Aryeh Kaplan’s Quest for the Lost Jewish Traditions of Science, Psychology and Prophecy
A. A. Brill
April 27, 2020 DOI: 10.1163/9789004428140_014 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that Aryeh Kaplan's Sefer Yetzirah commentary recasts Kabbalah as an operational path of higher consciousness rather than a theosophic system, using "verbal archaeology" to reconstruct meditative practice. Kaplan frames altered states through 4-D space, hallucinogens, and mental imagery, and portrays God as a computer system and an abstract principle similar to mathematics and Buddhist Nothingness. |
Abstract
This paper explores Aryeh Kaplan’s approach to Kabbalah, specifically the topics of mystical consciousness, meditation, God, and prophecy as presented in his Sefer Yetzirah commentary. For him, Kabbalah was operational as a path of higher consciousness; therefore, he gives scant attention to theosophic Kabbalah. Kaplan’s approach was to recreate a Kabbalah of consciousness with what he calls the practice of “verbal archaeology.” Kaplan presents a broad view of altered states of consciousness by incorporating discussions of 4-D space, hallucinogens, and learning to form steady mental images. Kaplan portrays God as a computer system and as an abstract principle similar to math and to Buddhist Nothingness.