GODS: The Fabrication of a Theistic Mind

Is not Kabbalah/Qabbalah from the same root as Qabūl (acceptance)? “قبول” (qabūl).
A traditional Kabbalist is called a Mekubbal (מְקֻובָּל‎, Məqubbāl, 'receiver') or in Urdu, Maqbūl (one who has accepted, whatever :))

Correct, the Hebrew for 'to accept' is לקבל pronounced lekabel with root kbl or for the mystics qbl :)
 
This is a pretty excellent summary of a lot of traditional spiritual thought.
But in reality it would be erroneous.

The Right-Hand Path pursues union with a Universal Reality—whether defined as God, the Absolute, or a Supreme Being—where the individual self is ultimately annihilated, and personal Will is subsumed into the perceived Divine Order.
In the RHP, the individual self is not annihilated at all, but transcended; it does not cease to be, but what is realised is Selfhood as such.

"According to an error widespread in the West, the spiritual “extinction” that Buddhism has in view – for generally it is Buddhism that is cited – is a “nothingness,” as if it were possible to realize something that is nothing. Now either Nirvana is nothingness, in which case it is unrealizable; or else it is realizable, in which case it must correspond to something real."
Frithjof Schuon, "Treasures of Buddhism".

+++

The following is redacted from Paths to Transcendence according to Shankara, Ibn Arabi, and Meister Eckhart" by Reza Shah-Kazemi. (From p91-94, detailed Sufi experience according to Ibn Arabi. I have not traced the same path in Eckhart or Shankara.)

In Sufi circles, there is Fana’ (Arabic: فناء 'passing away'. 'annihilation').

This annihilation is a passing 'state', necessarily so by virtue of an enhanced state of awareness.

The individual (mawjud, مَوْجُودٌ, 'existent') exists by virtue of their participation in Being, as opposed to That Which Is (wujud وجود, 'pure Being').

The individual undergoes an 'annihilation', yet returns to their individual conscious state. Nor, in terms of outward corporeal existence, does the individual 'cease to be' during the exalted state itself – a consciousness that transcends the bounds of phenomenal, contingent being – but often uses the language of death, extinction and annihilation, when speaking of unitive consciousness.

Transcendence is attainable only when the individual is 'annihilated' with regard to the unitive state, this being the only conceivable manner in which transcendent consciousness – now no longer qualifiable as 'individual', that individuality being a consciousness defined by ephemeral, relative and contingent experience, both of the world and of itself as something other in the world.

Junayd, an early Sufi Master: "The phenomenal, when it is joined to the Eternal, vanishes and leaves no trace behind. When He is there, thou art not, and if thou art there, He is not".

To speak of 'realisation', 'enlightenment' and so on, is an apprehension of the Infinite, the Absolute, the Real.

The nature of this vision is such that the finite (individual) nevertheless originates in, and is sustained by, the Infinite. It escapes the illusory limitations of its own finitude into the Infinite: The experience of the Infinite, of Absolute, the Real, can only be infinite, absolute and real when there is no distinction between the experience and the experiencer.

The individual is veiled by the fact of its own imagined existence, and by the fact that there is no common measure between that ant the Real. It cannot be that the illusory realises the Real, or that finitude realises the infinite, contingency realises the Absolute. Darkness never becomes light, although light shines in the darkness.

Ibn Arabi says: "When that is extinguished which never was—and which is perishing—and there remains that which has never ceased to be—and which is permanent—then there rises the Sun of the decisive proof for the vision through the Self. Thus comes about the absolute sublimation (Extinction, 27-28).

That which is extinguished “never was” from the viewpoint of the Real, and even while it possessed a relative degree of existence, its essential nature was “perishing”; while, again from the viewpoint of the Real, that which remains “never was not.”

Thus, what is annihilation from the individual point of view, is not an essential change of state with regard to the Real, but simply the removal of what did not truly exist in the first place – "Naught save the Reality remains"
 
Conversely, the Western Left-Hand Path is the path of Non-Union, wherein the practitioner isolates their consciousness within their own subjective universe(s), refining the psyche/soul to attain ever-greater levels of perfection (GodSelf). Rather than surrendering to an external order, the adept of the western Left-Hand Path seeks to shape the Objective Universe in accordance with their own Will.
I know these are common terms, but the immediate implication of one who "isolates their consciousness within their own subjective universe(s)" can be seen as a 'retreat' into their own imagination?

"refining the psyche/soul to attain ever-greater levels of perfection (GodSelf)" – by what measure is that 'perfection' assumed 'perfect' if it's of one's own projection in the first place?

