Table Of ContentComparative Mysticism
Comparative Mysticism
An Anthology of Original Sources
E DITED BY
Steven T. Katz
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Comparative mysticism : an anthology of original sources / edited by Steven T. Katz,
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-514379-9 (hardcover : acid-free paper)
1. Mysticism—History—Sources. I. Katz, Steven T, 1944-
BL625.C657 2013 204’.2209-dc22
2010020299
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Preface
This anthology of original mystical sources has been created in order to provide students at
all levels with a reliable, wide-ranging, methodologically sophisticated, philosophically and
logically coherent introduction to the complex subject at hand. Each individual section, rep
resenting a different major mystical community, has been edited by an expert on the particu
lar tradition under review. These section editors have provided helpful introductions to the
traditions for which they were responsible; have selected the primary texts to be included in
this collection; and have compiled useful, if brief, bibliographies of primary and secondary
sources for further study. These bibliographies include some older as well as more recent
titles. Readers will also note that in a few cases more recent translations of the works from
which the selections included in this volume have been taken have appeared. Because the
nuances raised by these translations in no way affect the quality of the present collection, nor
the arguments regarding the contextual interpretations of mystical experience that it is ad
vancing, the translations first chosen have been retained. The selection of texts has followed
certain broad guidelines suggested by the volume s editor.
As the editor, I would like to thank all my coworkers in this project. They have all done
their work with great skill and much courtesy. I would also like to thank my editor at Oxford
University Press, Cynthia Read, for all her help and patience while the project was being
produced. In addition, a major debt is owed to Charlotte Steinhardt at Oxford, without
whose help this volume would never have appeared. Late on the projects production, Ms.
Leslie Johnson was very helpful in assuring that the book finally appeared. And for this I am
very grateful. Closer to home, I want to acknowledge, with gratitude and appreciation, the
invaluable help of Pagiel Czoka, the administrative assistant at the Elie Wiesel Center for
Judaic Studies at Boston University. As usual, she has done everything needed, and more, to
make this book a reality. Lasdy, I would like to acknowledge the multifaceted assistance of
my wife, Rebecca, without whose efforts this volume would still be forthcoming.
Steven T. Katz, editor
Contents
Contributors xxi
General Editor s Introduction
Steven T. Katz 3
JUDAISM
Selector: Moshe Idel, Hebrew University 25
Jewish Mysticism: An Introduction 25
Selections:
1. Ascending to Heaven 36
(a) Mystical Ascent to Heaven 36
Maaseh Merkavah
(b) In the World Above 57
Pirkei Hekhalot Rabbati
2. Knowledge of Human Power and the Divine Reality 58
The Book ofBahir
3. The Sefirot—The Divine Emanations 65
Explanation of the Ten Sefirot
4. Revelation and the Giving of the Torah 70
“All of Israel Saw the Letters” from the Zohar (The Book of Radiance)
5. Language and Meaning 71
Zohar, 2:99 a-b
6. The Many Meanings of the Torah 72
“The Old Man and the Beautiful Maiden,” from the Zohar
7. The Mystical Sabbath 78
“The Secret of Sabbath,” from the Zohar
8. The End of Exile and the Future Redemption 79
“God, Israel, and Shekhinah? from the Zohar
9. Divine Emanation and the Names of God 88
R. Joseph Gikatilla, Shaarei €Orah (The Gates of Light), “Introduction”
viii Contents
10. The Essential Quality of God Is Mercy 93
R. Joseph Gikatilla, Shaarei *Orah (The Gates of Light),
"The First Sphere"
11. The Mystery of Sexuality 98
The Holy Letter, attributed to R. Moses ben Nahman
12. Meditation and Other Mystical Techniques 100
(a) Meditation 101
R. Hai Gaon
