Kabbalah and Christianity : The Link Between Them
Will Parfitt
When we relate the concepts and practices of different traditions to the
Tree of Life, we find there are considerably more similarities than differences.
The Tree of Life therefore has the potential to bring harmony where previously
there may have been discord and mistrust. Through the Tree of Life, even
fundamentalists might be able to better understand those who hold differing
beliefs.
When, for example, we understand the 'gentle' and 'strong' aspects of Jesus'
character as corresponding to Chesed and Geburah, we find a correspondence
with the compassionate and courageous aspects of Mohammed's life. Further
correspondences include the Buddhist meditations on joy and nature; the
Hindu deities Indra and Vishnu; the Greek deities Zeus and Ares; the Egyptian
Osiris and Isis; and the Scandinavian gods Wotan and Thor. Even ancient
cosmologies can be of value, for an understanding of the gods and goddesses
of our ancestors not only gives us an understanding of our roots, it can
assist in making sense of the mythical aspects of dreams and visions.
If we look within any particular religion, we find different aspects of
the religion correspond to different areas of the Tree of Life. In the case
of Christianity, we can see how the different components of the Christian
faith correspond to the Tree of Life.
It is also possible to relate various aspects of the story of Jesus' life
to the Tree. The forty days and nights he spent in the wilderness, for instance,
may well relate to the experience of being in the abyss. The Devil who tempts
him is equivalent, in this case, to the demon of Daath. If Jesus had succumbed
he would have failed what Kabbalists call 'the ordeal of the abyss.' This
involves giving up everything that has gone before, giving up all sense
of power, fellowship, hope and connection. Jesus did not succumb, however,
and his experiences in the abyss strengthened him for his subsequent journey.
When he said 'My Father and I are One' he was uniting the Supernal Triad
with the middle triangle of the Tree. United, these two triangles form a
hexagram, used by both Jewish people and occultists as a symbol of the greatest
spiritual truth.
The whole life of Jesus can also be seen to correspond to the Tree of Life
in different ways. For instance, one way is to place the various stages
of his life on the Tree, working from the bottom to the top as the diagram
shows. The purpose of relating Jesus' life or that of any other religious
leader to the Tree of Life, or of relating different religious ideas to
the Kabbalah, is primarily that it offers us a greater understanding of
our own beliefs and interests. It may also profoundly affect the manifestation
of tolerance and understanding between different religious traditions.
Christianity, like all religions and spiritual systems, can be related in
these ways to Kabbalah, but there is also a specifically strong link between
mystic and esoteric Christianity and Kabbalah. Indeed, Jesus is sometimes
described as the greatest Kabbalist to ever have lived.
Will Parfitt is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and an experienced
and innovative group leader. Trained in Psychosynthesis, he has more than
forty years experience of working with psychospiritual development, and
travels internationally to run courses on a variety of subjects including
kabbalah and psychosynthesis. Will is author of several books
including 'The Complete Guide to Kabbalah', 'The Something and Nothing of Death', 'Kabbalah:The Tree of Life' and 'Psychosynthesis: the Elements and Beyond.
