I just wanted to add another perspective to the
discussion of Lamed. I've been studying the autiot using
Carlo Suares' system for about a year, and that is the
perspective I will offer, but I think a little background is
in order. <br><br>It should first be said that
Suares is considered to have been everything from a
crackpot to a prophet. Personally, I think he was gifted
with exceptional spiritual perception, though his
ability to communicate that seems somewhat lacking. His
books are usually tough reading, with more of their
depth in sometimes tedious detail than in direct
powerful declarations or moving prose. His last book is
somewhat of an exception. <br><br>Suares developed a
system of translating/interpreting Hebrew text based
upon specific meanings for each of the letters. That
is not new in itself. However, this is not gematria,
notarikon or temurah as they are classically practiced.
Rather, in Suares' method, the letters represent
different principles involved in process of change. He
especially saw a direct correlation between the letters and
the principles of physics and psychology. The
meanings of each letter in a word are thus strung together
in a formula that expresses a particular dynamic in
the process of physical or psychological change. The
literal meaning of the word may have only the most remote
association with the formula, however the context within
which the word falls has a lot of bearing. In effect, a
sentence expresses a more complex and comprehensive
statement about how the fundemental principles of
manifestation interact with each other in a given
context.<br><br>Regarding the Qabalistic background of Suares' work, his
system is based upon the Ayik-becher, a method of
alphabetic transformation corresponding to the level of Adam
Kadmon. For more info on the Ayik-becher, go to
<a href=http://www.inner.org/aleftran/ayik.htm
target=new>http://www.inner.org/aleftran/ayik.htm</a> <br><br>Now, to the point!
:-) According to
Suares, Lamed (30) represents the manifestation of the
archetype represented by Ghimel (3). Ghimel is the organic
movement of every Beth (2) [container] animated by Aleph
(1) [the incomprehensible force of life/death]. Thus
Lamed may be thought of as representing the connecting
agent that unites Aleph with Beth (the ox with its
yoke). However, in order for this union to occur, Beth
must be continually torn down and built back up again,
and according to Suares this is the manner in which
Lamed works. In effect, Lamed "whips" Beth into
continual movement (Ghimel) so that the
ever-changing/never-static Aleph can inhabit it.<br><br>To fill out this
understanding of Lamed, we look at the letters of its name
Lamed-Mem-Daleth (30,40, 4). According to Suares, this name is a
formula involving the principles of the connecting agent
(Lamed), the primordial waters (Mem), and the resistance
to destruction (Daleth) which makes a living form
possible. Thus we see that Lamed represents that which
opens and closes the door of forms, arising from the
primordial waters, to life.<br><br>Lux,<br>Chuck