Kabbalah-of-the-Golden-Dawn-Pat-Zalewski - D Ank Unlimited

40 The Kabbalah ofthe Golden Dawn
THE HEKHALOTH TEXTS
Ismael ben Elisha (in 130 C.E.), a disciple of Nechunjah ben Hakana,
taught a particular form of Kabbalistic mysticism which later appeared in
what is known as the Hekhaloth texts. These tell how his own teacher
took him on a journey of the Heavenly Palaces, and of the visions he
experienced there. The actual structure and formation of these palaces
will be discussed in later chapters, but the framework from which they
developed is very important. Generally the name "Merkabah" (Chariot)
denotes the method, whereas the name "Hekhaloth" (Heavenly Palaces)
refers to the place they visited, but over the years the two names have
become confused with each other. The Lesser Hekhaloth text is such an
example, as it is more concerned with the Merkabah itself.z7 One of the
most interesting aspects of this manuscript from the occult viewpoint is
the section on angelology. This gives definitions and functions not only
of various angelic choirs, but of individual angels as well. Like the Bahir,
the Lesser Hekhalorh text shows yet another stepping stone to Kabbalistic
associations through the seven heavens.
The content of the Greater Hekhaloth is more in line with the title,
providing details of additional Heavens or Palaces that the earlier
Hekhaloth texts did not include.i" A further Hekhaloth text is the Biblical
Book of Enoch which most Christian churches have not deemed as
"inspired." Considering the contents, it is not surprising, though most
Biblical scholars firmly connect the book with pre-Christian times.2 9
Part of the Merkabah vision is the use of certain symbols to enter
various spiritual or psychological levels'S'(which we will call "heavens" for
the sake of argument). This is not unlike the "Book Of Pylons" from the
Egyptian Bookof the Dead, and one wonders whether or not this methodology
was part of the teachings Moses brought with him from Egyptian
learning. The application of putting any visionary experience to the test
27 See Odeberg's "Enoch 3" in which the Lesser Hekhalorh text is given. Scholars such as Scholem
have considered it 3rd century and a corrupt manuscript. It appears though that this manuscript
in Its original form was lst century, since it concerns the teachings of Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha,
but was possibly added to by other authors over the centuries. Scholem's "Jewish Gnosticism,
Merkabah Mysticism, and Talmudic Traditions."
28 instead of Seven Heavens, the Greater Hekhaloth relates [Q Seven Heavens in each Heaven.
29 Also see "Secrets of Enoch" in Forgotten Books of Eden which some have considered as being Isr
century. It tells of a journey through ten Heavens and not the usual seven.
)0 See "Hekhaloth Text" in Kaplan's Meditation andthe Kabbalah, for various examples.