Ask Anything

‘Overt’ means out in the open, noticed, amenable to correction. ‘Covert’ means hidden from view so cannot be corrected until it becomes visible. ‘Overt’ then is available to correction, is in the light already (1 step). ‘Covert’ is hidden from the light, needs the light to be exposed first, then corrected (2 steps).

Kabbalah is the light that exposes (what is not in the likeness of our Creator), and carries the correction tools – “I have made the evil inclination and Torah as a spice”.

Mrc,

Kabbalists don’t speak of such things. Rather, they generally advise that a person should behave as a normal, kind, respectful person in their social circles. Anything regarding law is dealt with by the courts.

Joseph – KabU

Mrc,

People seek different satisfactions in life. Some are like this and some are like that. No two people are the same.

Joseph – KabU

Mrc,

Baal HaSulam writes that envy, lust, and honor bring a person out of this world. This is in the case that I see how my friends are greater than me; more spiritually advanced, and I want to be like them; serious, devoted, focused on the goal etc. I don’t want to bring them down, but I use their greatness as fuel to rise. Moreover, Kabbalists describe that the only sin is not attributing everything in reality to the single force called There is None Else Besides Him.

Joseph – KabU

Mrc,

A righteous is one who justifies his Maker, and who strives to achieve equivalence of form with Him, meaning to acquire the intention to bestow over all of one’s actions.

Joseph – KabU

Mrc,

First of all, I do not understand what source you are referencing in order to interpret your first statement. About your second question, Rabash does teach us that we must strive to build a connection of equality between us. There are some states where I am higher than the friends and am bestowing to them, and some states where I am lower compared to their greatness, receiving from them like a child to it’s mother. But ultimately we must reach equality between us.

Joseph – KabU

Hi Mrc,

I have copied my answer to your question below as the answer speaks to both questions:

Kabbalists describe the state of creation before the emergence of this world and the souls that inhabit it. There, they speak of the tzimtzum. This is from above down, and is considered an action of the Creator. Besides this, there is also the matter of the tzimtzum from below upwards. Here we speak of the decision of the created beings to only receive pleasure for the sake of bringing contentment to the Creator. And here we speak of the realization of the freedom of choice of the created beings.

One thing I would add is that we never receive in order to receive. This is forbidden due to the initial tzimtzum from above down. Rather, we learn to receive in order to bestow. In this is the realization of the purpose of creation.

Joseph – KabU