The "Mystical Chapter" of the Guide for the Perplexed

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A walk-through of the most notorious chapter of the Guide to the Perplexed, 3:51, the so-called "mystical" chapter of the Guide. Tour through Maimonides’ Parable of the Palace. Learn How to Meditate like Maimonides and How to Die the Perfect Death.
Full “Maimonides and Mysticism” Series: • Maimonides' Mysticism
1 Biography: Who was Maimonides? The Genius who Reshaped Judaism: His Life, Works and Legacy: • The Genius who Reshape...
2 Literature Review: Survey of Scholars on Rambam - The Many Maimonides, from 13th-21st Century: • How Many Maimonides ar...
3 Reception History: Maimonides and the Kabbalists: Rejection, Acceptance, Influence and Secret Conversions: • Maimonides and the Kab...
4 Clarifying Terms: Kabbalah, Mysticism and Rationalism: Maimonides the Rational Mystic? • Maimonides the Rationa...
5 A Guide to the Guide: Introducing the Greatest Book of Jewish Philosophy Ever Written: • The Greatest Book of J...
6 The Forgery: The Theology of Aristotle and Maimonides Negative Theology: • The Forgery that Foole...
7 Cosmology and Prophecy: Maimonides on Cosmic Spheres, Flow, Active Intellect, Prophecy and Angelification: • Becoming an Angel in M...
8 How to Unite with the Mind of God: Maimonides’ Epistemology (theory of knowledge) and Providence: • How to Unite with the ...
9 Maimonides’ Perfect Death: Walkthru of Guide 3.51, Maimonides’ Parable of the Palace: • The "Mystical Chapter"...
10 Maimonides’ Path to God: 3.51’s primary themes, language and its relationship to mysticism and kabbalah: • Maimonides’ Path to God
11 Light, Love and Silence: Maimonides’ Divine Illumination, Religious Langue and Negative Theology: • Maimonides’ Mysticism ...
12 Maimonides, Agnostic or Mystic: Does Maimonides believe that one can reach God?: • Was Maimonides a Skept...
13 Maimonides’ Last Puzzle: The Riddle at the End of the Guide, Maimonides’ Turn to Ethics: • The Riddle at the End ...
14 Maimonides and the Lost Secrets of Israel: Maimonides’ true goal of the Guide: • Maimonides and the Los...
Bonus:
15 Maimonides’ Hasidic Afterlife: Chabad and Rambam. Maimonides’ reception in the Chabad Hasidic movement: • Maimonides’ Hasidic Af...
16 Maimonides’ Crisis of Faith: Discussion with David Fried out what is going on in Maimonides’ Guide: • Maimonides’ Crisis of ...
Check out‪@TheModernHermeticist‬ reading this chapter: • Selections from the Gu...
Thumbnail art credit to: The Book Every Jew Needs to Know: Maimonides' Mishneh Torah • The Book Every Jew Nee...
00:00 Intro to 3.51
02:50 Parable of the Palace
07:29 Instructions for Study
08:41 Worship
09:48 True Knowledge
10:37 The Bond of the Intellect
11:03 Reason for the Mitzvot
11:23 Mediation Plan
16:37 People who Reached
18:00 A Prayer
19:25 Theory of Providence
19:55 Problem of Evil
22:33 Kiss of Death. Death of Kisses
25:20 Immortality?
26:29 Close of the Chapter
Sources and Further Reading:
James T. Robinson, ‘Preface’ in The Cultures of Maimonideanism, James T. Robinson (ed.) 2009, p. ix
Chaim Navon, Introduction to The Guide, Lecture 26, “The Parable of the Palace and the Special Duties of Those who Attain Truths,” 2005
Hanna Kasher, “The Parable of the King’s Palace.”
Steven Harvey, “Maimonides in the Sultan’s Palace.”
José Faur, Homo Mysticus: A Guide to Maimonides's Guide for the Perplexed, 1998
Yamin Levy, “How I was Taught to Read the Guide” in Principles, Essays on Halakha, Maḥshaba and History, Journal of the Ḥabura, January 2022, Edition 4
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6 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 92

@Phorquieu Год назад

Thank you for creating this video on RU-vid. You've done a service here. This discussion was very enlightening to me, personally. You seemed to be saying that, in this mystical chapter of such a long book, Maimonides seems to be democratizing God's Covenant - to extend it to EACH righteous and correct-thinking person. That would mean that each person can make their binding covenant with the merciful and protective God - and just as God once promised the ancient Hebrews every blessing, He now will do the same for every sincere person (if we learn how to "correct" ourselves and live in line with holy laws of purity of thought, intention, and deed). Thanks again for putting your thoughts and studies out there for the edification of all.

@madsenketty Год назад

23:44 If Joseph, a mere student, was listening to your teachings today he would thank Maimonides for guiding him through the final leg of his journey home.

@ISAbyanymeans 2 года назад

Might be the best scholarship ever on Maimonides.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

🙈

@vrixphillips 2 года назад

ooo can't wait for the next episode! But yeah, I'm loving this series. Until now I had heard of Maimonides and his Guide, but never really knew why they were important.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you Vrixton. I’m glad we get to share and study him together. Looking forward as well :)

@victoriahhigman9611 Год назад

This has been a most precious class. I’m going through The Guide but very slowly so this preview has made me determined to get there. Thank you.

@SeekersofUnity Год назад

You’re most welcome Victoriah. Glad we could be of service.

@purpleman1974 2 года назад

This is a great episode, as it not only gives you a perspective on Maimonides as a mystic/philosopher/historical figure, but also serves as an encouragement and reminder to those of us who strive to lead a totally meditative life, even among the mundane. His view is totally comparable to that of the Christian hesychasts, whose only goal was to merge with God through 24/7 meditation on Christ ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me"). Thank you.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it so :)

@giffica 2 года назад

Maimonides is an absolute prophet. A true genius. And this video is life changing. Thank you, truly.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You’re most welcome Giffica. Glad to share it.

@phtoed 2 года назад

a remarkable achievement, getting beyond conceptual baggage, obtaining direct spiritual experience through mind training (focusing) a repeated practice resulting in a fuller extended awareness. not merely conceptual thought . Thanks for sharing.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You're most welcome friend.

@ivanamarkovic8588 2 года назад

Thank you Zevi 💚 Thank you Seekers od Unity 💚 The entire series is very enjoyable. I very much loved the last episode and today's one. Beautiful presentation, citations and insights. I will watch this episode from time to time again, just to be encouraged to align to the beauty of this teaching.... 💟♾️💟 to Maimonides 🫂💟🫂 to all of you Happy coming Shavuot 🌾🌾🌾

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you Ivana. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. Thank you for letting me know. Happy Shavuot. Love, Zevi

@ivanamarkovic8588 2 года назад

@@SeekersofUnity 🤗

@amenbanur5432 2 года назад

I recently get enlightened by « the guide to the perplexed » readings discovered from this channel and I want to think you from all my heart for this bliss. The mirrored image of Maimonides figure in Islamic tradition that found is Ibn Arabi with his thoughts and soufi philosophy that represent (in my opinion) a wonderful mariage between soufisme and Kabbalah tradition in spite of the divergence of the 2 worlds.

@johnnewton8017 2 года назад

Loving this series!!! I listened for a second time and I just have to say WOW. I’ve been feeling down trodden lately and this video really helped me to perhaps look at things from a different perspective. Thank you for another beautiful treatment of Maimonides.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Aw thank you you John. I’m so glad it was about to help you shift things a little. We’re in this together. Love, Zevi

@ISAbyanymeans 2 года назад

Need MORE Maimonides!!!

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Hehe. We got a few more coming ;)

@rabbiberelscharf8585 2 года назад

Beautiful 👏 חג שמח!

