Reading Notes: Zohar | A Kabbalistic Interpretation of "The Wicked" vs. "The Righteous"

Let me know what you think.

[@philosophy_schilling]

Have you read any of the Kabbalistic literature available to us? If not, what religious scripture/concept, etc. would you like to see an esoteric interpretation of?

[@viktorpaulr2e]

I have often interpreted my personal suffering as a necessary condition for spiritual liberation. I grew up in a family and community that was predominantly catholic. Until I studied Philosophy and World Religions in college, I was completely ignorant about looking at the world and interpreting my inner experience other than through that indoctrinated lens. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on suffering and spiritual awakening as they are challenging my beliefs. Be well!

[@philosophy_schilling]

Thank you for sharing and for your kind and thoughtful response. The soul's journey for us all is quite a sacred mystery.

[@pandoraephraim3552]

I certainly agree that an esoteric interpretation is truer than an exoteric one when dealing with the righteous verses the wicked. As to whether or not it's possible to have enlightenment without a dark night of the soul, there is something to be said for the typical way redemption is generally understood in Christianity in that there almost seems to be a necessary fall from grace before salvation can be achieved, but I think this is a cultural limitation predicated on the way in which salvation is believed to happen according to the dominant interpretation of the work of Christ, and isn't necessitated by the scriptures themselves. Perhaps enlightenment can be taught without necessitating suffering in order to achieve it, but I think there's something to the notion that life necessarily leads to sorrow and suffering sooner or later, and what Simone Weil said I think is pertinent to the issue, that the significance of religion isn't that it finds a cure for suffering but a use for it.

[@philosophy_schilling]

Thanks for your thoughtful reply and wisdom. Yes, life as we have known it thus far has suffering as an inevitable experience for sure. But many religions and spiritualities envision a "new earth" or a different dimension where suffering is highly mitigated or completely done away with. I think it is compelling to imagine how growth and evolution will happen in that realm since we are so used to having it happen through a life of duality, contrast and suffering.

[@pandoraephraim3552]

@@philosophy_schilling some imagery from the book of Revelations comes to mind, how the new heaven and earth will have no night or darkness and no sea, both of which are symbols for the unconscious... hard to imagine but interesting food for thought.