meirbg's Journal

When we view the Sefirot as being ten directions in a five-dimensional continuum, we can also interpret this in the following manner. Each pair of Sefirot defines an infinite line, extended infinitely in both directions. The end points of such an infinite line, however, come together and meet once again at the "point in infinity." This is a fact recognized by mathematicians, and considerable use of the "point at infinity" is found in complex analysis, the calculus of complex number

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One can use this as a meditation. Try to imagine the sphere at infinity and the point at infinity, and attempt to perceive how they are actually one. You will then see that your usual conceptions of space and extension are not as simple as you believe.

(Sefer Yetzirah, R. A. Kaplan Commentary)

Sefer Yetzira (The Book of Creation) is a concise mystical book (between 1,300 to 2,500 words) whose teaching were developed by the Patriarch Abraham and which was recorded at least 2000 years ago.

Sentence 7:

Ten Sefirot of Nothingness

Their end is embedded in their beginning

and their beginning in their end

like a flame in a burning coal

For the Master is singular

He has no second

And before one, what do you count?

Commentary

According to most commentaries, the “beginning” is Keter (Crown), while the “end” is Malchut (Kingship). These are the two endpoints of the spiritual dimension.

On the most basic level, Crown is seen as the concept of Cause, while Kingship is the archetype of Effect. Since a cause cannot exist without an effect, and an effect cannot exist without a cause, the two are interdependent on each other.

The Sefer Yetzirah likens this to a “flame bound to a burning coal.” A flame cannot exist without the coal, and the burning coal cannot exits without a flame. Although the coal is the cuase of the flame, the flame is also the cause of the burning coal. Without the flame, the would not be a burning coal.

Since Cause cannot exist without Effect, Effect is also the cause of the Cause. In this sense, Effect is the cause, and the cause is the Effect. Since beginning and end are inseparable, “their end is embedded in their beginning, and their beginning in their end.”

The commentary goes on to explain the 5-dimensional space (three physical dimension, time, and soul, meaning good/bad dimension), and describes an infinitely remote sphere where all these converge.

All of the above can be used as meditation devices for visualizing the complex spiritual worlds.

And now…

Mystics of all countries – unite!

One can easily see that many mystical schools engage in the same meditative techniques, thus they are dealing with the same spiritual worlds, which should really come as no surprise.

“Ten Sefirot of Nothingness” is parallel to Hindu meditation on Nothing, behind one’s head, which is one of the most powerful and dangerous forms of meditation.

“And before one, what do you count?” is the sound of one hand clapping. The reader is invited to find further parallels.