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[[File:Tree of life hebrew.svg|thumb|The 10 sefirot and the 22 paths of the [[Kabbalistic Tree of Life]] that connect them together form the 32 paths of wisdom. The yellow [[Path of the Flaming Sword]] indicates the order of the creation of the sefirot from 1 - 10.]]
[[File:Tree of life hebrew.svg|thumb|The 10 sefirot and the 22 paths of the [[Kabbalistic Tree of Life]] that connect them together form the 32 paths of wisdom. The yellow [[Path of the Flaming Sword]] indicates the order of the creation of the sefirot from 1 - 10.]]
[[File:Yetzirah wheel bw.png|thumb|Yetzirah - the ''World of Formation'' as described in the [[Sefer Yetzirah]]]]


According to the teachings of the Jewish [[Kabbalah]], '''32 Paths of Wisdom''' form the tree of life with the system of [[sefirot]], which is fundamentally presented in the [[Sefer Yetzirah]] ({{HeS|ספר יצירה|Book of Formation}}), one of the earliest and most important works of the Kabbalah, which originated before the 6th century CE. The 32 Paths of Wisdom are made up of the 10 sefirot and the 22 paths connecting them, which correspond to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The 32 Paths of Wisdom represent 32 stages of development of the [[cosmic intelligence]].
According to the teachings of the Jewish [[Kabbalah]], '''32 Paths of Wisdom''' form the tree of life with the system of [[sefirot]], which is fundamentally presented in the [[Sefer Yetzirah]] ({{HeS|ספר יצירה|Book of Formation}}), one of the earliest and most important works of the Kabbalah, which originated before the 6th century CE. The 32 Paths of Wisdom are made up of the 10 sefirot and the 22 paths connecting them, which correspond to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The 32 Paths of Wisdom represent 32 stages of development of the [[cosmic intelligence]].

Revision as of 17:24, 15 February 2022

The 10 sefirot and the 22 paths of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life that connect them together form the 32 paths of wisdom. The yellow Path of the Flaming Sword indicates the order of the creation of the sefirot from 1 - 10.
Yetzirah - the World of Formation as described in the Sefer Yetzirah

According to the teachings of the Jewish Kabbalah, 32 Paths of Wisdom form the tree of life with the system of sefirot, which is fundamentally presented in the Sefer Yetzirah (Hebrewספר יצירה Book of Formation), one of the earliest and most important works of the Kabbalah, which originated before the 6th century CE. The 32 Paths of Wisdom are made up of the 10 sefirot and the 22 paths connecting them, which correspond to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The 32 Paths of Wisdom represent 32 stages of development of the cosmic intelligence.

„In thirty-two mysterious paths of wisdom drew YAH, YHVH Zabaoth, God of Israel, living Elohim, King of the world, almighty, merciful and gracious, high and exalted, reigning forever, holy is his name, and created his world with three sefarim (Hebrewםפרים): narrative (סִפּוּר sippur), number (סִפְרָה sefar, digit), and sign (סֵפֶר sefer; letter).“

Sefer Jezirah 1,2

These are the forces that form the tree of life: the number ether and the word or life ether. The disposal of these etheric powers was taken from man after the Fall and the expulsion from Paradise. Until the end of the earth's evolution, he is to regain dominion over them anew and fully consciously with the help of the Christ.

The 10 sefirot correspond to the paths 1 - 10. The names of these sefirot, which are not yet mentioned in the Sefer Yetzirah, are:

  1. Keter (crown)
  2. Chokmah (wisdom, prudence, skill)
  3. Binah (insight, understanding; analytical intelligence)
  4. Chesed (love, grace, favour); also called Gedulla (greatness)
  5. Geburah (strength, power, victory, justice); also called Din (the punishing and judging power of God)
  6. Tiferet (glorification, glory, splendour, beauty); also called Rachamim (the balancing mercy of God) or Shalom (peace)
  7. Netzach (duration, permanence, victory; glory, splendour, blood, juice)
  8. Hod (splendour, brilliance, majesty)
  9. Yesod (foundation, ground, cornerstone, basis)
  10. Malkuth (realm, kingdom, dominion, royal dignity, government).

The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet corresponding to the paths 11 - 32 are divided into three groups and assigned in various ways to the microcosm and the macrocosm:

„Ten numbers from nothing and twenty-two letters, the foundations of all being: three mothers, seven singles and twelve doubles.“

Sefer Yetzirah 1,2
Group Letters Assignment
3 Mothers ש  מ  א
Aleph, Mem, Schin
Air - Water - Fire
7 Singles ת  ר  פ  כ  ד  ג   ב
Beth, Gimel, Daleth, Kaph, Peh, Resch, Thaw
7 planets (from Saturn to Moon), 7 days of the week, 7 gates of the senses on the human head: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth.[1]
12 Doubles ק  צ  ע  ס  נ  ל  י  ט  ח  ז   ו  ה
Heh, Waw, Sajin, Cheth, Tet, Jod, Lamed, Nun, Samech, Ajin, Zade, Qoph
12 constellations (from Aries to Pisces), 12 months, 12 organs of the human body.[2]

Literature

  • A. Peter Hayman: Sefer yeṣira: edition, translation, and text-critical commentary., Tübingen, 2004, ISBN 3-16-148381-2

References

  1. The exact attribution is uncertain, however, as the various editions of the Sefer Yetzirah give very different, contradictory information on this.
  2. Regarding the assignment to the constellations, most editions agree - in contrast to the assignment of the planets.