=kit005sa
sa:  Summary and/or Commentary on PVK =kit005 

PVK remarks: 
"The modern scene presents a disconcerting contrast between a
revival of fundamentalism in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, even
Hinduism, on one hand and a progressive approach which admittedly
does tend sometimes to go off the rails and smells of libertinism
and a certain aggressivity against harmony, order and nobility."
(PVK KIT 005 )

Well, that was written 20 years ago.  
Obviously PVK was not focussed primarily on Judaism; but I'll
append my own opinions on it anyhow.
(kit005_1)

PVK is concerned here to preserve the timeless essence of
traditional teachings, while updating them for the present and
even as possible "signposts for the future" (PVK KIT 005)
(kit005_2)

In passing, PVK makes a remark that seems to be nearly a critique
of the published texts of HIK, though Sharif Graham may have
corrected that in the 20 years since PVK wrote this KIT:

"That Murshid said, "Do not change my words" becomes
eminently understandable when one realizes from pursuing the
"authentic versions" to what extent some of his ideas were
misinterpreted or even reversed by well-wishers.  But the original
versions of the Gathas were headed as "sketches of thought for
study." " (PVK KIT 005)  

In this KIT PVK calls for a rededication to appreciating the
teachings of HIK, and warns against attempting to 'interpet' them.
He seems to be calling for a re-attunement to his thought and
experience.  But within our own contemporary context. That is ,
both as it applies to our present_day culture, and as it applies
to our personal situation.

PVK remarks:

"I have often pondered quizzically upon the reason why this
teaching, that marks a landmark in the spiritual thinking of our
time, is so little known." (PVK KIT 005)

One would say, 20 years later, that this remains the case, and
applies also to the teachings of PVK.

PVK asks whether the SO might do more to meet hoi polloi on their
own littered little ground (that's my denigration, not his.)
I doubt it.  
(kit005_3)


PVK tries to make clear that HIK's teaching is primarily
spiritual, not intellectual:

"In fact, Sufism has been called "tamthil":  that
is, the transference of the factual and also conceptual reality
into its meaningfulness, the gist, which is a reality for the
soul, not for the mind or the body.  It is not the conceptual
interpretation of concepts, but rather metaphor, that gives one
the chance of exercising creative thought by oneself."
(PVK KIT 005 )

Well, I've hit some of the highlights of this KIT, but missed a
lot too, so go and read it.


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COMMENTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY:


(kit005_1)
Applying it to both baal_tchuva and haverat Judaism -- both of
which I would term 'neo_traditional' albeit from opposite
attunements, right and left respectively -- I'd say that it did
not give sufficient credit to the progressive movement in Judaism,
which in fact behaved quite reponsibly, 
#L2
leaving out the Greenwich Village Homo Minyan, 
#L3
who sent their representative to the first Ruach Camp, 
#L4
no wonder Gedalya Persky became a Dovid Din Dum_dum 

#L1

I mean, there was Haverat Shalom, and the Whole Jewish Catalog --
the Red One was the first and best, but the others were good too -
- and Larry Kushner writing books out in SSudbury, ostensibly
Reform -- 

and I'd say it greatly underestimated the value from both the
hippy and straight sides of the ultra_orthodox movement --
especially in Israel.  
Moshav Meor Modi'in and the rest of R. Shlomo's chevre on the
hippy side of it.  
#L2

As for R. Zalman, he sort of stands alone, between the two,
though not really as a bridge -- 
#L3
R. Shlomo, who stood unequivocally on the traditional
side, was a bridge, because he honored everyone -- 
#L2
R. Zalman has termed himself ortho_prax 
#L3

(in contradistinction to ortho_dox -- praxis, practice;
doxa, opinion, belief -- 
#L4

both from Platonic Greek, or Artistotle anyhow 

don't toss a foreign word or technical term in
front of R. Zalamn unless you're prepared to
watch him pick up the methodology and run with
it ) -- 
#L3

but as for R. Zalman's self_styled followers -- maybe
I'd rather not know.  Hippy_dippy__doo.
#L1

TEXT:
PVK is concerned here to preserve the timeless essence of
traditional teachings, while updating them for the present and
even as possible "signposts for the future" (PVK KIT 005)
(kit005_2)

(kit005_2)
That is of course what Reform Judaism set out to do, but it was
quickly seduced by the social fashions of the late 18th and early
19th century diaspora (Germany, USA, and England) and has scarcely
evolved since, and noW seems as dated as Rockefeller Center Radio
City Music Hall -- 
#l2
gvalt, they even play an electric organ to accompany the
davening.  
#l3
And treat their rabbis with an almost pontifical
solemnity, 
#l4
and a paycheck to match.  
#l5
No wonder all the chicks want to be Rabbi's.  

In America, the Glass Ceilings are paved with
gold.
#L1

Reform is not taken seriously by the Israel religious community,
nor even the Israel anti_religious community.  "The shul I don't
go to is orthodox" as some prominent secularist once said, and the
phrase stuck in common culture.

The Israel orthodox rarely oppose Reform, much less Conservative;
they just ignore it.  The most attention they might occasionally
pay to it is to laugh it off.

------------------

(kit005_3)
I think pop intellectuallity is no more than 'dust_devils' 
#L2

(those mini_tornados that would pop up in New Mexico, knock
down my tent under the Cottonoweed from time to time -- I was
the only one who didn't put up a tipi --  and then dissipate
and disappear.   
#L1
I think it's driven by sensationalism, so it will do little or no
good to go out and play the Common Man.  
And conversely, when hoi polloi wants to pick up an idea, it will
not be put off by the oddities of whoever said it.

=================================================================

sa, Campra, 28 Dec '05 -- 27 KisLeV -- 3rd day of Chanukah
27 Dhu al-Qu'idah
Day breaking.  Looks live overcase, with light snow flurries
maybe.                                   

There's a x_country competition here today, sponsored by SwissCom 

they should only give me a free Pelephone without a keyboard that
only a needle_nosed__gnat can use, and with instructions that you
don't need to hire an archivist to learn  

I mean, sell Cellcom and buy Dutch Tulip Futures .


But I digress.

=================================================================