Look at your hand. What do you see?
A part of your body, an appendage made of bone and sinew covered with flesh and skin. It is filled with nerves, blood vessels and lymph ducts which run through it and connect it to your body, making it part of you.
You can open and close your hand. It obeys every command that your mind sends to it. It is yours -- a part of you. But what are you? Who is the real you? What happens when you tell your hand to open and close? How does your mind will it to obey its commands?
Now point a finger at yourself. If you are an average person, you will point a finger at your chest. You think of yourself as your body. But is your body the real you?
Not too long ago, a person could consider his own body an integral part of himself. You were your body and your body was you. But this is no longer the case. Scientific progress has changed the entire concept of human personality and identity.
If we would ask a person to point to himself, would he point at his heart?
Heart transplants are now an almost commonplace occurrence. They do not even make the news anymore. A person can live with another person's heart beating in his breast. If we would ask such a person to point to himself, would he point at his heart? Is this transplanted heart really part of him? Is the heart that beats within your breast the real you? Or is it something else entirely?
Researchers are predicting that within the next decade or two, brain transplants maybe possible. This would force us to completely re-evaluate the concept of human personality.
Imagine what it would be like to undergo a brain transplant. A man might be suffering from an incurable disease in his body, but still have a healthy brain. The donor, on the other hand, would have suffered irreparable brain damage, but otherwise have a perfectly sound body. The brain is removed from the sick body and placed in the healthy one.
Who is the new man? We have an old brain with all its memories, personality traits and behaviour patterns. But it has a brand new body. The old body might have been old and sick, while the new one may be young and full of energy.
Let us ask this man to point to himself. Will he point to his body? Is the real you your body or your brain?
(Actually, an analogous question is raised in the Talmud. In the case of an unsolved murder, a special sacrifice, the Eglah Arufah, was brought by the city nearest the corpse. The Talmud raises two questions: What if the head is found in one place and the body in another? And if the body is equidistant from the two cities, from what portion of the body do we measure?)
MEMORY TRANSFER
A brain transplant raises enough questions. How about a memory transfer?
The science of cybernetics has discovered many similarities between computers and the human brain. Computer technology allows one to program a memory transfer, taking all the information contained in one computer and transferring it to another. All that passes from one computer to the other is information.
What if this were done with the human brain? This may lie in the realm of science fiction, but even if it will never be possible in practice, it is certainly possible in theory.
Let us try to envision such a memory transfer. Assume we have a person with an incurable disease where neither the body nor the brain can be salvaged. We clone a new body for this individual, brain and all. The possibilities of doing this have already been discussed at length in the literature. This new body has a blank, new brain, capable of functioning, but without any memories or thought patterns. As a final step, we accomplish a memory transfer, bringing all the information from the sick person into the brain of the new body.
The spiritual world is a realm whose substance is information.
We now have a fascinating situation. If all of a man's memories, thought patterns and personality traits are transferred to a new body and brain, this personality literally exists in his new body. But nothing physical has been transferred. No physical part of him has been placed in the new body. All that has been placed in this new body is information that previously existed in the old brain. Yet this information contains the sum total of this person's personality.
If this is true, then it offers us tremendous new insight into our original question: Who is the real you?
The real you is not your body or brain, but the information contained in your brain -- your memories, personality traits and thought patterns.
(The philosophical Kabbalists write that the spiritual world is a realm whose substance is information. It is an arena where information can interact without being attached to or dependent on matter. Thus, an angel, for example, can interact with another angel, even though they have no connection with anything material. Angels can also interact with material objects. Such a spiritual world would also be able to interact with the information comprising the human personality.)
GOD'S MEMORY
What happens then when a person dies?
We know that the body ceases to function. The brain becomes inert and the physical person is dead.
But what happens to the real you -- the human personality? What happens to all this information -- the memories, thought patterns and personality traits? When a book is burned, its contents are no longer available. When a computer is smashed, the information within it is also destroyed.
What happens to all this information -- the memories, thought patterns and personality traits?
Does the same thing happen when a person dies? Is the mind and personality irretrievably lost?
We know that God is omniscient. He knows all and does not forget. God knows every thought and memory that exists within our brains. There is no bit of information that escapes His knowledge.
What, then, happens when a person dies?
God does not forget, and therefore all of this information continues to exist, at least in God's memory.
