Hermeneutic Neurophenomenology in the Science-Religion Dialogue: Analysis of States of Consciousness in the Zohar

Mystical texts like the Zohar contain insights into the nature of mind that can inform scientific models in psychology and neuroscience, but these insights are often hidden within complex symbolic systems. By combining a hermeneutic approach with neurophenomenology, three distinct mystical states are identified in the Zohar. The normal state is dominated by the narrative construction of self. The first mystical state emerges as this narrative attenuates, making intentionality of perception and emotion dominant. The second state involves identifying with an associational propensity at the core of memory processing. The final state conveys phenomenality with little intentional content. These insights can enrich understanding of consciousness when combined with neurocognitive data.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Many mystical texts convey insights into the nature of mind that have the potential to assist in the framing of scientific models in psychology and neuroscience. In many cases, however, the insights are concealed within complex, codified symbolic systems, meaning that the reader must engage with the hermeneutic employed by the texts’ authors in order to access the insights. Combining such a hermeneutic approach with that of neurophenomenology can enrich the input from mysticism to science. I exemplify this hermeneutic neurophenomenology through an analysis of states of mystical consciousness as portrayed in the classic of Jewish mysticism, the Zohar. Three distinct mystical states are identified, each of which is understood as being dominated by a specific dimension of consciousness. The normal state of consciousness is dominated by the narrative construction of self. The first mystical state arises as this narrative is attenuated, allowing the intentionality of perception and emotion to become the dominating dimension. The second mystical state comes to the fore as the mystic increasingly identifies with an associational propensity at the core of memory processing. The final mystical state conveys the essential feature of consciousness—phenomenality—with little, if any, intentional content. I explore how the Zohar’s insights into these states can combine with neurocognitive data and thereby enrich our understanding of consciousness.