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Can a Kabbalist be religious? Would it not inflate the Ego, creating a sense of “We” and “Them”, eg. separation instead of unity?
What about the rules in Torah, like the commandments and instruction for Kosher life? In my short time as a student of Kabbalah I have got the impression that these texts should not be read literally.
For me this feels confusing if we sometimes should follow the instructions given, and otherwise not…
Hi Olav,
Kabbalah is not against religions. In fact we have millions of students worldwide, from many different backgrounds and religions. Many of them do choose to maintain their religion or to perform certain religious customs while studying Kabbalah and there is nothing wrong with that. Just like with any other science, a person can be religious and also be a chemist or physicist. Likewise a person can be religious and also study the science of Kabbalah. Baal HaSulam writes that even after the full spiritual correction people can still keep their religions.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/12/the-wisdom-of-kabbalah-and-the-other-religions/
As for following the commandments, in general, Kabbalists don’t look at the 613 commandments as physical actions to be performed by our hands and feet, but rather as allegories to the internal process of correcting our desires.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2016/02/mitzvot-commandments-the-correction-of-desires/
But if a person does want to perform these actions physically in our world as well, Kabbalah is not against that, but encourages doing so with the right intention. This follows the saying that “a commandment without an intention, is like a body without a soul”.
Albert @ KabU
A warm hello 👋
I was reading ‘The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah, pp. 21- 23’ and came across the word, “Partzufim”. Also is the word “Sefirot” the tree of life itself, or is it the name of an individual world in the tree, or a certain degree?
Thank you kindly ☺️
Hi Steven,
A Partzuf (singular or Partzufim plural) refers to a desire to receive that is corrected with the intention to bestow.
This desire is composed of 10 parts, which are called 10 sefirot (plural, or sefira singular).
In general, it’s best not to picture spirituality as something outside of us, but to keep in mind that we’re always talking about desires.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/09/where-is-the-upper-world/
Albert @ KabU
Hello,
I’m here because I seek to understand the non material world I interact with daily and to reunite with my creator in human form.
I’m struggling a bit with the idea that our senses do not allow us to perceive other realities. I have been able to see, hear and even communicate with the unseen world since I was very little. My first memory was eight years old but my parents share fascinating stories that predate this. I can also feel thoughts, intentions, and even a person’s life story in their field. I also know many others who can do the same. Are these teachings not for people who can perceive, albeit I’m sure it’s only a very small fraction of what’s really out there? Will someone like me benefit from this journey?
Hi Amy,
We learn from that Kabbalists that “there is no coercion in spirituality” and “one learns only where one’s heart desires”. Meaning no one can tell you if this path or teaching is for you or not. You need to feel it for yourself.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2010/06/trust-your-heart/
Albert @ KabU
Can you explain more about Adam; the first man who sensed the Creation. Is this the same Adam that is described i Genesis? And Adam HaRishon is not this Adam; its the Collective Soul? Did I get this right?
Hi Olav,
Adam can refer to different things depending on the context.
1. Adam is Hebrew for man or person, it could be the name of a person.
2. The first Kabbalist was called Adam. He was the first to become similar to the Creator, thereby revealing Him in practice. His name hints at this, because the word Adam comes from the Hebrew word Dome, meaning similar to.
3. There is also Adam Kadmon, which translates to: primordial man. This is a part of the system of worlds. It is the first form of the desire to receive that became similar to the Creator, but it operates in a different way then the rest of the system, so it’s called primordial.
4. And there is the collective soul called Adam HaRishon, which translates to: the first man. This is the active part within the system of worlds. This is similar to how you have planet Earth and you have people or those that inhabit the planet.
So Adam Kadmon is part of the system of worlds, while Adam HaRishon is the active part within that system.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2014/05/the-human-is-the-innermost-part-in-the-system-of-worlds/
Albert @ KabU
In the first lesson there was a phrase that sticks with me and I feel I need more explanation , when talking about amulets holly water etc it’s been said “there’s nothing to be protected from ” (I consider the above methods of protection placebo) but I would love to have a deep dive in the unnecessity for protection if possible,
thank you
Hi Iulia,
We learn from the Kabbalists that every single moment comes to us directly from the Creator, this is called “there is none else besides Him”. Furthermore, they also say that He is the “good that does good”. Meaning that every moment He is sending us nothing but goodness. If so, then there is nothing to protect ourselves from, every single moment we’re already receiving nothing but good.
But why don’t we sense this? When we look at our world, we see all sorts of problems and sufferings. Why don’t we see and feel that every moment comes to us from a benevolent source?
This is because our world is governed by our egoistic nature. This egoistic nature is opposite to the Creator’s nature. Because of that, it inverts the Creator’s goodness into something bad. It’s just like multiplying numbers: a positive times a negative equals negative.
So as long as we remain within this egoistic nature, we will continue to see and feel more suffering and bad things in the world. But if we correct our nature to be similar to the Creator’s nature, then we will reveal the true reality in which only goodness exists, and our previous egoistic state would appear as nothing more than a dream.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2011/06/how-can-we-justify-the-creator/
Albert @ KabU
I have three questions.
1. What is the Kabbalist view on a woman’s role in Kabbalah?
2. What does Kabbalah have to say about alternative lifestyles such as gay marriage?
3. Does Kabbalah believe that Kabbalah is the only way to get to God or the Light?
Hi Tina,
1. Kabbalah is open to both men and women because the state of the final correction (Gmar Tikkun) that humanity is moving towards requires everyone (men and women) to correct themselves. Generally women feel a stronger need for spiritual advancement, which is why the majority of our students around the world are women.
2. Kabbalah only deals with our desire for spirituality. Regarding the rest of our desires, Kabbalah does not deal with these things. Our corporeal desires don’t have any relation to spirituality, so each person can arrange these desires however is most comfortable for them (of course within the context of the law and without harming others).
3. Kabbalah does not hold the monopoly over spirituality. It’s not claiming to be the one and only method. The Wisdom of Kabbalah is the accumulation of thousands of years of experience from people practically trying to reach spirituality, what worked, what didn’t, etc. It’s not a must to use it, but as you can imagine, it’s a lot faster and easier with it.
Albert @ KabU
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