(An allusion to this is also found in the Kaballah. Gan Eden or Paradise is said to exist in the sefirah of Binah -- the divine understanding. This may well be related to the concept of memory. Souls, on the other hand, are conceived in the sefirah of Daas -- knowledge. One may say that while we live, we exist in God's knowledge; after death we exist in His memory.)
We may think of something existing only in memory as being static and effectively dead. But God's memory is not a static thing. The sum total of a human personality may indeed exist in God's memory, but it can still maintain its self-identity and volition, and remain in an active state.
This sum total of the human personality existing in God's memory is what lives on even after man dies...
CUTTING DOWN AT STATIC
But what is immortality like? What is it like to be a disembodied soul? How does it feel to be in the World of Soul?
We know that the human brain, marvellous organ that it is, is still very inefficient as a thinking device. Henri Bergson has suggested that one of the main functions of the brain and nervous system is to eliminate activity and awareness, rather than produce it.
In "The Doors of Perception," Aldous Huxley quotes Prof. C.D. Broad's comments on this. He says that every person is capable of remembering everything that has ever happened to him. He is able to perceive everything that surrounds him. However, if all this information poured into our minds at once, it would overwhelm us. So the function of the brain and nervous system is to protect us and prevent us from being overwhelmed and confused by the vast amount of information that impinges upon our sense organs. They shut out most of what we perceive and remember. All that would confound us is eliminated and only the small, special selection that is useful is allowed to remain.
All of our mind's capabilities must be funneled through the reducing valve of the brain.
Huxley explains that our mind has powers of perception and concentration that we cannot even begin to imagine. But our main business is to survive at all costs. To make survival possible, all of our mind's capabilities must be funnelled through the reducing valve of the brain.
Some researchers are studying this effect. They believe that this reducing-valve effect may be very similar to the jamming equipment used to block out offensive radio broadcasts. The brain constantly produces a kind of static, cutting down our perception and reducing our mental activity.
This static can actually be seen. When you close your eyes, you see all sorts of random pictures flashing through your mind. It is impossible to concentrate on any one of them for more than an instant, and each image is obscured by a host of others superimposed over it.
This static can even be seen when your eyes are opened. However, one usually ignores these images since they are so faint compared to our visual perception. However, they still reduce one's perception, both of the world around him and of himself.
Much of what we know about this static is a result of research done with drugs that eliminate it. According to a number of authorities, this is precisely how the psychedelic drugs work.
NAKED BEFORE GOD
Now imagine the mental activity of a disembodied soul standing naked before God. The reducing valve is gone entirely. The mind is open and transparent. Things can be perceived in a way that is impossible to a mind held back by a body and nervous system. The visions and understanding are the most delightful bliss imaginable (as per: "the righteous, sitting with their crowns on their head, delighting in the shine of the Shechina").
This is what Job meant when he said (19:26), "And when after my skin is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I see God."
But then, an individual will also see himself in a new light. Every thought and memory will be lucid, and he will see himself for the first time without the static and jamming that shuts out most thoughts.
Even in our mortal physical state, looking at oneself can sometimes be pleasing and at other times very painful. Certain acts leave us proud and pleased with ourselves. Others cause excruciating pain, especially when we are caught.
Imagine standing naked before God, with your memory wide open, completely transparent without any jamming mechanism or reducing valve to diminish its force. You will remember everything you ever did and see it in a new light. You will see it in the light of the unshaded spirit, or, if you will, in God's own light that shines from one end of creation to the other. The memory of every good deed and mitzvah will be the sublimest of pleasures, as our tradition speaks of the World to Come.
But your memory will also be open to all the things of which you are ashamed. They cannot be rationalized away or dismissed. You will be facing yourself, fully aware of the consequences of all your deeds. We all know the terrible shame and humiliation experienced when one is caught in the act of doing something wrong. Imagine being caught by one's own memory with no place to escape...
We are taught that the judgement of the wicked lasts 12 months. Even the naked soul can gradually learn to live with this shame and forget it, and the pain eventually subsides. It may be more than coincidence that 12 months is also the length of time required for something to be forgotten in Talmudic law. Thus, one mourns a parent for 12 months and says a special blessing upon seeing a close friend after this period of time.
(Of course, there is an exception to this rule. There are the nonbelievers and worst of sinners reckoned in the Talmud. These individuals have nothing else but their shame and have no escape from everlasting torment.)