"the adept of the western Left-Hand Path seeks to shape the Objective Universe in accordance with their own Will" But surely the 'Objective Universe' is now a subjective perceptual state within an 'isolated consciousness'?

Or, perhaps a more salient question is, what safeguard is there to prevent the practitioner engineering their own psychosis?
 
I know these are common terms, but the immediate implication of one who "isolates their consciousness within their own subjective universe(s)" can be seen as a 'retreat' into their own imagination?
You misunderstand Imagination and Subjective Universe
"refining the psyche/soul to attain ever-greater levels of perfection (GodSelf)" – by what measure is that 'perfection' assumed 'perfect' if it's of one's own projection in the first place?

"the adept of the western Left-Hand Path seeks to shape the Objective Universe in accordance with their own Will" But surely the 'Objective Universe' is now a subjective perceptual state within an 'isolated consciousness'?

Or, perhaps a more salient question is, what safeguard is there to prevent the practitioner engineering their own psychosis?
Safeguard? Psychosis?
What are you talking about?
 
But in reality it would be erroneous.


In the RHP, the individual self is not annihilated at all, but transcended; it does not cease to be, but what is realised is Selfhood as such.

"According to an error widespread in the West, the spiritual “extinction” that Buddhism has in view – for generally it is Buddhism that is cited – is a “nothingness,” as if it were possible to realize something that is nothing. Now either Nirvana is nothingness, in which case it is unrealizable; or else it is realizable, in which case it must correspond to something real."
Frithjof Schuon, "Treasures of Buddhism".
What makes you think Buddhism is a RHP?
+++

The following is redacted from Paths to Transcendence according to Shankara, Ibn Arabi, and Meister Eckhart" by Reza Shah-Kazemi. (From p91-94, detailed Sufi experience according to Ibn Arabi. I have not traced the same path in Eckhart or Shankara.)

In Sufi circles, there is Fana’ (Arabic: فناء 'passing away'. 'annihilation').

This annihilation is a passing 'state', necessarily so by virtue of an enhanced state of awareness.

The individual (mawjud, مَوْجُودٌ, 'existent') exists by virtue of their participation in Being, as opposed to That Which Is (wujud وجود, 'pure Being').

The individual undergoes an 'annihilation', yet returns to their individual conscious state. Nor, in terms of outward corporeal existence, does the individual 'cease to be' during the exalted state itself – a consciousness that transcends the bounds of phenomenal, contingent being – but often uses the language of death, extinction and annihilation, when speaking of unitive consciousness.

Transcendence is attainable only when the individual is 'annihilated' with regard to the unitive state, this being the only conceivable manner in which transcendent consciousness – now no longer qualifiable as 'individual', that individuality being a consciousness defined by ephemeral, relative and contingent experience, both of the world and of itself as something other in the world.

Junayd, an early Sufi Master: "The phenomenal, when it is joined to the Eternal, vanishes and leaves no trace behind. When He is there, thou art not, and if thou art there, He is not".

To speak of 'realisation', 'enlightenment' and so on, is an apprehension of the Infinite, the Absolute, the Real.

The nature of this vision is such that the finite (individual) nevertheless originates in, and is sustained by, the Infinite. It escapes the illusory limitations of its own finitude into the Infinite: The experience of the Infinite, of Absolute, the Real, can only be infinite, absolute and real when there is no distinction between the experience and the experiencer.

The individual is veiled by the fact of its own imagined existence, and by the fact that there is no common measure between that ant the Real. It cannot be that the illusory realises the Real, or that finitude realises the infinite, contingency realises the Absolute. Darkness never becomes light, although light shines in the darkness.

Ibn Arabi says: "When that is extinguished which never was—and which is perishing—and there remains that which has never ceased to be—and which is permanent—then there rises the Sun of the decisive proof for the vision through the Self. Thus comes about the absolute sublimation (Extinction, 27-28).

That which is extinguished “never was” from the viewpoint of the Real, and even while it possessed a relative degree of existence, its essential nature was “perishing”; while, again from the viewpoint of the Real, that which remains “never was not.”

Thus, what is annihilation from the individual point of view, is not an essential change of state with regard to the Real, but simply the removal of what did not truly exist in the first place – "Naught save the Reality remains"
 
This is a pretty excellent summary of a lot of traditional spiritual thought.

As well as this for the LHR. However, I'm curious as to whether the Qabbalah is considered an essential tool for this, or whether it's simply one of a number of optional tools?
This is a pretty excellent summary of a lot of traditional spiritual thought.


