The Source of Eastern Wisdom and How It Differs from Jewish Wisdom

For years, there has been a trend among young people to travel to the Far East in search of a hidden meaning to existence and a connection to the spiritual dimension of creation. The Far East is often seen as a place where one might find the gateway to deep and hidden wisdom. Indeed, the East possesses various spiritual knowledge and methods. But what is the original source from which Eastern sages received their knowledge? Where did they first learn the secrets of the wisdom they hold?

The answer can be found within the Torah itself. The Torah tells us that our forefather Abraham had several sons born to him by a woman named Keturah, who was his concubine. These sons were sent by him to eastern lands after he bestowed gifts upon them: "And Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. But to the sons of the concubines that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts and sent them away from Isaac his son while he was still alive, eastward to the land of the east" (Genesis 25:5-6). The biblical name for the eastern countries is 'Kedem,' and there are various mentions in the Torah where the East is called 'Kedem.' For example, "toward the face of Kedem, eastward" (Exodus 27:13), and Rashi explains this as "the east is called Kedem, a term for the front. The rear – a term for the back. Therefore, the east is called Kedem, which is the front, and the west is called the rear"; "Their inheritance was across the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise" (Numbers 34:15). Thus, the eastern side of the Jordan is called 'Kedem,' and there are other references to this as well.

The Torah reveals to us that Abraham gave Isaac all his material possessions, as well as all his spiritual possessions, which included the secrets of the spiritual forces. However, to the sons of Keturah, he gave deep wisdom on the spiritual and energetic level of nature and man. The Talmud writes that to the sons of Keturah, Abraham "gave them a name of impurity" (Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 91a). This wisdom, which Abraham gave to the sons of Keturah, can be used even when one is not in a state of holiness, but also when one is impure, which is the meaning of 'name of impurity.' Abraham knew the nature of his sons from Keturah and did not rely on them and their descendants to keep themselves away from the impurity of negative spiritual forces such as sorcery or idolatry, and therefore he did not give them secrets that may only be used in a state of holiness. Indeed, over the generations, this original wisdom in the Far East has acquired many elements of idolatry and use of impure forces.

An interesting fact is that the priests in India are called "Brahmins" – a name that strongly resembles Abraham, the giver of the gift of wisdom...

"12 years ago, I was secular. Then I realized that life isn’t a game, and I wanted to use my life to the fullest." Rabbi Isaac Fanger's full personal story - Herzliya, monastery, spiritual quest, Reiki, and incredible unexplained experiences - leading to an entry into the world of Judaism:

Escape from Life or Face Challenges?

At the center of Buddhism, one of the major religions in the Far East, is the "solution" to the suffering that exists in life. This religion claims that the world is a place of despair, disappointments, and pain, and to release oneself from these feelings, one must avoid hopes, desires, ambitions, and needs. It claims that a life of monasticism and detachment from human society will provide spiritual liberation and bring one to the ideal. For example, meditation aims to calm and empty thoughts, which means it's a tool meant to neutralize the self-being of the person.

This religion does not engage in a connection to the Creator of the worlds or the purpose for which creation and humanity were made, but only in liberation from suffering, without answering the questions "why does suffering exist? Who created it? And is there any meaning to suffering at all?", whereas Judaism provides deep answers to these questions and many others.

Apart from the fact that Buddhism is a religion born from human opinion, and Judaism originates from the Creator of the world, and aside from the fact that Buddhism does not lead a person to their life’s purpose, while Judaism leads one to self-fulfillment and spiritual realization, the vast difference between Judaism and this religion can be seen simply by observing the difference in their approaches to life. While Buddhism seeks an escape from life, Judaism teaches how to confront life’s challenges; while Buddhism seeks a retreat from material, Judaism teaches how to sanctify the material; while Buddhism seeks detachment, Judaism teaches connection – between matter and spirit, between you and yourself, and between you and the one who said, "and the world was."

Want to know more? Check the question "What is the difference between Eastern religions and Judaism?" in the digital seminar by Hidabroot.

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