But even temporary torment is beyond our imagination. Nachmanides writes that all the suffering of Job would not compare to an instant in Gehenom. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov says the same of a man who suffered for years from the most indescribable torments: It is still better than a single burn in Gehenom. Mental torture cannot be compared to the mere physical...
WHAT THE DEAD THINK OF US
There is another dimension of immortality discussed in the Talmud (Brachot 18b). It asks: Do the dead know what is happening in the world of the living?
After an involved discussion, the Talmud concludes that they do have this awareness. The Kabbalistic philosophers explain that the soul achieves a degree of unity with God, the source of all knowledge, and therefore also partakes of His omniscience.
When a person dies, he enters a new world of awareness. He exists as a disembodied soul and yet is aware of what is happening in the physical world. Gradually, he learns to focus on any physical event he wishes. At first this is a frightening experience. You know that you are dead. You can see your body lying there, with your friends and relatives standing around crying over you. We are taught that immediately after death, the soul is in a great state of confusion.
What is the main source of its attention? What draws its focus more than anything else?
We are taught that it is the body. Most people identify themselves with their bodies, as we have discussed earlier. It is difficult for a soul to break this thought habit, and therefore, for the first few days, the soul is literally obsessed with its previous body. This is alluded to in the verse, "And his soul mourns for him" (Job 14:22).
This is especially true before the body is buried. The soul wonders what will happen to the body. It finds it to be both fascinating and frightening to watch its own body's funeral arrangements and preparation for burial.
Of course, this is one of the reasons why Judaism teaches us that we must have the utmost respect for human remains. We can imagine how painful it is for a soul to see its recent body cast around like an animal carcass. The Torah therefore forbids this.
This is also related to the question of autopsies. We can imagine how a soul would feel when seeing its body lying on the autopsy table, being dissected and examined.
The disembodied soul spends much of its time learning how to focus. It is now seeing without physical eyes, using some process which we do not even have the vocabulary to describe. The Kabbalists call this frightening process Kaf HaKela -- like being thrown with a sling from one end of the world to another. It is alluded to in the verse, "The soul of my master shall be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord your God, and the souls of your enemies shall He sling out, as from the hollow of a sling" (1-Samuel 25:29). The soul perceives things flashing into focus from all over, and is in a state of total confusion and disorientation.
One of the few things that the soul has little difficulty focusing on is its own body. It is a familiar pattern and some tie seems to remain. To some extent, it is a refuge from its disorientation.
EARTHLY HABITATION
The body begins to decompose soon after it is buried. The effect of watching this must be both frightening and painful. The Talmud teaches us, "Worms are as painful to the dead as needles in the flesh of the living, as it is written, 'his flesh grieves for him' (Job 14:22)." Most commentaries write that this refers to the psychological anguish of the soul in seeing its earthly habitation in a state of decay.
The Kabbalists call this Chibut HaKever, the punishment of the grave. We are taught that what happens to the body in the grave can be an even worse experience than Gehenom.
The more one is obsessed with one's body during his lifetime, the more he will be obsessed with it after death.
This varies among individuals. The more one is obsessed with one's body and the material world in general during his lifetime, the more he will be obsessed with it after death. For the person to whom the material was everything, this deterioration of the body is most painful.
On the other extreme, the person who was immersed in the spiritual may not care very much about the fate of his body at all. He finds himself very much at home in the spiritual realm and might quickly forget about his body entirely...
Many of us think of death as a most frightening experience. Tzaddikim, on the other hand, have looked forward to it. Shortly before his death, Rabbi Nachman of Breslav said, "I very much want to divest myself of this garment that is my body."
If we truly believe and trust in a merciful God, then death has no terror for us...
