An Overview of the Kabbalistic Tradition - The Contemplative Tradition

Kabbalah iyunit, the category to which belong the majority of Kabbalistic texts in circulation today, sets out to explain the process whereby the created realm evolved into "autonomous" bounded existence through the will of an infinite Creator, elaborating as well upon the nature of the "dialogue" between Creation, as it proceeds toward the fulfillment of its destiny, and the Divine source from which it emerges. On an even deeper level, Kabbalah iyunit explores the complex nature of Divine reality itself--in particular, the paradox of God being immutable and yet active and reactive in His relationship with Creation.

An additional aspect of the contemplative tradition, often mistakenly identified with "practical Kabbalah," is the elaboration of various meditative techniques used to ponder the Divine subtext of reality. These include the contemplation of Divine Names, of Hebrew letter permutations and of the ways in which the sefirot (supernal Divine forces) harmonize and interact. Some ancient forms of Kabbalistic meditation actually produced a visionary experience of the supernal "chambers" wherein God's Glory resides.

Even if pursued for the sake of tikkun hanefesh ("spiritual improvement") alone, these meditative techniques, void of theosophical reflection, can still be considered legitimately "contemplative" by virtue of their refining influence upon consciousness.