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A Disciple of The Kabbalistic School
of Abraham Abulafia
(1240-1291, Spain)
Biography Excerpt:
Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia, a Sicilian
Kabbalist born in Saragosa, Spain in 1240, is considered one of the most
colorful figures in Jewish mysticism. One of the foremost figures in ecstatic,
or prophetic, Kabbalism, Abulafia developed his own theory of Jewish
mysticism. It is not surprising that this unconventional wandering prophet,
apparently influenced by the Sufis during his travels, attracted quite
a following. Abulafia sought a state of mystical union with God beyond
the individual self.
Enlightenment Story Excerpt:
When I came to the night in which this power
was conferred on me, and midnight—when this power especially expands and
gains strength whereas the body weakens had passed, I set out to take up
the Great Name of God, consisting of seventy-two names, permuting and combining
it. But when I had done this for a little while, behold, the letters took
on in my eyes the shape of great mountains, strong trembling seized me
and I could summon no strength, my hair stood on end, and it was as if
I were not in this world. At once I fell down, for I no longer felt the
least strength in any of my limbs. And behold, something resembling speech
emerged from my heart and came to my lips and forced them to move. I thought—perhaps
this is, God forbid, a spirit of madness that has entered into me? But
behold, I saw it uttering wisdom. I said: "This is indeed the spirit of
wisdom."