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you Rabbi Scharf 🙏🏼 חג שמח :)

@jbaquinones 2 года назад

Awesome piece again Tzevi. I don't understand why you see this piece as the lighter one. This was by far the most intense for me. The memories of visions during meditations kept surging up and to be honest I feel exhausted as I'm writing this. I'm grateful for your work and blessings. Sholom.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you Jorge. I hope you had space for the intensity. I thought it was just a little lighter philosophically, but not less intense. Thank you for being on this journey with us. May it bring to beautiful things. With love, Zevi

@jbaquinones 2 года назад

@@SeekersofUnity My brother?!!!! The Guide is part of the Torah for me. I meditate on it pretty much every day. This intensity is love. And like in love, there's work and fear to be honest. Still, every time I summon that experience is like falling in love all over again. Thank you for bringing a new light to this love. I wish my Hebrew was good enough to read Abulafia's writings on the subject. I guess life just keeps us busy enough to not be able to do what we love all the time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

@heqaib 2 года назад

I cannot say enough about how interesting this video is. There is no doubt that you have strongly encouraged me to read the chapter for myself. Your efforts in putting this review together are fantastic.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you for saying that Raphael. So glad you enjoyed it.

@SorayaAzizSouleymane 8 месяцев назад

I haven't seen the one on epistemology yet. But I'm running there now!

@1sedate1 2 года назад

Very much appreciated! Many things here resonated well with me. Great peace and joy upon you! Toda and praise HaShem forevermore!

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You’re most welcome my friend. Thanks for joining.

@kkolodner 2 года назад

Love this series keep up the great work😀

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you friend ☺️ Got a couple more episodes to churn out.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Have you seen the rest of our Maimonides series? ru-vid.com/group/PL_7jcKJs6iwXUKaVOvNJWr5DSLPTYV0j9 Support Seekers on patreon: www.patreon.com/seekers

@phtoed 2 года назад

it is the human who effects the blockage of spiritual awareness in ourselves

@josemarques9313 2 года назад

awesome lecture! thanks a lot and I wish you all the best! greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You're most welcome Jose. Thank you for joining us. Love from Jerusalem.

@josemarques9313 2 года назад

@@SeekersofUnity Glad to hear from you! Chag Sameach Shavuot! And Shabbat Shalom!

@selsickr 2 года назад

Very nice. The Rambam at the end of Hilchot Tshuvah also says that the highest level of religieous spirituality is attaining the love and passion for God. The Rama in the beginning of the Shulchan Aruc as well brings the Rambam from the Guide over here. The Rama is interesting as he puts it right at the beginning to show just how important it is. These references are very interesting as they show that even the revealed side of Judaism’s aim is to reach the love and passion of God.

@guozijian 2 года назад

This has been a valuable study for me. I had recently purchased Guide for The Perplexed and was planning on exploring it. Your series arrived just in time. Also, Maimonides description of the Castle that you mentioned tonight reminded me of Suhrawardi's The Shape of Light's Epilogue. Very similar overtones between the two. So thank you very much.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You’re most welcome Richard. Glad you’re finding the series to be of service. Thank you for pointing out that beautiful parallel. Love, Zevi

@piergiorgiouberti7937 2 года назад

thanks and congratulations for your work, thanks to it I have the opportunity to learn more about that culture, especially Jewish, which is little known in Italy, and to explore some themes already known. Congratulations also for the high quality of your videos.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you Piergiorgio. I'm really glad you're enjoying it. Thank you for the warm feedback :)

@maritapinkstaff3199 2 года назад

Love this video and this channel so much! Thank you!

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You’re so welcome. Thank you for telling us 🥰

@joshcalandrella3887 2 года назад

Hi! This week's video was excellent. The symbolism of the kiss from the passage of Shir Hashirim illuminates some of the what the Alter Rebbe was speaking on in Tanya ch. 49. Excellent work with the Rambam series! I look forward to it every week.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you so much Josh. That’s really kind of you :)

@DJW1981 2 года назад

Very good work, you are so inspiring, thank you 🙏

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you friend. Off to record the next one 🙏🏼☺️

@DJW1981 2 года назад

@@SeekersofUnity I'll be looking forward to that!