As well as this for the LHR. However, I'm curious as to whether the Qabbalah is considered an essential tool for this, or whether it's simply one of a number of optional tools?
LHR?
Qabbalah is a RHP
Working with the Tree of Daath/Inverse Tree one works with the Qliphoth of Jewish Mysticism
The Tree of Daath provides one of several ways to work the Western Left Hand Path
 
Yes, I thought that would be the case.


You don't see it? That I find disconcerting ...
Not on this end, in fact you may have fallen into one of these categories. LOL I'll let you decide.

Safeguarding is a protective measure designed to prevent harm, whether physical, psychological, or procedural. Religious indoctrination can be one such measure.

From a Western Left-Hand Path perspective, the conventional definition of psychosis as merely a "loss of contact with reality" is reductive and biased toward a materialist worldview. Rather than viewing altered states of consciousness as pathological, the WLHP often sees them as gateways to deeper self-exploration, spiritual insight, or even self-deification.

Hallucinations and visions, rather than being dismissed as symptoms of illness, are understood as manifestations of the subconscious, spiritual encounters, or glimpses into hidden realities. The belief that there is a single, objective "reality" from which one can be detached is itself a product of social conditioning, not an absolute truth.

Furthermore, extreme stress and altered states induced by ritual, meditation, or even trauma can break down the false self, leading to transformation rather than dysfunction. From this perspective, the Western medical model often serves as a safeguard for consensus reality, suppressing individual transcendence rather than supporting genuine evolution.
 
Usually when I choose to capitalize something it is to bring importance to the word(s), sorry for the confusion
Intelligent Design: the theory that life, or the universe, cannot have arisen by chance and was designed and created by some intelligent entity.
All true enough... but the ID movement (often associated with Christian Fundamentalists) capitalized Intelligent Design as an actual proper name for their philosophy and movement, or their projects, but also to bring importance to themselves, their group, and their ideas, which involved mostly trying to invalidate and/or offer substitutes to evolutionary theory and probably other scientific developments also.

Though I think some proponents of the ID idea came at it from a broader perspective than it sometimes seemed, and while it often promoted creationism as a realistic scientific theory, maybe not always... just... promoted intelligent design, as a concept -- Basically a philosophy of science.

I think they wanted their ideas taught in science classes at school.



 
The GodSelf is not merely a product of the imposed perception bound by biology and experience, but rather a realization of a deeper, more fundamental essence that transcends the limitations of both the physical body and the mental constructs.
Is this the same concept what is referred to as the Higher Self by some?
This article seems to imply yes Higher SelfâââDo You Have One?
 
From a Western Left-Hand Path perspective, the conventional definition of psychosis as merely a "loss of contact with reality" is reductive and biased toward a materialist worldview. Rather than viewing altered states of consciousness as pathological, the WLHP often sees them as gateways to deeper self-exploration, spiritual insight, or even self-deification.
Or, neither of those things, but just a subjective delusion...

Hallucinations and visions, rather than being dismissed as symptoms of illness, are understood as manifestations of the subconscious, spiritual encounters, or glimpses into hidden realities.
Or subjective illusions ...

Furthermore, extreme stress and altered states induced by ritual, meditation, or even trauma can break down the false self, leading to transformation rather than dysfunction.
Or, subjective dysfunction...
 
In the RHP, the individual self is not annihilated at all, but transcended; it does not cease to be, but what is realised is Selfhood as such.
Ahhh, I forgot a lot of religious thought focuses on the individual ascending to Heaven, rather than returning to join with God. I'm thinking of the sea analogy I recently posted, where we are all actually part of the Divine separated in the physical world, rejoined in the spiritual

subjective delusion
Remember, we're in a faith board so we avoid trying to challenge a faith, or belief in it. :)
 
I'm thinking of the sea analogy I recently posted, where we are all actually part of the Divine separated in the physical world, rejoined in the spiritual..
Mmm .. that is a good analogy, imo.

However, I'm not sure some people want to be "joined" .. or at least, not to the righteous. 🫤
 
Remember, we're in a faith board so we avoid trying to challenge a faith, or belief in it. :)
OK, but I'm not challenging the faith per se, simply that anyone on any path, Right or Left, need to aware of the possibility of self-deception and the more damaging psychological possibilities. The RHP has clear steps in that regard, I simply wonder what, if anything, is in place for practitioners of the LHP.

The title of the thread points to 'fabrication of a theistic mind', I suppose I'm asking the same of the LHP 'GodSelf'?
 
Sankara said:
"sada me samatvam na muktir na bandhah, chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham."
(I am always in equilibrium, I do not need liberation because I have no bonds, I am a form of eternal bliss, I am auspicious, I am eternal.)
 
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