Zohar

In the first passage in the Zohar excerpt "How to read the Torah", I found many references that I immediately connected to the Augustine reading from Monday. The Zohar uses an expanded metaphor of a garment, which represents the literal Torah story, and the body and soul underneath, which represents the "real" Torah. I think the "real" Torah is the underlying message or meaning that can be found when one looks beyond the immediate story written in the books. The book of enlightenment continues by expanded the metaphor even further. The Zohar states that "there is garment and body and soul and soul of soul. I interpreted this as layers. The Zohar suggests that there are multiple layers that are ever changing when one looks at the readings of the Torah. One could just look at the "garment" or the immediate text, while the "righteous" examine it further the body and soul that exists underneath. I think this is a fantastic metaphor that relates back to Augustine's argument that there are ever changing interpretations of the literal/figurative texts within the Bible. It is the responsibility of the follower of the religion to not only look at the literal text, but also look at it in a figurative light and determine what the writers intention truly was. We also must look deeper into the "layers" as the culture surrounding these religions change over time. Both Augustine and the Zohar suggest that one is "foolish" to read the text and not take the time to interpret it.
I also found a cool double meaning passage in the Zohar reading. In this same "How to read the Torah" section, the last passage states the following:
"As wine must sit in a jar,
so Torah must sit in this garment.
So look at only what is under the garment!
So all those words and all those stories---
they are garments!"

This passage struck me because the writer has used a double metaphor. The Torah is wrapped in a garment as it sits in the "Aron Kodesh" or the Ark. Therefore, the text is literally covered by a garment! The passage then continues by mentioning that not only is the Torah actually wearing a garment, but if you simply look under the garment to find the text, you are only to find more "garments" or stories. If you look into it no further, all you will find is more garments and you'll never get to the true meaning. The writer intertwines the real purpose for the garment and the metaphor they have just taken the time to elaborate on in great detail. Pretty sweet.