Ayin: The Concept of Nothingness in Jewish Mysticism
The Problem of Pure Consciousness March 29, 1990 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780195059809.003.0005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Citations | 48 |
| Key points | Argues that the concept of ayin in Jewish mysticism shifts from a theosophical symbol in medieval Kabbalah to a psychological medium for self-transformation in Hasidism. |
Abstract
Abstract There is allure and terror in mystical portrayals of nothingness: Eckhart’s Nichts, John of the Cross’s nada, the Taoist wu, the Buddhist sunyata. Despite appearances, these terms do not express an identical meaning since each mystic names the nameless from within a realm of discourse shaped by his own training, outlook, and language. My aim here is to trace the development of the concept of ayin (nothingness) in Jewish mysticism. In medieval Kabbalah ayin functions as a theosophical symbol, part of the elaborate system of the sefirot, the stages of divine manifestation. Everything emerges from the depths of ayin and eventually returns there. As we proceed from Kabbalah to Hasidism, the focus changes. Now the psychological significance of ayin is emphasized and it becomes a medium for self-transformation. The mystic experiences ayin directly and emerges anew.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Does the Concept of “Altered States of Consciousness” Rest on a Mistake? International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 2007
- The Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness, Mysticism and Psi International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 2011
- Re-veiling the Revealed: Insights into the Psychology of “Enlightenment” from the Kabbalah International Journal of Transpersonal Studies September 1, 2018
- A neuroepistemology of mystical experience Transpersonal Psychology Review 2020