This ia a simple discourse on some of the
major facets of the Cabala.
It is also spelled as Kabbalah and
Qabalah.
O R I G I N S
Kabbalah: From the Hebrew word
QBL meaning 'an oral tradition', the
esoteric and mystical division of Judaism.
The Kabbalah presents a
symbolic explanation of the origin of the
universe, the relationship
of human beings to the Godhead, and an
emanationist approach to
creation whereby the Infinite Light (AIN
SOPH AUR) manifests
through different SEPHIROTH on the TREE OF
LIFE. Although the central
book of the Kabbalah, the ZOHAR, was not
written down until around
1280 -- probably by MOSES de LEON -- the
Kabbalah has spiritual links
with GNOSTICISM and other early mystical
cosmologies.
In the Kabbalah, all manifestations are
said to have their origin
in the AIN SOPH AUR and the successive
emanations of the Godhead reveal
aspects of his divine nature. The system
is thus monotheistic in
essence, but allows for the tenfold
structure of the sephiroth
upon the tree of life. The emanations as
they proceed down from the
Godhead to the manifested world, are:
