The Doctrine and Literature of the Kabalah

by Arthur Edward Waite

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1902 edition by the Theosophical Publishing Society, London.

533 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1902

About the author

Arthur Edward Waite was a scholarly mystic who wrote extensively on occult and esoteric matters, and was the co-creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. As his biographer, R.A. Gilbert described him, "Waite's name has survived because he was the first to attempt a systematic study of the history of western occultism viewed as a spiritual tradition rather than as aspects of proto-science or as the pathology of religion."

Reviews

[Philemon - · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: This largely overlaps A. E. Waite, The Holy Kabalah q.v.

[Dan]

Contents:

PREFACE

BOOK I. POST-CHRISTIAN LITERATURE OF THE JEWS
ARGUMENT
I. INTRODUCTORY
II. THE OCCULT STANDPOINT
III. THE KABALAH AND THE TALMUD
IV. DIVISIONS OF THE KABALAH

BOOK II. THE DOCTRINAL CONTENT OF THE KABALAH
ARGUMENT
I. THE UNMANIFEST GOD
II. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TEN EMANATIONS
III. THE DOCTRINE OF THE FOUR WORLDS
IV. THE DOCTRINE OF THE COUNTENANCES
V. THE INSTRUMENTS OF CREATION
VI. THE PATHS OF WISDOM
VII. THE DOCTRINE OF PNEUMATOLOGY

BOOK III. SOURCE AND AUTHORITY OF THE KABALAH
ARGUMENT
I. DATE AND DOCTRINE OF THE "BOOK OF FORMATION"
II. MODERN CRITICISM OF THE BOOK OF SPLENDOUR
III. THE DATE AND AUTHORSHIP OF THE BOOK OF SPLENDOUR
IV. THE AGE OF ZOHARIC TRADITION
V. ALLEGED SOURCES OF KABALISTIC DOCTRINE
VI. ISLAMIC CONNECTIONS OF THE KABALAH
VII. INFLUENCE OF THE KABALAH ON JEWRY

BOOK IV. THE WRITTEN WORD OF KABALISM: FIRST PERIOD
ARGUMENT
I. EARLY KABALISTIC LITERATURE
II. THE BOOK OF FORMATION
III. CONNECTIONS AND DEPENDENCIES OF THE BOOK OF FORMATION

BOOK V. THE WRITTEN WORD OF KABALISM: SECOND PERIOD
ARGUMENT
I. THE BOOK OF SPLENDOUR: ITS CONTENT AND DIVISIONS
II. THE BOOK OF CONCEALMENT
III. THE GREATER HOLY SYNOD
IV. THE LESSER HOLY SYNOD
V. THE DISCOURSE OF THE AGED MAN
VI. THE ILLUSTRIOUS BOOK VII. THE FAITHFUL SHEPHERD
VIII. THE HIDDEN THINGS OF THE LAW
IX. THE SECRET COMMENTARY
X. THE LESSER SECTIONS OF THE BOOK OF SPLENDOUR

A. The Additions
B. The Commentary on Ruth
C. The Mansions or Abodes
D. The Secret of Secrets
E. The Discourse of the Young Man
XI. THE ANCIENT AND LATER SUPPLEMENTS

BOOK VI. THE WRITTEN WORD OF KABALISM: THIRD PERIOD
ARGUMENT
I. EXPOSITORS OF THE BOOK OF SPLENDOUR
A. Moses of Cordova
B. Isaac de Loria
C— Napthali Hirtz
D.— Abraham Cohen Irira
E.— R. ISSACHAR BEN NAPTHALI
II. THE BOOK OF PURIFYING FIRE
III. THE MYSTERIES OF LOVE
IV. MINOR LITERATURE OF KABALISM

BOOK VII. SOME CHRISTIAN STUDENTS OF THE KABALAH
ARGUMENT
I. INTRODUCTORY
II. RAYMOND LULLY
III. PICUS DE MIRANDOLA
Kabalistic Conclusions:
IV. Cornelius Agrippa
V. PARACELSUS
VI. JOHN REUCHLIN
VII. WILLIAM POSTEL
VIII. THE ROSICRUCIANS
IX. ROBERT FLUDD
X. HENRY MORE
XI. THOMAS VAUGHAN
XII. KNORR VON ROSENROTH.
XIII. RALPH CUDWORTH
XIV. THOMAS BURNET
XV. SAINT-MARTIN
XVI. ELIPHAS LEVI
XVII. TWO ACADEMICAL CRITICS
XVIII. THE MODERN SCHOOL OF FRENCH KABALISM.
A.— PAPUS
B.— STANISLAS DE GUAITA
C— LEON MEURIN, S.J.
XIX.— THE KABALAH AND ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY
XX.— THE KABALAH AND MODERN THEOSOPHY

BOOK VIII. THE KABALAH AND OTHER CHANNELS OF ESOTERIC TRADITION
ARGUMENT
I. THE KABALAH AND MAGIC
II.— THE KABALAH AND ALCHEMY
III. THE KABALAH AND ASTROLOGY
IV. THE KABALAH AND FREEMASONRY
V. THE KABALAH AND THE TAROT
VI. THE KABALAH AND MYSTICISM

[Owlseyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very complete; a book for those who know what's the "final manifestation"; the "kingdom"; the "mother of all living"; "Malkhut". One for those who search the "light which reflects all colors".



Some lines are dedicated to Christians (Raymond Lully, Picus de Mirandola, Cornelius Agrippa, John Reuchlin, William Postel, Henry More, Paracelsus, Robert Fludd...) who were students of the Kabalah; including the Portuguese Abraham Cohen Irira, a follower of the Luria's school.

[Peter J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waite is brilliant but this work is sooo boring.