The Doctrine and Literature of the Kabalah

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THE DOCTRINE AND LITERATURE OF

THE KABALAH

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

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Obermann. Translated from lhe French of Etienne Pivert de Senancour. With a Biographical Introduction and Study of the Literary and Philosophical position of these celebrated letters from Switzerland, in comparison with the later writings of Senancour. Crown 8vo. (/« Preparation.}

SEPHIROTIC SCHEME. AIN SOrH Latent State or Deitv. Kethe«

Tb« Crovn

THE

DOCTRINE AND LITERATURE OF

THE KABALAH

BY

ARTHUR EDWARD WAITE AUTHOR OF

“THB LIFE OF LOUIS CLAUDE DE SAINT-MARTIN, THE UNKNOWN PHILOSOPHER,” AND TRANSLATOR OF THE WORKS OF ELIPHAS LEVI.

LONDON

The Theosophical Publishing Society 1902.

CONTENTS PREFACE

...

PACK ix.

BOOK I POST-CHRISTIAN LITERATURE OF THE JEWS.

I. Introductory ...

...............

II. Thb Occult Standpoint

i

7

..................

III. Thb Kabalah and thb Talmud ...

...

IV. Divisions of thb Kabalah...

14

2a

BOOK II THE DOCTRINAL CONTENT OF THE KABALAH. I. Thb Doctrine of thb Unmanifbst God

II. Thb Doctrine of thb Ten Emanations

III. The Doctrine of the Four Worlds

... 30

... 36 ... 44

IV. The Doctrine of the Countenances ...

V. The Instruments of Creation VI. The Paths of Wisdom

...

................

VII. The Doctrine of Pnbumatology...

• 53

... 59

...

65

... 74

vi

Contente

BOOK III SOURCE AND AUTHORITY OF THE

KABALAH. FASS

I. Date and Doctrine of the Book of Formation

...

89

II. Modern Criticism of the Book of Splendour ... 95 III. The Date and Authorship of the Book of Splen­ dour ...............................................................................................103

IV. The Age of Zoharic Tradition............................................ 115 V. Alleged Sources of Kabalistic Doctrine

...................122

VI. Islamic Connections of the Kabalah................................ 136 VII. Influence of the Kabalah on Jewry.............................. 144

BOOK IV THE WRITTEN WORD

OF KABALISM :

FIRST PERIOD.

I. Early Kabalistic Literature

II. The Book of Formation

............................................ 152

.......................................................... 167

III. Connections and Dependencies of the Book of Formation.................................................................................. 174

BOOK V THE WRITTEN WORD

OF KABALISM :

SECOND PERIOD. I. The Book of Splendour : its Content and Divisions 187

II. The Book of Concealment

............................ 212

III. The Greater Holy Synod........................................................ 217

IV. The Lesser Holy Synod........................................................ 326 V. The Discourse of the Aged Man

VI. The Illustrious Book

............................... 229

........................................................ 234

vii

Contente

PACT VII. Thb Faithful Shepherd....................................................... 246 VIII.

Thb Hiddbn Things of thb Law

.............................. 256

IX Thb Secbbt Commentary....................................................... 260 X. Thb Lesser Sections of thb Bookof Splendour : 470

(a) Thb Additions........................................................ 271

(i) Thb Commentary on Ruth............................... 273

(