Reprinted with permission, from "If You Were God" (NCSY-OU)
(41) Yehudith Shraga, July 15, 2012 6:12 AM
Do not mix psych and soul
Anything except HaShem Himself is called by Kabbalaist The Wish to Recieve, while haShem is The Wish to Bestow.The Creator and the creation is too opposide qualities and are separated from each other because of this basic difference, all what Kabbalah teaches is the way to get the similarity of qualities with the Creator= to get the bestowing nature instead of our natural getting nature, Kabbalah states that we don't know anything of the Creator Himself in the meaning of Atzmuto( so the exprations as G-d's Knowledge,Memory should be used very carefully),what we know about the Creator comes from His interaction with us according to the principle MiMa'ase'ihka HaYkarnukha= Out of Your actions We know You,this knowledge is percived by the Sages and is given to their students according to their spiritual leve, all what is revealed has one and the only purpose to help us understand the spiritual worlds structure and the ways of ascending spiritual levels, through the work in Torah and Mitzvot. All of us is the Wish to get and the part which is transfered to the bestowing quality is Eternal and called in general name Soul( it has a lot of subdivisions of course), all the rest of our memories, knowledges, experiencies, feelings what so ever has nothing to do with the spiritual worlds and our soul, because they are within our animal fuctional nature, which is used by us for the satisfaction of our wish to get, and if not corrected into the bestowing nature belong to our psyche and is mortal as our physical body is. The article written above should be understood from the point that in Kabbalah the term " body" means the desire to recive or the wish to get, which is the Only creation= Yesh MiAin= something out of nothing, and all the rest we know is the portions and combinations of the levels of this Wish to Get. So again- memories, knowledges, feelings are the forms of the wish to get, and if not corrected for the sake of bestowing may not ascend even lowest spiritual world.
(40) Ruth, May 13, 2012 6:43 AM
Fear is gone.
Knowledge is power. No more fear of death.
(39) Me, August 29, 2011 9:10 AM
Thank you! for Kabbalah 101
I really think it's awesome that you use a public forum to expand to the teaching of the Kabbalah to those that may not have a reliable instructor. I have always had an inner knowing that science exist in the mind of G_d. I've also had the same intuitive feelings, that not only science but we as well exist in G_d's mind. This led me to the Kabblah and the Hermetic writings. Again Thanks!, It's good to see someone, of what I would honor as reliable and respectable source, to verify what I've felt all along. This is the first section I've read. I'm sure you will see more comments from me as I read more. Bless you.
(38) Wassim, July 10, 2011 1:20 AM
Rabbi Kaplan, one person I'd like to bump into in heaven
Didn't know he'd passed away. What a great thinker if I say so myself. Science is no threat to the real God, it's only a threat to some people's rudimentary understanding.
(37) Wassim, July 10, 2011 1:02 AM
Rabbi Kaplan has his finger on God's pulse. Well done.
Great leaps will be made when scientists like Rabbi Kaplan apply their methodical minds to understanding God. Truely cutting edge stuff. I'll have to read it again a few times just to absorb it properly before I can comment further.
(36) louis, July 1, 2011 12:52 PM
thanks for shearing these amazing information it gives room for a real good thinking.
(35) Ruth Housman, June 28, 2011 8:58 PM
to come ful circle!
This is beautifully explicated. My life is telling me something in the NOW and I think it is possible to be fully "soul" while here, while attached to one's body, and I think the celebration and deepening knowledge that ALL is G_D within any soul is just this. There can be a total opening to consciousness here, but this is very much "keyed" to a gift from the Divine Presence, and for me, it is the increasing and total knowledge and awe of a universe dominated by this Divine Intelligence of which we are all a part and apart, as being here we need to engage in the paradox of all one, and, alone. And perhaps this is the dwelling place itself of G_d, and perhaps to divine this, that G_d created a world out of G_d's own loneliness, is to know we are all totally dependent on ONE. There is soul and there is sole, and I say, the words carry the story. I am seeing this in every possible way, through a life of astounding connects and through the deconstruction of words across Babel.
(34) Anonymous, June 28, 2011 5:38 PM
no, this is not the case
Although I fully agree with the core concept of this article, namely that we are not matter, but information, I have to say that science is far from the described methods. Brain transfer, cloning for organ donation (as described) memory transfer are not possible and not even forseen as beeing possible in the next decades. While cloning might be solved, there are ethical concerns about it, so it will not be allowed. Regarding memories, we have very little knowledge (I am teaching neuroscience) on how memories are stored. What is sure, is that is probably very different from how information is stored in a computer. It is really problematic to use science as a field of speculation. These thought experiments are a stand alone field, they do not need the cover of a scientific vocabulary.
(33) Brenda Doubet, June 28, 2011 5:21 PM
Loved this and found it most interesting. Definitely gives everyone something to think about.
(32) up, June 27, 2011 10:41 AM
carding and foam
i remeber to have studied something about the hardness of the departure of the soul if the man is too much matherialistic... can you help me?