@andypandapaws5325 2 года назад

The part about “hot” and “quenched passions” simply is saying that before experiencing sex, the mind of a person anticipates that pleasure as being above all others. But once that urge is satisfied, then rationally a person can come to the conclusion that experiencing Union with God may in fact be more satiating and fulfilling. I don’t think he is saying the body is bad, but there is a tendency for the will of a young person to be more wholly directed towards sexual fulfillment than spiritual fulfillment. In a scenario where a young person experiences profound spiritual states before sexual experiences, then they can be spoiled and not get as much pleasure from sex by comparison. It’s not the vigor or virility that is a hindrance, but rather the person’s fundamental will to bodily fulfillment (which he just simplifies inversely as the weakness of the body and the fires of passions quenched). Likewise, the attainment of pure thought is difficult to discover prior to the sensation of vulnerability, as a strong person’s confidence is more directed towards the will to power so to speak. Vigor, virility and the power of will, are all compatible and promote the maintenance of pure thought, it’s just the prior factors is listed which initially tend to obstruct the attainment of pure thought.

@junaid12345678901234 2 года назад

What do you mean by pure thought?

@andypandapaws5325 2 года назад

Here pure thought as initially quoted means plain and simple thinking clearly. Most people have lots on their mind and the idea of pure thought isn’t something they have experienced or can even contextualize. Thought not over whelmed by inner monologue, or thoughts not filtered through a substantial emotional lens, or thoughts as conditioned to err on the side of reason and more focused on hearing or observing-possible with training, experience and study. The norm for many people’s thoughts easily distracted, forgetfulness, and/or a desire oriented will.

@junaid12345678901234 2 года назад

Thank you for elaborating I will only quote Kierkegaard in response to your idea of pure thought that the ultimate paradox of thought is to want to discover something that thought itself can not think.

@andypandapaws5325 2 года назад

So ultimate but so simple as well. It’s not until the mind exhausts itself in its effort to seek to fill itself that it realizes it was precisely that thinking which prevented it from its natural potential to feel beyond thought.

@rkmh9342 2 года назад

8th to like! Thank you for the illuminating lecture! The first time i heard that in the throes of the intellectual love of G-d that no evil will befall, i immediately hoped that it was not some sort of victim-blaming dogma; instead what jumped to mind was Joseph saying that what y'all meant for evil, G-d has used for good (paraphrasing). The second time, i hoped it was not blatant hatred of disabled minds and my beloved siblings with developmental differences. What jumped to mind was that the intellectual love of G-d is relative to the person's capacity instead of some absolute standard. This might run at odds with the tier below being metaphysics and below that science and math and logic etc. but i think that this idea misses the point he was making that it is all about ensuring that you are aiming at the right target so to speak and i think that my developmentally different siblings have an especially unerring sense of the g-dliness and beauty of reality. That it is for them a more natural and easy way to find that true and deepest worship. Much love!

@nickkirkpatrick8809 2 года назад

Thank you!!!!!!!!

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

You’re most welcome Nick ☺️🙏🏼

@nicholasbattaliou5882 2 года назад

9:15 to 9:20 initially shocked me as there seems to be a presumption of idolatry if anything other than the meditation on communion with G-D is practised. This initially made me wonder about Merkavah viewings, which in my case of rendering a physical model, may be lumped in with idolatry. But of course not, as we do not worship the Merkavah, we worship within it.

@elskid206 Год назад

I'm thrilled with the content, but I'm confused by the order. You reference last week and next week but I'm not sure how to follow the sequence in which you presented these FABULOUS talks.

@SeekersofUnity Год назад

Here’s all of them in order: Maimonides' Mysticism ru-vid.com/group/PL_7jcKJs6iwXUKaVOvNJWr5DSLPTYV0j9 Glad you’re enjoying them 🙏🏼

@mcdramabear 2 года назад

Keep going with this topic. I really resonate with Divine Providence.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you friend. We got a few more to come :)

@psciunn 2 года назад

it would also be interesting by connect this chapter of the guide together with Shaar Ychud VeEmunah of Tanya.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Certainly.

