Concept of salvation in the Kabbalah

• Main Author: Ting, Camille Sue Mae Leelin
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2005
• Subjects: Cabala > History; Mysticism > Judaism > History; Spiritual life > Judaism; Philosophy
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2153
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study intends to introduce the Kabbalah, a Jewish mystical tradition, in relation to the fallen state of humankind. Being a school of religious thought, it offers its own, unique way to overcome this problem through its concept of Tikkum or Reparation. Its method, being mystical in character, aims to ultimately achieve a union with God or the Divine Nature. The author gives an overview of mysticism, its nature, characteristics and significance. This is to serve as a background to enable the readers to understand where the Kabbalah is coming from, it being mystical in nature. The doctrines of the Kabbalah, specifically from the tradition of Isaac Luria, are discussed, particularly concerning the origin or reason of our fallen nature and the key to transcend it, founded on the structure of the universe and the human person. This, in turn, is analyzed using Paul Ricoeur's theoretical framework on evil. Evil is to be attributed both objectively and subjectively, i.e, as both exterior and interior to the subject. The author discovers that the Kabbalah can overcome this problem of evil by enabling the person to resist this external seduction by harmonizing and balancing the self.