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Q&A: Did the Ramchal Suffer from Schizophrenia?

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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Did the Ramchal Suffer from Schizophrenia?

Question

Hello Rabbi Michi,
“I fell asleep, and when I awoke I heard a voice saying: I have descended to reveal hidden secrets of the Holy King… and I do not see him, but only hear his voice speaking from within my mouth.”
Did the Ramchal suffer from schizophrenia?

Answer

I have no idea.

Discussion on Answer

Aviv (2023-08-14)

To A, hello. Look, true, I did not have the privilege of living in the generation of the saintly Ramchal, but one of the central characteristics of schizophrenia is attention and concentration problems, learning difficulties, weak memory, executive-function problems (see Wikipedia), etc. In short, a lot of things that keep you from being an educated and wise person. Does that seem to you like something that characterized the Ramchal? If so, I recommend you study his books. And if you already studied his books and you still think so, then there is a problem here, and the problem is probably with you.
(The simple answer is that he was a mystic, like many of his contemporaries; there is nothing new here.)

A (2023-08-14)

There are quite a few people with schizophrenia who have degrees and careers. Certainly before the illness breaks out, and it is also possible to live with it. Most patients are not in a psychotic state all the time. There are episodes and there is remission.
In any case, diagnosing a particular person without meeting him is not serious.

Niv (2023-08-15)

Maybe A suffers from schizophrenia? I haven’t met him, but he wonders out loud about a person who died many years ago, so I’m allowed to wonder about someone from my own generation who lives in the age of fakery.

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