@psciunn 2 года назад

I'd like to hear your introduction and your comment on the book by Levy Ben Ghershom - RaLBaG - Ghershonide: Milchamot HaShem. I find it much more systematic and clear than Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

We’ll get there, G d willing. One great book at a time.

@Bookthief666 2 года назад

🔥🔥🔥🙏🙏🙏💯💯💯

@dionysiuscarthusianus3015 2 года назад

It would be interesting to see what Jews make of Christian mystical exegesis of the Old Testament (im thinking of Origen, Gregory Nyssa, Augustine etc)

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Ya. That would be interesting 🤔

@aiselifrailov 2 года назад

Hi! Would you be able to suggest a place where I could learn from the Sefer line by line with the Hebrew and then English? I bought the sefer only in Hebrew and I have been trying to find an in depth lecture that goes by each sentence and elaborates on it. Thank you for your wonderful and enlightening videos!

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Hey Aisel. Thanks for your sweet words. I’m so glad you’re appreciating the series. You can find a Hebrew/English translation of the text on Sefaria (let me know if you need help with a link to that). I’m not sure where you might be able to find an in-depth line by line series online but maybe googling will some something up. With love, Zevi

@aiselifrailov 2 года назад

Thanks so much Zevi! Kol hakavod for all the hard work you do! It's really an inspiration! Shabbat Shalom 🥰

@andrijaturcin2302 8 месяцев назад

❤

@ladylongsleeves3175 2 года назад

Hello Zevi! Your work is amazing, I really admire you. I want to do some research on the archangel Michael, do you know any writings on him I could read? Did Maimonides write about Michael? I'm also interested in Christian sources. Thank you!! ❤️

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Hey friend. Thank you for the kind compliment. You're most welcome. I can't think of any good sources off the top of my head. We discussed Maimonides theory of angelification, but not specifically in regards to Michael. Here's some good places to start online: www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10779-michael en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_(archangel)

@clairebennett7831 2 года назад

Michael was the guardian of Israel. The name, my son’s means Who is like God? He was an archangel. An angel, a Malach in Hebrew, is a messenger. He is one of the generals of the heavenly army. The translation Lord of hosts actually means Lord of armies. Heaven is organized in the manner of a military. You can ask on one of the Torah sites online. Christians of various persuasions have many interpretations.

@ladylongsleeves3175 2 года назад

@@SeekersofUnity Thank you so much!

@petemoss3160 2 года назад

22:50 i understood Maimonides was a confused old man.

@julianhayachid 2 года назад

@EliAbramzon 2 года назад

One comment: the king in the palace is actually not God but His presence = Intellect. See chapter 52: WE do not sit, move, and occupy ourselves when we are alone and at home, in the same manner as we do in the presence of a great King; we speak and open our mouth as we please when we are with the people of our own household and with our relatives, but not so when we are in a royal assembly....The king that cleaves to us and embraces us is the Intellect that influences us, and forms the link between us and God.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Thank you for that correction and distinction.

@nuetrino Год назад

hello

@SeekersofUnity Год назад

👋🏼

@tanyalan511 2 года назад

Сapital H for Him.

@samarchauhan1262 2 года назад

jew jitsu 😁

@clairebennett7831 2 года назад

I would like this site a lot more if it didn’t have some stupid ad every five minutes. The last one is in Chinese. It is distracting and aggravating. Is it seekers of unity or seekers of money? Religious channels tend to not be so mercenary.

@SeekersofUnity 2 года назад

Hi Claire. Thank you for notifying us. RU-vid places ads automatically throughout the video. We went into the studio and saw that you were right about this one, they went really overboard with it. We've manually removed a bunch of ads. Thank you so much for notifying us. This project is run independently, out of pocket, supported only by kind people voluntary donating through patreon and from youtube ad revenue. A tremendous amount of time and effort goes into creating the content and the only way it can continue is if it covers it's own cost. In an ideal world (or if enough subscribers became patron) there would be no ads to distract and annoy people. But unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world and have rent and bills to pay. We hope to find a balance in an unideal situation. Thank you, Seekers of Unity