Emanation
The Emanation of Creation (or just Emanation for short) is the Judaic term for the The Unfolding of Physical Creation from source Consciousness through to the physical world. In Judaism, the emanation of physical creation runs from Kether to Malkuth.
Syncretic Terms
Unfolding of Creation > Emanation, The Upbuilding
Related Terms
Notes
There is a visual representation of this multilevel process of emanation in the Jewish Cabbala known as the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is an ancient representation of how creation emanates from the mind of God (BOLIFE).
In the Cabballa, creation is represented as a staged emanation process. In this staged process of creation, intent passes through four “levels” on its way to the manifestation of the life-filled universe you see around you now. In Jewish Cabbala, the stages are named Kether (pure Consciousness) Tiphareth, Yesod, and finally Malkuth (physical universe).
स्वयम्भू (svayambhU) means self-existing or self-created. A self-created emanation of
ब्रह्माण्ड:अंशुपातन स्वयम्भू अस्ति भ्रमस्य
bhramana aMzupAtana svayambhU asti
The cosmos is an emanating self-creation of Bhrama --
Compare with saMskRti (संसृति) which emphasizes the passage through several states of existence/the course of mundane existence.
"The theory of Emanation supposes the Universe to descend in successive, widening circles of being from the supreme."[1]
"Whatever has come out of the recesses of nothingness Consider the first row as the row of angels." [2]
"The theory of Emanation is compared to a pyramid which extends from a point on the top downwards to the base in expanding gradiations. The symbol of Immanence is a point in the center, which expands all round towards the sphere." [3]
Zoroaster suggested that creation occurred as a consequence of thought. "You, 0 Mazda, created for us in the beginning by your thought material objects and consciences ... " ( Y. 3I.II)."
Islam: The purpose of emanation/creation i so that God may manifest.
God says, "I was a Hidden Treasure, so I wanted to be known." In other words, "I created the whole of the universe, and the goal in all of it is to make Myself manifest, sometimes through Gentleness and sometimes through Severity." God is not the kind of king for whom a single herald would be sufficient. If all the atoms of the universe were His heralds, they would be incapable of making Him known adequately.[4]
Further Reading
Footnotes
- ↑ Ali Shah Ikbal, Islamic Sufism (Tractus Books, 2000). p. 127.
- ↑ Mulla Jami quote in Ali Shah Ikbal, Islamic Sufism (Tractus Books, 2000. p. 128
- ↑ Mulla Jami quote in Ali Shah Ikbal, Islamic Sufism (Tractus Books, 2000. p. 128
- ↑ Chittick, William C., and Rumi. The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi. Rumi SUNY Series in Islam. New York: SUNY Press, 1983. (F 176-177/184-185)
