Theos-Talk Archives (June 1998 Message tt00492)

W. Dallas TenBroeck <dalval@nwc.net> writes (on theos-talk)
>I just think that the Old Testament b'rasit or berasit ( Theos.
>Glos.,
>p. 54) seems to have some interesting correlates. Particularly I
>like the one that interprets it as "In Wisdom...."

Without wishing to upset you, might I suggest that the original Hebrew
text, which is freely available, migth be a better source that the
Theosophical Glossary!

You might find an excursion into mystical Judaism offers quite a bit of
light here too!  The book which Christians call "Genesis" is know in
Judaism as "Berasit" or similar - depends on your method of
transliteration.  The 's' is the letter "shin" but to spell it that way could
cause offence to some, or unwarranted offence *from* some.

I spent two days contemplating this opening to "The Bible" as the
earliest Hebrew texts are unpointed, so that the words can sometimes
be rendered in fascinating and illuminating ways.

In Eastern Aramaic written Christian writings, John's Gospel, whose
beginning is usually translated as "In the beginning was the word" the
same Aram/Heb word "Berasit" is used.

In the Hebrew or Aramaic text there is no definite article, and it is
possible, and I think legitimate, to translate as "In beginning" - a
process divinely bugun.

(Hebrew *has* the definite article - I am only saying that it does not
form part of this wonderful word!)

IMO, Israelite religion contains as many, and probably far more "Keys"
to the ancient wisdom than any other source except perhaps the Indian
ones.

Alan

..... over to you, Bart!
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