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

I believe that we are on this earth plane to learn.  On this earth, I believe freedom is like a school we ask all the questions we want answered (not meaning that we get all the answers), but gain knowledge from these answers, observe our environment and become closer to the Creator if we absorb the true meaning.

i’m not really sure about my answer about What is freedom?, since it actually came up for me, as a question, in week 1, video 1 and seemed like a ‘conundrum’, which is a word i’ve come to appreciate, as often confusing solutions all seem equally plausible. But, after video 2, and reading Shamati 15-19, i would ask (based on the assumption that freedom = choice): “Does freedom in Kabbalah’s pov mean that once we’re ‘in the holiness’ that the only thing we can choose is to stay in it “the King’s Palace”, (rather than give in to the pull of descent and ‘normal life’ pleasures and pass times)?

On pages 17/18 of Shamati, Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag writes: “when one feels that now he is in a state of ascent, and feels some good flavor in the work, he must not say: “Now I am in a state that I understand that it is worthwhile to worship the Creator.” Rather he should know that now he was favored by the Creator, hence the Creator brought him closer, and for this reason he now feels good flavor in the work. And he should be careful never to leave the domain of Sanctity…”

i’m thinking in this way of “freedom” as such a limited “freedom of choice”, since it seems like if “There is None else than Him”, then even our traditionally ‘bad or good’ actions and thoughts wouldn’t be ours to have chosen (and to this i thought we might be like a Kabbalistic version of Pharaoh who asks to God “Why did You harden my heart?”)

as for the 2nd part of the question, i’m thinking maybe it’s not unlike Rousseau’s concept of General Will, in Shamati, p. 19: “Through these calculations he loses his individuality and avoids being trapped by the Sitra Achra, which is the will to receive for his own benefit.” Only, a bit different in that the General Will would be universally determined by God and we can achieve freedom, with help of the Reforming Light, through efforts to overcome the pull of descent into ‘normal life’, or maybe better to go with choosing to stay in the Palace by cultivating the desire to cleave to the Creator.

I don’t really believe in freedom of choice. I think that we just think we are making a choice and because of that I follow what Joseph Campbell said “While on Earth, play the game.” I quote from The book of Tokens says, “I am the doer of all. Nothing moveth but my power.”

At this point in my study of Kabbalah freedom and the Reforming light is yet to be revealed in my awareness. My ego sees freedom as moving through my life as my authentic self without concern or worry over how my basic needs shall be met. I have no desire to chase wealth or power or knowledge for the sake of societal acceptance. This was not always true, I have chased all these things. My ego has chased love in the most selfish ways manipulating men I loved to adore me and I looked to them to fill the emptiness in me and when they could not I left them mercilessly. I sought to take their freedom from them to cling to me. Kabbalah has revealed this to me and I am ready to accept and give love unconditionally without attachment. What is coming into view is a letting go of what my ego wants to explore what Spirit wants. Perhaps this is the spark of what freedom is.

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by Ellema.

There is no freedom without consequence for everyone in this 5 sense world and because this is a reflection of the Upper Worlds, it is what it is. This doesn’t answer the question but that’s all I can muster at the moment.

Well, we do have the freedom not to be egoistic jerks but instead bestow unto others to become like Him