Just a tid-bit from this fantastic book for now, the story of The Four Rabbinim...
"One Night four rabbinim were visited by an angel who awakened them and carried them to the Seventh Vault of the Seventh Heaven. There they beheld the sacred Wheel of Ezekiel. Somewhere in the descent from Pardes, Paradise, to Earth, one Rabbi, having seen such splendor, lost his mind and wandered frothing and foaming until the end of his days. The second Rabbi was extremely cynical: "Oh I just dreamed Ezekiel's Wheel, that was all. Nothing really happened." The third Rabbi carried on and on about what he had seen, for he was totally obsessed. He lectured and would not stop with how it was all constructed and what it all meant... and in this way he went astray and betrayed his faith. The fourth Rabbi, who was a poet, took a paper in hand and a reed and sat near the window writing song after song praising the evening dove, his daughter in her cradle, and all the stars in the sky. And he lived his life better than before."
Lovely lessons don't you think?
(Shout out to Ecogrrl who introduced us to this book...)
"One Night four rabbinim were visited by an angel who awakened them and carried them to the Seventh Vault of the Seventh Heaven. There they beheld the sacred Wheel of Ezekiel. Somewhere in the descent from Pardes, Paradise, to Earth, one Rabbi, having seen such splendor, lost his mind and wandered frothing and foaming until the end of his days. The second Rabbi was extremely cynical: "Oh I just dreamed Ezekiel's Wheel, that was all. Nothing really happened." The third Rabbi carried on and on about what he had seen, for he was totally obsessed. He lectured and would not stop with how it was all constructed and what it all meant... and in this way he went astray and betrayed his faith. The fourth Rabbi, who was a poet, took a paper in hand and a reed and sat near the window writing song after song praising the evening dove, his daughter in her cradle, and all the stars in the sky. And he lived his life better than before."
Lovely lessons don't you think?
(Shout out to Ecogrrl who introduced us to this book...)
3 comments:
Hun, I have been reading this since quite some time... and it makes up for a great lesson and a great discussion... this must be an amazing book... do share more when you have the time!
It is not just the perspectives that amaze me here, but also the degree of acceptance people have to certain nature of things, possible even miracles. I am reminded of the scripture that states that without faith miracles cease to exist. I find the third Rabbi the most interesting! Actually, fascinating!!!
I say this because he was obsessed with what he had seen, and was interested and thus went onto talking about it more and more. But, then I reckon he must have gotten carried away with the intricities that he got judgemental about it and betrayed the faith.
The last rabbi who directed his experience to something creative lived joyfully and a better life. Hmm... I reckon, in that context good musicians are therefore complemented to have left a long and evr lasting impact.
AH I can go on and on... I loved this small section that you have shared!
Love this excerpt. It certainly sounds like a really good book to make you think about what it is saying. I will have to check this book out. Thanks for sharing.
you are welcome!!! it took me a while to read it - chapter at a time - but it had so many great lessons. glad you are loving :)
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