Talk:Cabala

CYPHER OF GENESIS by Carlo Suarez gives a definition of cabala. Why was the page Carlo Suarez cabala deleted? Johnshoemaker (talk) 09:23, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

Panchamrita

Reference to Panchamrita under Cabala is improper as it involves offering of a mixture of five varieties of fruits ( dry and fresh fruits) only to the deity. There is no blood element in it nor is a tantric in any form. Hence, I am removing it from the list of references in the article.--59.178.172.39 (talk) 02:42, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

? April8 (talk) 19:15, 28 April 2013 (UTC)

Hurufism

This thread pasted from a user's talk page:
Thanks for adding Hurufism link on Kabbalah pages. Is Hurufism the only sect in Islam with "Kabbalistic" influences? Is Hurufism the exception, how did Kabbalistic influences reach it? I'm supposing the direction of influence was from Jewish Kabbalah to Hurufism. NB. the syncretic influence also worked in the opposite direction, in other cases: eg. Islamic Medieval philosophers influenced the Jewish ones, eg. Sufism influenced some Jewish ethical systems such as Chovot HaLevavot book, and the mystical meditations of Abraham Abulafia ("Prophetic Kabbalah", as opposed to mainstream theosophical-speculative Kabbalah), Christian monasticism influenced Jewish mystics in Medieval Germany (Chassidei Ashkenaz) etc. April8 (talk) 15:58, 28 April 2013 (UTC)

From what you say, it looks like Hurufism has similarities with the methods and aims of Jewish Kabbalistic exegesis. However, that may not mean direct influence, but merely similarity of intent. The other main traditions of Cabala certainly have direct borrowings of the specific doctrines of Jewish Kabbalah: the 10 Sephirot in God, their masculine and feminine aspects, and the origin of the evil side from an inbalence of the Sephirah of Judgement. Christian Cabala read the christian Trinity into this borrowed system, Hermetic Qabalah merged this system with non-Jewish occultism. I wonder if Hurufism actually borrows any ideas of Jewish Kabbalah, or only has similar methods? (in which case it might be considered not an "alternative Kabbalistic tradition") April8 (talk) 16:48, 28 April 2013 (UTC)

I've read the Hurufism article, and note that it has similarities to Kabbalistic linguistic exegesis methods (either through direct influence, or through coincidence of intent): manipulation of letters of the sacred text, numerical substitutions, underlying theology of the mysticism of language. For all these reasons, calling it "kabbalistic" as the page cites, may well be appropriate, either through direct influence, or as a convenient comparison. However, as it does not borrow the specific doctrinal system of Jewish Kabbalah, it does not accurately form a parallel, alternative, non-Jewish version of Kabbalah. The other traditions listed in the Kabbalistic pages top hatnotes do: Christian Cabala arose in the Renaissance when Christian Hebraists adapted Jewish Kabbalistic doctrine to Christianity. Hermetic Qabalah is the continuation of this in non-Jewish occultism. Practical Kabbalah is the magical Jewish side of Jewish Kabbalah. Therefore, my solution:

1. I'll add Hurufism to a new section on the Cabala disambiguation page, called "Other traditions with some similarities to Kabbalah"
2. I'll delete Hurufism from the top of the page "other Kabbalistic traditions" hatnotes on the Kabbalah pages, substituting instead the words, "For other traditions with some similarities to Kabbalah, see Cabala"

I think this solves the issue. Is that OK? Best wishes April8 (talk) 17:30, 28 April 2013 (UTC)

freemasonry- http://www.irishmasonichistory.com/uploads/1/0/3/8/10381775/irish_freemasonry_in_sri_lanka.pdf cabala is also an old name for masonry

The year 1724 is notable for the appearance in Dublin of an anonymous pamphlet, it being the first reference in print dealing with Irish Freemasonry : “ A letter from the Grand Mistress of the Female Free-Masons”, published by John Harding, the authorship of which is usually attributed to Jonathan Swift. Cf. Appendix 1 … the Branch of the lodge of Solomon’s Temple , afterwards called the lodge of St. John of Jerusalem is the ancientest and purest now on earth, from whence came the famous old Scottish lodge of Kilwinning, of which all the Kings of Scotland have been from time to time Grand Masters without interruption down from the days of Fergus, who reigned there more than two thoisand years ago, long before the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, or the Knights of Malta, to which two lodges I must nevertheless allow the honour of having adorned the ancient Jewish and Pagan Masonry with many religious and Christian Rules. Fergus was carfefully instructed in all the Arts and Sciences, especially in the natural Magick, and the Cabalistical Philosophy, (afterwards called the Rosicrucians), by the Pagan Druids of Ireland … or, more properly speaking of the Cabala, as Masonry was call’d in those Days … .

“Restoring the Temple of Vision: Cabalistic Freemasonry and Stuart Culture”, Marsha Keith Schuchard, BRILL, 2002, 845 pages. Cf. page 61 7 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 165.89.84.89 (talk) 13:39, 25 May 2013 (UTC)