From: cms@dragon.com (Spawn of a Jewish Carpenter (Cindy Smith))
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Re: (Jewish) Kabbalistic Meditation ?
Date: 2 Jan 93 11:41:36 EST
Organization: Computer Projects Unlimited

In article <1992Dec29.204112.18052@blaze.cs.jhu.edu>, arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu (Ken Arromdee) writes:
> In article <1992Dec29.132949.9080@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> saal@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (samuel.saal) writes:
>>And calling it "misognystic" is a clear example of why goofy Catholics
>>(Spawn of a Jewish Carpenter (Cindy Smith)) ought not attempt to study it.
> 
> Of course.  After all, if someone studies it, they can criticize it.  If you
> want to keep someone from criticizing you, all you have to do is tell them
> they're not supposed to study what you study, and then you can say that they
> haven't studied it enough in order to be able to make any valid criticism.
> 
> Catch-22, of course.
>
> Ken Arromdee (arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu, arromdee@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu)

According to the Zohar.....

	Describe the five steps in the formation and life of the
 	human soul?

1.  Male souls come from the desire of Tiferet, females come from the 
desire of Malkhut.
2.  Souls, bisexual from conception in Shekhinah, are split by an 
angel in charge of conception before entering their respective bodies.
3.  Souls fly from Yesod and are alll bestowed, male and female 
comprised together, upon this level (i.e., in Shekhinah).
4.  The Holy One, Blessed be He, brings forth souls in the world; then 
they are entrusted to Laylah -- the agent in charge of human 
conception.
5.  Or, male and female souls are made separately, and descend 
individually, and become united souls male and female, and leave the 
hall and are separated among humankind.

	What causes unhappy marriages?

 Sin may cause a man's partner, decided in the halls of the upper 
world by Laylah, to be given to another, "until he corrects his 
deeds."  The women of such a fate are taken by men who've entered the 
world via transmigration of souls and who haven't therefore been 
assigned female partners from the upper world.  The physical 
separation of bodies (i.e., no sex) leads to imperfect marriages.  
This leads to all kinds of problems.  Divorce and remarriage is 
sometimes necessary to rectify the problem.  The case of David and 
Bathsheba is cited in the Zohar as an example of such a rectification.

	What is the connection between women and sorcery?  blessing?

 Women are linked strongly to Gevurah and sitra achra.  Because women 
are exempt from studying Torah, it's more difficult to remove the 
serpent's pollution from them.  Women come from the left side, 
attached to Gevurah.  Woman is also a reflection of Shekhinah, and no 
blessings from Shekhinah to man would follow without his wife.

	If intercourse is performed in purity and sanctity, what 
	happens?

 They bring sanctity on themselves and bestow a holy soul on their 
children.  Holy children are produced.

	If intercourse is performed in passion and uncleanness, what   
  	happens?

 They brings curses on themselves and bestow defiled, wicked souls on 
their children.  Their children are blemished.

	What else should one beware of during intercourse?

 The man should not think of another woman during intercourse.  If he 
does, it attracts an unclean soul.  His children will be like molten 
gods.  Before intercourse, husband and wife should together pray for a 
worthy child.

	What is the basic rule on the wasteful emission of semen?

 It is a grave sin, led to the destruction of the world.  Such a man 
is RA (evil).  It gives power to sitra achra.  There is no repentance 
for this sin.  Killing potential offspring creates demons.

-----

Well, those are a few questions and answers from the Zohar.  The Zohar 
is, if nothing else, male oriented.  But, then, so is much of the 
Bible and most literature in general.

-- 
Cindy Smith              
cms@dragon.com           
Woe to craven hearts and drooping hands,
to the sinner who treads a double path!
woe to the faint of heart who trust not,
who therefore will have no shelter!
Woe to you who have lost hope!
what will you do at the visitation of the Lord?

-- Ecclesiasticus/Ben Sira 2:12-14
Xref: sparky soc.culture.jewish:24364 soc.culture.arabic:6118