Page "Abraham Abulafia" Paragraph 31

In his numerous works Abulafia focuses on complex devices for uniting with the Agent Intellect, or God, through the recitation of divine names, together with breathing techniques and cathartic practices.

Some of Abulafia ’ s mystic ways were adapted by the Ashkenazic Hasidic masters.

Taking as his framework the metaphysical and psychological system of Moses Maimonides ( Mosheh ben Maimon, 1135 / 8 – 1204 ), Abulafia strove for spiritual experience, which he viewed as a prophetic state similar to or even identical with that of the ancient Jewish prophets.