Preparation Question: What is freedom and how, by the help of the Reforming Light, can we acquire it?

Freedom for me is to be able to receive and bestow without thought of self, that is the key and way to freedom and  eternal happiness

Freedom is the ability to recognize the reforming light and ALLOW the light to work on me so I can achieve equivalence of form

I keep tugging on that string of thought from “The Freedom” because it wasn’t quite clear and now I think I understand. Kindly let me know if this captures it.

The first factor is our essence the way a seed contains a genetic code that define physical traits and qualities (e.g., talents) but in humans, it also contains inherited essences or basis (later explained in other lessons as ancestral experiences). Continuing the plant analogy addresses how the seed naturally develops into a particular type of plant (e.g, wheat becomes wheat) and this 2nd factor runs parallel to the third factor, which is the environment the plant develops in.

The idea that these two factors run in parallel gave me the understanding.

Finally, the fourth factor is the environment one chooses. This one ultimately determines the pace of one’s spiritual growth– the path of suffering (Derech Yissurim) or the the path of Torah/Light (Derech Torah ). This last factor explains where one is given a lever to exercise freedom. It’s the only lever but it’s a very powerful one.

Freedom is sovereignty from the animate state through union with the Creator. It begins the moment one first recognizes the Creator’s nature is opposite his nature (it is altruistic and he is egoistic). The desire to unite with the Creator motivates one towards altruism, which draws the Reforming Light that transforms his nature from egoism to altruism.

Freedom to me is being able to choose to see the light, and know that the Creator created me to receive from him,  and take delight and joy from it.  The ability to always come back to this knowing is freedom. To stay unaffected by external circumstances and only be  the internal state.

Not being contained by limitation. With the help of the Reforming Light, I can imagine that we would expand our consciousness to a place where we experience the Light and we exist in a manner befitting all  the blessings we are given.

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