[Avodah] rationalism and mysticism

[Richard Wolpoe]

On 10/11/07, Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:
>
>
>
> Gnosis is experiencing G-d. Knowing G-d the way one knows one's best
> friend.
>
> The Rambam writes about knowing as much about G-d as possible. Knowing
> G-d the way one knows Geometry -- with solid proofs. But as ideas,
> not a first-hand experience of the Divine.
>
> Frankly, the way I read the Rambam it looks like he blurs the distinction
> when he places the Chokham on the same scale as the Navi.
>
> Tir'u baTov!
> -Micha
>
> --
> Micha Berger
>

I agree, BUT somewhere or other the Rambam waxes a bit poetical about how
great it is to Experience JUST GOD. AIUI, his path is  intellectual, but his
goal is  kind of a very close relationship, like a Rebbe/Talmid symbiosis of
sorts.

v'ho'dom yada goes beyond intellectual knowing into a kind of relationship,
too!  But let's substitute ECSTATIC for CARNAL.  Then just as Adam had an
Ecstasy whilst knowing Hava, so, too, a Navi would have an ecstatic
experience KNOWING Hashem. Hence a form of Gnosis, granted  with a
Maimonidean intellectual approach, but not necessarily devoid of the emotion
of Ecstasy!

Lemashal, a Chess player might have a "high" seeing a brilliant move by a
grandmaster.

-- 
Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
Please Visit:
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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