New psychological and neurological descriptions of the brain, black hole phenomenon, genetic engineering, lasers, holography, are more examples of the changes and ideas that have taken place in our generation. Even greater significance has been the effect of the early 19th century breakthroughs of non-Euclidean geometry, which set the stage for the 20th century theories of Einstein's relativity, quantum mechanics and the search for the Unified Field Theory. Currently, under the name of "Super Strings" this theory is being proclaimed by leading physicists as an unmistakable genesis of a new physics. Most recently the scientific community and public at large is being initiated into a new world of fractals, chaos theory, virtual reality and the ever accelerating, neural network of the world wide Internet.
According to the teachings of esoteric Judaism all knowledge, both spiritual and material wisdom, originally coexisted in a seamless unity within a higher dimension. Together these two modes of wisdom compromised a larger, all encompassing Universal Torah (Torah meaning "Teachings"). A collapse, however, ensued in which the database of all knowledge split itself into "spiritual" and "material" planes of existence. Thus, we have the basis for the historical conflict between "religion" and "science". Yet, any given mystical or technological truth can only be one of two sides of the same piece of puzzle. Thus, the material world is also a mode of spirituality, only externalized and concretized. The ultimate truth is not revealed through the supra-natural alone nor is it only discovered through scientific development -- it is more than both. Both forms of wisdom are destined to reunite with each other. Perforce this is atimulating a worldwide paradigm shift in consciousness. This stage of global evolution is the messianic age that is central to the teachings of esoteric as well as to traditional Judaism. Our role in the re-unification of these two modes of wisdom, according to the doctrine of the Gaon of Vilna, is achieved by matching the right tool with the right job. In other words, we must use the new maps, models and metaphors of the "wisdom from below" in order to grasp the "wisdom from above". In turn, the transcendent wisdom of the Torah will cast its light of clarity and direction upon the enchanting and often overpowering tools of science and technology.
According to the Kabbalah one of the roles of the Nation of Israel is to serve as a clearinghouse and meta-center for all scientific knowledge, religious belief and schools of mysticism. "In the future Jerusalem will be as a lantern onto the Nations of the World as it states, 'and the Nations shall walk in your light'".[6] The following essays are but three examples of the messianic synthesis of scientific models being used as tools to grasp some of the basic, yet often misunderstood, teachings of the Kabbalah. They are visualizing the paradox of God's unity, grasping the collapsed dimensionality of the Garden of Eden and peering into the holographic nature of Torah reality as well the mitzvoth - the commanded acts of unification incumbent upon both Jew and Gentile.
After thousands of years of travel humanity has reached the final shore. Across this great ocean lies a new territory of consciousness, Eretz haHayyim - the Land of the Living. Yet, even now, as we stand upon this seashore of earthly time there are strange and mind boggling objects being washed ashore. Let us now reach into the sand and redeem a few small items that have, embedded within them, the fallen sparks of divinity and prepare ourselves to usher in the Messianic Era.
Notes:
[1]Rosh HaShanah 31a; Sanhedrin 97a; Avodah Zarah 9a; see GRA's commentary to Sifra DeTzeniuta 5, p. 66 (33b)
[2]Psalm 90:4
[3]GRA's commentary to Sifra DeTzeniuta 1, p. 20 (10b); R. Shlomo Eliyashiv, Leshem Sh'vo VeAchlamah, Sefer Hakdamot VeShearim, p. 172; R. Rafael Shochat, Torat HaGeulah B'Mishnat Rabbeinu HaGadol HaGRA MiVilna (unpublished manuscript; see note of Leshem at end)
[4]"What was forbidden to investigate and expound upon just yesterday becomes permissable today. This is felt by every true exegete. Numerous matters whose awesome nature repelled one from even approaching in previous generations, behold, they are easily grasped today. This is because the gates of human understanding below have been opened up as a result of the steadily increasing flow of Divine revelations above". R. Shlomo Eliyashiv Leshem Sh'vo V'Achlamah, Chelek HaBi'urim, p. 21d.
[5][This same tradition has been handed down by an unexpected yet highly authoritative source, R. Yisrael Salanter (1810-1883), the leader of the Mussar Movement. In confirmation of the statement of the Zohar, he is said to have commented, "Prior to 1840 the study of Kabbalah was a closed book to all but the initiated." The Kabbalist, R. Shlomo Eliyashiv, who quotes this tradition, continues, "Thus, from 1840 onwards, permission has been granted for those who truly desire to enter within. The Kabbalah is no longer the private domain of the initiated masters." Leshem Sh'vo VeAchlamah, Sefer De'ah 1:5:4 (p. 76)
[6]Isaiah 60:3.
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