The Zohar and the 32 Paths of Wisdom

Everything written in the Zohar is inspired by the mystical experience of the author into one of the 32 Mystical Paths of Wisdom. Any idea contained in the Zohar can be spectrally analyzed by its influence from one of the 32 Mystical Paths of Wisdom.

If you want to really understand a statement in the Zohar, you can find out which of the Paths are illuminating the thoughts of the Companions, ascend to these Paths through theurgic methods, gaze upon the concealed light of emanation, and, once you have arrived at this level, bask in the radiance of divine illumination, holding on not to what is your own but open to be filled with mystical insight, becoming energized thereby, and once this intellectual sanctification has been had, ascending yet higher to become unified and united with that spark of truth which has been kindled by those who shared in this unity before, and upon coming to this inscrutable height, comprehending the fathomless depth of insight revealed by the Companions in their discussions and conversations.

The following chart can be used to open up the Paths as a preparatory exercise before Zohar study.
 

Secrets of the 'Oral' Torah

We know that the Mishnah is the 'Oral Torah', but what really does this mean?  The word "Mishnah" means "repetition".  It comes from the verb "shanah" which means "to study, to review" and is related to the adjective "shanai" which means "secondary".

The secret is that the words of the Mishnah are meant to be recited aloud, to be repeated over and over.  In Eastern mysticism, this is called 'mantra yoga'.  By reciting the verbal formulas of the Mishnah iteratively, the mystic begins to "engrave" pathways into his mind.  By intense mental concentration on the Mishnaic verses, the mystic "carves" out the hidden inner meanings, leading to profound insight into the world of divine thought.

This formula is in reference to Sefer Yetzirah, which speaks of "haqiqa" and "hatziva", that is, engraving and carving.  Engraving means making a permanent impression into the mental substance of consciousness.  Carving means removing all that is irrelevant and unnecessary to the achievement of a goal.

The technique of using the Mishnah as a system of mantric verses was practiced by one of the great masters of halakhah, Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch.  Rabbi Karo wrote about his experiences in a mystical diary called "Maggid Mesharim".  In this text, which was never intended for publication, but was published posthumously, Karo describes being visited by an angelic being as he would recite the verses of the Mishnah.  Karo wrote that the being would then speak into his mind, "I am the Mishnah which you have recited!"

The Mishnah is thus a massive repository of coded linguistic formulas designed to lead to states of intellectual illumination, expanding the mind into higher-dimensional thought-spaces.  By practicing the technique of oral 'repetition', one 'petitions' the system of divine thoughts to enter inside one's own mind-space.  By iterating the Mishnah's language of 'verses', one 'reverses' the hidden inner light so that it becomes outwardly manifest in one's own consciousness.