Anonymous, June 27, 2011 6:15 PM
gur aryeh
If i rememeber correctly, the Gur Aryeh on Chumish on the verse yaakov avino lo meis (didnt die) explains bec death is a departure from materialism & since yakov avino was not materialistic he didnt have the pains of death
(31) maiurice rothman, June 27, 2011 12:16 AM
recpgnition of the soul
Dear friends. Thank you for this article on the soul. It seems to me that at this particular point in history; it appears that the "thought of a soul"is beginning to emerge. Why? When people satisfy their body; the soul need is not met. The ego rlules the roost. When not so, the "soul need arises" as if "out of the ashes" Obviously they "have nothing in common" even though the world is ruled by the body needs/ego of course. When one is prominent, the other is not! Bi-polarism is endemic in todays society, and this "fact" indicates that! Nooe can "serve two masters" Will it be "academia or will it be the "intrinsic nature of mankind" the conflict of the ages "materializm verses spiritualiity". Since the ego personality disintergrates at death, then the "victor in this tormental struggle obviously is the "highermind/soul" In truth there is no contest at all; it just appears to superficial minds to be a struggle, - materiializm never can conquer spirituality/soul since "it has no power of its own: - the "unseen world makes the seen world what it is: and not the other way around. Why wait for death to find this out since it can be experienced and "realized while living in a physical body" our soul even unrecognized still exists especially when people are awakened! maurice rothman
(30) Robert M. Miller, June 26, 2011 10:25 PM
Some sounds like information conservation in string theory and entanglement in quantum mechanics.
Modern physics, if I am correct, speaks about the conservation of information, and entanglement in quantum mechanics. Our ancestors who wrote Kabbalah seem quite intuitively atuned to this. They used the language of religion, but the thought processes seem to to in this direction. I think Leonard Susskind at Stanford, and Edward Witten might get a kick out of seeing how Physics intuitive some of their ancestors were.
(29) Sara, June 26, 2011 9:49 PM
This article is beautifully written
My dad who was a man of God always told me when we die we become so excited or disoriented that angels have to meet us on our journey to calm us down.
Andy, June 27, 2011 3:33 PM
If dying ain't disorienting what is!
The closest thing to dying we go thru is birth. Check out a new born as he/she emerges from the womb for the definition of disorientation. As I understand it there are a few souls on such exalted spiritual levels that death is not disorienting [Moshe Rabbenu] is a classic example, but for most of us a transition from one world to another is traumatic. I imagine/hope/believe that the experience in being reoriented back into the world of souls is a well worthwhile process however painful. It seems to me that not being permitted to go thru this process[having no share in the world to come] is a great tragedy. Let's hope that we all are blessed to live what remains of our lives with such heightened spiritual awareness that we both merit eternal life and that the transition is a relatively smooth one. A midrash I've heard is that when the commandments where given at Sinai the souls there left their bodies yearning to return to the original source. So disorienting was that experience that after the first two commandments the people pleaded for Moses alone to receive the rest and repeat it for them which is what I'm told happened.
(28) Chavala Cohen, June 26, 2011 7:45 PM
Today is the one year yahrzeit of my son.
This article was well written and comforting to read as I remember my young son who died one year ago today. Thankfully he was dead when his condo caught on fire and his body was burned up. I look foreword to seeing him again someday. He was 46 and loved his Judaism.
(27) Hyam Yona Becker, June 26, 2011 7:44 PM
brain transplants are impossible
I'm surprised that Aryeh Kaplan would write about the probability of brain transplants. The spinal cord would also have to still be attached as well as the entire autonomic nervous to every part in the body. It would be the mother of all operations and probably never be possible.
Eli, June 27, 2011 2:12 PM
Re Hyam - The brain transplant
It is a common debate among philosophers about "trading minds" which I believe was the point of this essay - the possibilities it would open as well as the unique difficulties that would arise with memories and personalities. In terms of possibilities - currently, we are not near a break through in terms of transplanting a brain but it being an impossibility in not in the science lexicon. As mentioned, heart surgery was seemingly impossible until it was studied and examined thoroughly. In the research field of medicine, there are many experiments constantly being done on brain activity and its relation the spinal cord as well as the different sections of the brain. I am not sure if we will see a brain transplant in our days but I would not count out the possibility of partial transfusions or of eventual brain transplants. Best of luck
(26) Shoshana, June 26, 2011 4:33 PM
Unbelievable
An unbelievable clear account of what and who we really are, which on one side can be invigorating but on the other a frigtening thought. It's something we have to remind ourseves of from time to time - to bring our life events and tests into perspective. Although many may have suspected this information, R. Kaplan explains it to us in a very clear and down-to-earth fashion. I guess this idea also allows us to understand why the bodies of the righteous tzadikim do not decompose. Thanks to Aish and R. Kaplan for having this vital information available to us now and hope we can all take advantage of it.
