November 15, 2006

Hidden Names

I was speaking with a rabbi friend some time ago about what mystical Judaism calls the hidden names of God. In this tradition it is said that the name of the Divine cannot truly be known. Oneness, the Divine Plenty, the Infinite, the Nameless One – these and many other names have been offered for what cannot be named. I told my friend that I loved that we try to say what can’t be said and hear what can’t be heard. It’s a good sign – a sign that in our species creativity is well and alive.

“But,” I said, “I am sometimes daunted by such grand names. I prefer a simpler name, one that rolls off the tongue. One I can say on a train.”

When my friend heard this he looked at me with great excitement. The love he feels for the world filled his eyes.

“But didn’t you know?” he said. “It’s the secret of secrets, the joy of joys: One of the hidden names is Yes! And another is Now!"

~Peter Levitt

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meredith, I found your blog through Trev Diesel. I appreciate your candid thoughts and musings, I'll be back for more...
Peace-
Britt

Meredith said...

Britt, I'm glad to meet you. Welcome to this simple place of sharing.
~M

christy lee-engel said...

Dear Meredith,

Ahh!

Other names of god in the jewish tradition that I especially love: "yah" (hallelu-jah/we praise yah) and "the place" (ha-makom)

Every name
is a name of god!

love, Christy

isaiah said...

Yes & Now...two of my favorite "grand names" :)

Strange and funny that we continue our attempts to define what can't be defined (but we're gonna keep on trying!)

The Thunder, Perfect Mind
from the Nag Hammadi

"For I am the first and the last.
I am the honored one and the scorned one.
I am the whore and the holy one.
I am the wife and the virgin.
I am the barren one, and many are her sons.
I am the silence that is incomprehensible.
I am the utterance of my name."

Meredith said...

Christy,
Ahh, you're here! God is in your name.
Big smiles and warmth to you.

Tommy,
As always, dear friend, I love and welcome your beautiful contributions.

~M

Anonymous said...

The Hidden Name of God is only a human conceit, I fear. The Infinite cannot be comprehended by the finite mind, and yet he myths abound :) If you want to know the hidden name of God, look within your heart.

It is Love, only Love, and nothing more.

Ya Haqq!