The Four Who Entered the Orchard
Babylonian Talmud, Chagigah 14b“Four entered the Orchard: Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher, and Rabbi Akiva.
Ben Azzai looked and died.
Ben Zoma looked and lost his mind.
Acher looked and cut down the saplings.
Rabbi Akiva entered in peace and departed in peace.”
An early rabbinic story of four sages who undertook a mystical ascent, with only one emerging unharmed.