(25) Allan, June 26, 2011 3:49 PM
Really, isn't this all speculation, interpretation, conjecture? Even the greatest minds cannot know what is in the mind of HaShem, true? Thinking does not make it so. It really presupposes from our perceived reality.
(24) David, June 26, 2011 2:44 PM
I think you missed a step.
"We know that God is omniscient. He knows all and does not forget. God knows every thought and memory that exists within our brains. There is no bit of information that escapes His knowledge." Sorry, I'm not sure I follow. How do we "know" this?
(23) Anonymous, July 13, 2009 4:51 PM
wonderful except one concept was left out
The concept left out is that our Creator, may know everything but when repentance for evil or bad deed was given to human one, the Creator has no more of this memory in the mind. In other words there is a Holy Scriipture that states the sin/bad deed is forgotten by the Creator as the sin was repented of, the desire to continue the sin is vanished and the memory for the human is there for a lesson, but to the Creator who gave the repentance to the human, the Creator cleans the slate for the human as long as the human remembers to keep the sin out of his/her life forever, hating the sin and all it encompasses. This article was very helpful and gave me hope in the desire to know more of the death of loved ones. thank you for the information, Bstarr KY
(22) Anonymous, December 15, 2007 6:11 PM
Appreciation for article and personal experience.
It is so very refreshing to read articles about the soul world and to know there is a more universal awareness of the soul. As a frum female, wife of a Rebbe, my initiation with spiritual growth, numerous years ago, had been frought with secrecy as my world was not as open to these concepts. Having had numerous past life experiences as well as experiences in the soul world and powerful dreams all within a Torah framework has lead me to a deeper awareness of G-d and the perfection with which this world was created. It is amazing to have been granted a small understanding of Tikkun and how our every action and thought and intention helps to create the world around us. I am planning to B'ezras Hashem begin writing a book of personal experiences with past lives and dreams that will with the blessing of G-d bring people closer to Him and help humanity to develop trust versus fear as we live and breathe and do the will of Hashem. I will keep you posted on the progress of the book. This is my first time publicly expressing future plans and my hope is for your blessings for my success.
(21) Glenn Morris, October 9, 2007 3:44 PM
Very informative!
I found this article to be very intrigueing and has placed a new light on my perception of the soul. Thanks
(20) Dorothy, August 14, 2005 12:00 AM
WOW!!!!!
I pray more people will be led to your site.
I am starting from the bottom and working my way up
(19) carlos, November 18, 2003 12:00 AM
I feel alot like CHARLES 6/22/03 IN HIS COMMENTS: I've developed an unsatiable thirst for what I call "mystical knowledge" which I believe was triggered by present and past life experiences which to this day I have no full explanation for. Life as I knew it just a few months ago has completely vanished, I feel like I've opened up the gates to a world I always knew existed but managed to suppress. Or better, I feel like "someone else" has opened these gates for me. I've been on a desperate search for knowledge since. I've tried to find answers in many fields, i.e. buddhism, santeria, christianity, but these avenues were not providing the answers that I needed but rather worsening my severe confusion. Finally by chance I discovered Judaism and am gradually finding the answers (although not at the desired speed) to my mind/soul troubling questions. Judaism is turning out to be a chartered way to an "unchartered territory". However, my questions are still many and I feel I've only taken the first step in this million mile walk!
thank you
(18) jc barham, August 1, 2003 12:00 AM
Fascinating reading for the interested student..
My interest in the Kaballa is heartfelt. Thank you making it undertandable as well as available to the layman/woman......
(17) tziporah mandel, July 23, 2003 12:00 AM
very insightful thank you
(16) Charles, June 22, 2003 12:00 AM
eye-opening
I've had many questions and theories about a lot of topics that were discussed in the article. Before I came to this site, I thought these were just "unchartered territories". I always felt that I had no one to go to concerning philosophies of this sort. I found it quite intriguing and affirming.
