The Voice of God on Mount Sinai: Rabbinic Commentaries on Exodus 20:1 in the Light of Sufi and Zen-Buddhist Texts

This study presents an attempt to read the biblical verse that introduces God's revelation on Mount Sinai a verse which, for the Rabbis, bears deep meaning in a unusual and broad context. In the hope of throwing more light on the often brief and enigmatic rabbinic views on Exodus 20:1, relevant texts, often equally enigmatic, from Sufism and from Zen-Buddhist tradition are taken into consideration. All these texts express various degrees of spiritual insight or mystical experience.