Kabbalah and Yoga

Yoga is one of at least six Hindu religions as old or older than Judaism. It overlaps through serendipity with the concept of “Adam Kadmon” (original man) in Rabbi Moshe de Leon’s Zohar – published in manuscript form in the late 13^th century Castile but attributed by some to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai the 2^nd century Talmudic sage. The “Asanas”, yogic postures, are the sites of tension and muscular exercise which coincidentally are related to the Kabbalistic “sefirot” (emanations). In Jewish Zoharic mysticism, these emanations interact with one another to express moral and psychological issues. In a parallel way, the Yoga positions represent objects, creatures or roles which also have “Being-related” significance. This talk will also include a demonstration of a various yoga positions.

Michael Picardie was born and brought up in Johannesburg, South Africa and was a member of the Liberal party and the Congress of Democrats (sister party to the ANC) and was arrested after the Sharpeville shootings in 1960. He is an actor and author of plays about South Africa (Shades of Brown, Struggle with the Boer, Shaloma, The Zulu and the Zeide). His father Louis passed onto him his knowledge of Indian mysticism, Hatha Yoga, a love of the poet Tagore and the writings of Mahatma Ghandi. He has a PhD on theatre studies and taught psychology to Social Workers (1968-86). He currently teaches Kabbalah, Yoga and Meditation at the Bristol and West Progressive Jewish Congregation.