A Phenomenology of Hasidic Mysticism
Martina Urban
University of Chicago Press eBooks March 29, 2013 DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226842738.003.0010 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that for Martin Buber, "hitlahavut" (burning devotion, fervor, or ecstasy) is the "primal principle" of Hasidic life and lies at the core of Hasidic worship, rather than the peak experience of mystical communion (devequt). The author contends that Buber treats hitlahavut not merely as ecstatic ardor but as an enthusiasm that "unlocks the meaning of life." |
Abstract
Buber regards hitlahavut as “the primal principle [Urprinzip] of Hasidic life.” Ekstase, Wonne (“bliss”), and Inbrunst (“fervor,” “ardor”) are synonyms employed to translate the term hitlahavut. Indeed, the words derived from the Hebrew root l-h-v (burning, flame, to be inflamed) evoke several of the central features attributed to Hasidic mysticism. Although hitlahavut “is the burning,” it is not to be confined to the ardor of ecstasy, but is the value denoting the enthusiasm that “unlocks the meaning of life.” For Buber, burning devotion rather than the peak experience of mystical communion (devequt) is at the core of Hasidic worship.
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 |