Gemara

no angels need apply
"the original intention was for humankind to be conscious of G-d's Unity much more directly"
The Arizal On The Torah











The two-letter hebrew root, mem-tet מט, symbolizes the archangel Metatron in Jewish mystical literature.There are 3 three-letter hebrew roots derived from this two-letter root, mem-tet. They are:

שמט shin-mem-tet - (remove support [1])

מלט mem-lamed-tet - (move fast and escape [1])

מוט mem-vav-tet - (totter and yoke [1])

The first two three-letter roots pertain to the psychological situation where one is dependent upon angelic support for the mystical experience of the divine chariot. It is written [Zohar I, 97b; III, 118a] that the 4 angels Gavriel, Michael, Rafael and Uriel support the divine chariot. Consequently, should one of the angels withdraw support, the chariot would collapse. Should the chariot collapse, one would need to move fast to escape the harmful repercussions of that event.

Yet against this merkavah catastrophe comes the Talmud. The names of the 4 angelic "supports" is described by the acronym Gemara [Kehillas Yaakov, erech gemara]. In light of this knowledge, it can be seen that study of gemara moves one from a state of dependence on angelic support to a state of independence from angelic support for the mystical experience, by purifying consciousness and by promoting the ability to be supported by one's own essence in devekut with the Divine Essence.

Independence from angelic support and the ability to self-organize adaptability within all worlds is the birthright.

There are dangers associated with merkavah mysticism. In terms of mechanism, we can see that the first 3-letter root reflects removal of angelic support from one dependent upon angelic support for the mystical experience. In other words, one unworthy of coming into the Divine Presence is prevented from doing so. The second 3-letter root follows from implementation of the first root (where angelic support has been removed) and assists one not quite worthy, yet not without some merit, to escape. This second root provides the ability to move fast to avoid the immediate consequences of a collapsing chariot. To reiterate, the second root pertains to a situation where one has acquired sufficient merit to avoid immediate death.

In contradistinction to the first two 3-letter roots, the third 3-letter root pertains to a situation where one is independent of angelic support and is supported by one's own inmost essence in complete devekut with the Divine Essence. In this latter case, though one's psychospiritual equilibrium may totter (calling to mind Rabbi Akiva's description of trying with all his might to maintain balance while in Aravot), the soul's support can never be withdrawn.

This latter root also reflects an in-parallel dynamic congruent with worthiness, where the letter tav (ת the letter of truth) is anchored securely within one's soul through one's essence. This mystery is intercalated with a woman's monthly cycle - vav-samekh-tav). In consequence to purifying the heart through simple Torah study and by observing its mitzvot (particularly Taharat HaMishpacha), the connection is made to the integral balance inherent to essence.

Think of the mechanism this way. Imagine the configuration mem-vav as an immune cell defense receptor in the bloodstream of yetzirah. As an immune receptor, it functions to bind any loose letter tav (the letter of truth) floating around unbound by the body's tissues like it is an infectious sheker. Binding tav in the form of sheker activates an inflammatory-natural killer cell response with the aims of killing the infectious target and preventing sickness in the body. Now, once one achieves integral balance, one is judged good to go, and instead of tav, a tet (pervasive goodness) becomes bound to mem-vav cellular receptor in the body's bloodstream. If one is judged unworthy, then a free-floating higher avidity tav becomes bound to it.

Here in this analogical scenario, the mem of mem-vav represents the 4 worlds as manifest in yetzirah, and vav functions to discern truth in parallel with tav. A tav has higher avidity than tet and is bound mem-vav if it is free-floating. Binding a tav by mem-vav over a tet results in death - mavet or mot. The mem-vav will bind the tav if tav (truth) is not securely bound by the body through its physical actions (through doing the mitzvot).

Back to the latter 3-letter root, in this case, the mystical vessel is no longer really a chariot (a collection of dead though animated movable parts), but a living organism capable of adapting as needed to the metaphysical environment. In this manner (al mot, Shir HaShirim 1:3) is "the angel" mem-tet transformed and reintegrated into the human experience through the root mem-vav-tet.

The vessel has become a living organism capable of self-organizing adaptability able to navigate all worlds, where one's free choice (bechirah) is in harmony and aligned with The Divine Will. This too, is the birthright.

Paradoxically, it is also written that the 3-letter root, mem-vav-tet, implies loosing hold or falling apart. This might be true for one dependent upon angelic support. But, for one independent of angelic support, the root holds the exact opposite meaning and the meaning becomes "to hold together by tottering" which enables true communication "to be released" (through the word himaleit, also derived from the mem-tet root). This "loosing hold" meaning of the root, for the independent one, also acts synergistically with the word himaleit as a mechanism through which expanded consciousness releases itself from the mystical experience and "returns" to normal awareness.

[1] Etymolgical Dictionary Of Biblical Hebrew, R. Matityahu Clark

through meditating on the mishna, your soul will become a chariot ...

R. Chaim Vital, Sha'are Kedusha, 4th section; Mishna Meditiation

Express in truth, whatever the soul reveals; for with each spark of truth, torches of light assemble, illuminating the whole world, and from such fragments of inner truth will the Great Truth emerge. [Rav Kook, Lights Of Holiness 1:168]

technorati tags: gemara torah judaism kabbalah jewish mysticism