Preprint Essay Version 2 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Rigpa and Shekhinah – The Convergence of Mystical Experiences

Version 1 : Received: 22 April 2022 / Approved: 28 April 2022 / Online: 28 April 2022 (03:20:47 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 29 April 2022 / Approved: 5 May 2022 / Online: 5 May 2022 (03:20:40 CEST)

How to cite: Bretan, A. Rigpa and Shekhinah – The Convergence of Mystical Experiences. Preprints 2022, 2022040264. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202204.0264.v2 Bretan, A. Rigpa and Shekhinah – The Convergence of Mystical Experiences. Preprints 2022, 2022040264. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202204.0264.v2

Abstract

AbstractEliadean analysis reveals the passive or the receiving aspect of the symbol of the presence of God, the Aron ha-Berit or the Ark of the Covenant of the ancient Hebrews. Consequently, we are able to establish the inner mode or the symbolic structure of Yahweh. The Sefirotic Tree of medieval Kabbalists replicates the symbolic structure of Yahweh as revealed by the Ark of the Covenant. The feminine aspect of the presence of God remains in the consciousness of the Jewish people and blossoms in the medieval Kabbalah. It is precisely the feminine aspect that is capable of transcendence or able to acquire an infinite character.The dynamic aspect of the Shekhinah is reflective of the changes it undergoes as a result of receiving the flow from the Sefiroth above. Looking at the Sefirotic Tree as a reflection of the mind of the Kabbalist, Shekhinah represents the human ability for acceptance. A narrow acceptance corresponds to a narrow mind, whereas the infinite ability to accept corresponds to the infinite mind. A particular description of the formative function of Shekhinah represents a different mode of cognition. Similar descriptions are found in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition related to the concept of Rigpa. In order to find out the equivalence of these descriptions we analyzed the latter and found that Shekhinah and Rigpa converge at both the foundational and transcendental levels.

Keywords

Rigpa; Shekhinah; Sefirotic Tree; Kabbalah; Zohar; Mishkan; Aron ha-Berit; Eliade; Scholem; Sogyal Rimpoche

Subject

Arts and Humanities, Religious Studies

Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 5 May 2022
Commenter: Andrei Bretan
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
Comment: Added the abstract in front of the body of the article , added punctuation marks.
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