Daniel C. Matt > Quotes

“The inner, subtle essences can be contemplated only by sucking, not by knowing. [p. xxix]”
― Daniel Matt

“Heresy arises as a pained outcry to liberate us from this strange, narrow pit, to raise us from the darkness of letters and platitudes to the light of thought and feeling. Such heresy eventually takes its stand in the centre of morality. It has a temporary legitimacy, for it must consume the filthy froth clinging to mindless faith. [...........] On the desolate ruins wrought by heresy, the sublime knowledge of God wil build her temple.”
― Daniel Chanan Matt, The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism

“I can hardly open my mouth to speak without feeling as though the sea burst its dams and overflowed. How then shall I express what my soul has received’ How can I set it down in a book?”
― Daniel Chanan Matt, The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism – A Compact Translation with Practical Analysis and Historical Context for Laypeople

“What science shows us about the evolution of our universe and ourselves is as awe-inspiring as the accounts in Genesis or the Kabbalah.”
― Daniel C. Matt, God & the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony between Science and Spirituality

“The enlightened will shine—letters and vowels. Like the זהר (zohar), radiance—melody of the notes. Of the sky extension of the melody, like those extending, prolonging the melody. And those who lead many to righteousness—pausal notes, halting their movement, as a result of which the word is heard. Will shine—letters and vowels shining as one on their journey into a mystery of concealment, a journey on concealed paths. From this all expands.”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Vol. 1

“At the head of potency of the King, He engraved engravings in luster on high. A spark of impenetrable darkness flashed within the concealed of the concealed, from the head of Infinity —a cluster of vapor forming in formlessness, thrust in a ring, not white, not black, not red, not green, no color at all. As a cord surveyed, it yielded radiant colors. Deep within the spark gushed a flow, splaying colors below, concealed within the concealed of the mystery of Ein Sof. It split and did not split its aura, was not known at all, until under the impact of splitting, a single, concealed, supernal point shone. Beyond that point, nothing is known, so it is called ראשית (Reshit). Beginning, first command of all.

The enlightened will shine like the זהר (zohar), radiance, of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3).”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Vol. 1

“Centuries later, he finally grasps an implication of that theophany: to succeed in transforming others, fierce power is often less effective than patient gentleness.”
― Daniel C. Matt, Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation

“as is written: Whatever Sarah tells you, hearken to her voice (ibid., 12). Rather”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Volume Two

“The enlightened will shine like the זהר (zohar), radiance, of the sky (Daniel 12:3)—like musical intonations, whose melody is followed by the letters and vowels, undulating after them like troops behind their king. The letters are body; the vowels, spirit. All of them range in motion after the intonations and halt with them. When the melody of the intonation moves, letters and vowels follow; when it stops, they do not move but stand in place.

The enlightened will shine—letters and vowels. Like the זהר (zohar), radiance—melody of the notes. Of the sky extension of the melody, like those extending, prolonging the melody. And those who lead many to righteousness—
pausal notes, halting their movement, as a result of which the word is heard. Will shine—letters and vowels shining as one on their journey into a mystery of concealment, a journey on concealed paths. From this all expands.”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Vol. 1

“openings for soul The sefirot are openings for the human soul to approach the hidden God, and openings for “soul of soul” to manifest.”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Volume Two

“Better to be lightly esteemed and have a servant than to be self-important and lack food”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Volume Three

“It is said that science demystifies nature, but scientists on the frontier are awed by the elegance and harmony of nature.”
― Daniel C. Matt, God & the Big Bang: Discovering Harmony between Science and Spirituality

“judgment here—simultaneously!”414 He replied, “That’s what was difficult for Him!415 For when the blessed Holy One enacts judgment and miracle as one, it does not happen in one place or one house, manifesting entirely as one. And if it does, it proves difficult for Him—for above, everything is enacted completely, as one: either miracle or judgment, in one place, not in half.416 “Therefore the blessed Holy One does not execute judgment upon the wicked until their guilt is complete, as is written: for the guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (Genesis 15:16), and similarly: By exact measure, by exiling her You strive with her (Isaiah 27:8).417 So he accused Joshua, demanding that he be burned along with them,418 until He said to him, YHVH rebuke you, Satan! (Zechariah, ibid., 2). Who said this to him? The angel of YHVH.419”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Volume Two

“raised the dead through Ezekiel,”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Volume Three

“Who has ever seen a father as compassionate as Abraham? Come and see: Of Noah is written: God said to Noah, ‘End of all flesh has come before Me…. Make yourself an ark of”
― Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar: Pritzker Edition, Volume Two