THE BA'AL SHEM TOV - WIKIPEDIA

 

Opposition to Lurianic Kabbalah

 

"It is remarkable that Besht, whose starting point was the same as that of Isaac Luria's Kabbalah arrived at seemingly opposite results. His conception of God was panentheistic; while the school of Luria laid the greatest stress upon the principle of emanation. Later Hasidic works spent much effort in reconciling these views. The Besht's fight against asceticism was directed more against the school from which it sprang than against pure Talmudism. His teachings concerning "joy" (simcha) were especially opposed to asceticism. The followers of Luria considered weeping an indispensable accompaniment to prayer; while Besht considered unrestrained weeping and feelings of sorrow to be wholly objectionable."

 

-and this-

 

"Another important result of his doctrines, which was of great practical importance, was his denial that asceticism is pleasing to God. "Whoever maintains that this life is worthless is in error: it is worth a great deal; only one must know how to use it properly." From the very beginning Besht fought against that contempt for the world which, through the influence of Isaac Luria's Kabbalah, had almost become a dogma among the Jews. He considered care of the body as necessary as care of the soul; since matter is also a manifestation of God, and must not be considered as hostile or opposed to Him."

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal_Shem_Tov#Opposition_to_Lurianic_Kabbalah

 

Any search of Gnosticism + emanations + divine sparks, reveals that what Luria taught is Gnosticism at base, with Jewish terminology and a few tweaks.

 

It is no surprise that Luria encouraged asceticism and sadness. Those are the mainstays of "Ignatian spirituality" - and they lead invariably to the dark side.

Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan, Tzfat, Israel

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