40 Mystics is a unique initiative that probes some of the most pressing questions with some of the greatest mystics alive today. Spanning 80 scholars over two seasons across 5 continents, each conversation shares specific insights and perspectives and as a whole a new understanding emerges on an ancient topic. For each conversation there are transcriptions, sources, shorter clips and educators guides which you can find on this website. The diversity of voices reflect a diversity of perspectives: the views and opinions expressed by guests are solely their own and do not constitute endorsement by the podcast, its host, producers, or partners.
While the format of this podcast is new, the approach is not. For example, the following
short clip that shows Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's conversation around Jewish mysticism.
And the following was Rabbi Adin Steinzaltz framing of what Jewish mysticism is:
“The goal of Jewish mysticism is the effort (combined with the practice) to come close to things, a yearning for identification. This yearning includes all things, small and large, but its special goal is an identification with the innermost aspect of everything- the Divine, Mysticism, therefore, is the desire to remove the outer coverings of things which hide their inner quality. Only through finding innerness in our life, as well as the innerness of all things, will this desire for full identification enjoy any kind of gratification. It is possible, therefore, to perceive two processes at work in mysticism. First, an activity which is mainly speculative-that is, the intellectual effort to remove the shells of reality. Second, the activity by which, after the removal of the outer coverings, one binds oneself to the truth. These two processes make up, respectively, the philosophy and practice of mysticism.”
We hope you enjoy your journey through these profound ideas and welcome any feedback to
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