(b) Preparing for Mystical Experience 101
Abraham Abulafia
(c) Meditations on the Morning Service 102
R. Alexander Susskind of Grodno
(d) The Combination of Letters 103
Abraham Abulafia
(e) Breathing Exercises 104
Abraham Abulafia
(f ) Breathing Exercises and Hebrew Letters 104
Abraham Abulafia
(g) Shaking of Ones Head 105
Abraham Abulafia
(h) Weeping 105
Midrash, Ecclesiastes Rabbah
(i) Crying to God 105
Anonymous, Perakim be-Hazlachah, sometimes
attributed to R. Moses ben Maimon
(j) Prayers and Tears 105
R. Abraham ha-Levi
(k) Meditation and Colors 106
R. Moses Cordovero
13. Clinging to God—Devekut 106
(a) Clinging to God 106
R. Ezra of Gerona
(b) A Linking of Souls 107
R. Menachem Recanati
(c) Cleaving to the Shechinah 107
R. Menachem Recanati
(d) Devekut and the Performance ofM itzvot 107
R. Azriel of Gerona
(e) Devekut and Sexual Union 107
Anonymous, The Holy Letter, traditionally attributed to
R. Moses ben Nahman
Contents ix
(f) Devekut and Worship 108
R. Meir ibn Gabbay
(g) Loving Relation with God 108
R. David ibn Zimra
(h) Devekut and Torah Study 108
R. Chaim Vital
14. Mystical Experience 108
Anonymous text, attributed to a student of Abraham Abulafia
15. Mystical Union 114
(a) Intellectual Mystical Union 114
Abraham Abulafia
(b) LossofSelf 115
R. Isaac of Acre
(c) The Annihilation of Selfhood 115
R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
(d) Reunification of the Self and God 115
R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi
(e) Unio Mystico, Torah, and Mitzvot 116
R. Nachman of Bratzlav
16. Mystical Actions That Create Mystical Experience 116
R. Yehudah Albotini, Sefer Sullam ha-Aliyah
17. Mystical Prayer 126
Lakha Dodi, “Come, My Beloved”
18. A Mystical Love Song 127
R. Isaac Luria, Hymn
19. Ethical Behavior and Mystical Experience 127
R. Elijah de Vidas, Reshit Hokhmah (The Beginning of Wisdom)
20. Heavenly Tutors. 136
R. Joseph ben Ephraim Karo, Maggid Mesharim
(The Speaker of Upright Words)
21. Mystical Ascents 144
The Baal Shem Tov, Letter to His Brother-in-Law
22. The Mystical Master—the Zaddik 147
R. Kalonymus Kalman Epstein, Maor va-Shemesh
23. Reincarnation 151
(a) Reincarnation, Good, and Evil 151
Sefer ha-Bahir
(b) Reincarnation and Human Action 151
R. Isaac Luria, recorded by R. Jacob Zemach in Nagid u-Mezaveh
Selected Bibliography for Further Reading 152
Contents
CHRISTIANITY
Selector: Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago 157
Christian Mysticism: An Introduction 157
Selections:
1. Mystical Prayer and Preparation 163
(a) Asceticism and “Evil Thoughts”: Evagrius Ponticus 163
Praktikos: Chapters on Prayer
(b) Introductory Explanations to the Spiritual Exercises 164
Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises and Selected Works
(c) The Dark Night of the Senses in John of the Cross 165
Ascent of Mount Carmel and Dark Night ofthe Senses in
John of the Cross: Selected Writings
(d) Mystical Purgation in Marie of the Incarnation 170
Marie of the Incarnation, The Relation of1654
2. Biblical Interpretation 173
(a) A Mystical Reading of the Song of Songs 173
Origen, Commentary on the Song of Songs
(b) “Three Kisses” 177
Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs
3. Prayer and Itineraries of the Path to God 179
(a) Richard of Saint Victor on the Varieties of Contemplation 180
Richard of St. Victor, The Mystical Ark
(b) Bonaventure on the Stages in the Ascent to God 183
Bonaventure, The Soul's Journey into God
(c) Seven Stages of Ascent 191
Marguerite Porete, The Mirror of Simple Souls
(d) Mystical Prayer 194
Teresa of Avila, Life
(e) The Jesus Prayer 200
The Way of the Pilgrim
4. Accounts of Direct Consciousness of God 202
(a) “Seeing” and “Touching” God 203
Saint Augustine, Confessions
(b) The Vision of Saint Benedict 205
Saint Gregory the Great, Dialogues
(c) Mystical Illumination 206
Symeon, The Discourses
(d) Seeking the Divine Lover 208
Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon 74 of the Sermons
on the Song of Songs
(e) Mystical Elevations 210
Angela of Foligno, Memorial