(15) elizabeth lawerence, June 12, 2003 12:00 AM
knowledge
I am so pleased to find out some of the truths that i was always wondering about. Thank you for the knowledge.
liz
(14) Anonymous, April 21, 2003 12:00 AM
I found this article particularly frightening. As I sit here, immersed in the physical world it is a morbid thought to think about the World of Souls. It gave me insight that 1) Loved ones can partake in our joy and actually share in our physical lives, 2) The more obsessed one is with the material world, the worse it is after life, and 3) That everything is viewed be it good or bad, and the transgressions that we have made cannot be dismissed.
Thank you for this article, it is very well written, and a necessary awakening.
(13) Joseph, March 11, 2003 12:00 AM
spirit/body relationship explained very well
Spirit, mind and Body always baffeld me,
now I see clearly. Thank you for this very informative article.
(12) Helen, February 14, 2003 12:00 AM
This was a wonderful article to read and perhaps a bit extreme. It describes to us who we really are in great clarity.It is however scary to think about it considering all our materialistic concerns that we struggle with everyday. Thanks a lot for sharing this article!
(11) pamela, December 3, 2002 12:00 AM
Death
Thank you for the clarity i have been seraching for. i must live my life right.
(10) Dr. ALEXANDER KRISTIAN PESIC, November 14, 2002 12:00 AM
What a glorious messege!
Hello!
I just want to say that this story is the best story i have ever read in my life. It fully explaines what spirit is, where we are and where we are going.
Thank you very much, God bless you and have a happy day.
(9) Glen Priddy, October 26, 2002 12:00 AM
Thank you for such thoughtful words.
These words disturbe me, because of my complacency of mind.This is troubled waters, but waters that must be addressed.Thank you so much.
(8) Glen Priddy, September 29, 2002 12:00 AM
Most thought provoking.
This indeed calls for a lot of research on my part. Thanks for stimulating my thoughts.
(7) Yoka Bazilewich, September 5, 2002 12:00 AM
What an insight
I am not new to the writings of Aryeh Kaplan. Many years ago I was in awe of his books Anthology 1 and 2 . This article helped me a lot. I lost my dear mother in April and in shul I never hear much about death. What a tremendous loss to the world that he died so young.
(6) Anonymous, September 3, 2002 12:00 AM
I am inspired and astonished each I read (or re-read) any idea or concept conceived and written by Aryeh Kaplan. What a loss he died so very young. His words reach beyond analytic thought and pierce the knowing, quiet place of the soul.
(5) Christi, September 3, 2002 12:00 AM
Very interesting description
I felt like this article was very informative. It really made me think about what will happen. This also made me think about what kind of person I am, someone who is materialistic or spiritual.
(4) Aron Bakst, September 2, 2002 12:00 AM
Understanding the soul is the strength to deal with the worst of tragedies.
I read this article 30 years ago in an Orthodox Scientists magazine and as an inquisistive religious teenager it opened my eyes. I suddenly understood in 21st century terms what a Neshama is.
Very sadly on Tisha Beav 1990 at mid-day my son Hillel zl was killed in a road accident outside our house. Standing there on the pavement wittnessing the worst, the very worst nightmare a parent could have, my wife, Zippy, in a very composed way asked me what is happening to him now? Has he got any pain? What is he feeling?
I was able at this most horrific moment to retrieve in my memory this article and used all that I had learnt about the Neshama to see us through the next few hours.
He was called Leopold Kaplan at the time but it was the same giant of a thinker and philosopher and Godol.
We wrote a book about the trauma of losing a son and how to survive and whilst there are more elements in our book Rav Aryeh Kaplaan Zztl plays a very important role.
(3) Anonymous, September 2, 2002 12:00 AM
Brilliant!
Very deep and very enjoyable.
(2) yaffa, September 2, 2002 12:00 AM
Areyh Kaplan's Brilliance!!
Fascinating!! I am only sorry that I could not have learned with him, I lost a lot.
(1) Glen Priddy, September 1, 2002 12:00 AM
Fantistac
I have at last heard and read the point of view from a Jewish source that I have waited for years to confirm my gut feeling.
Thank you Rabbi Kaplin.
Dios le bendiga Senor.