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In this lesson I read that The Creator controls all that we do and will do. Does this mean that there is no freedom of will?
Hi Edwin,
The Kabbalists tell us that “there is none else besides Him”. This means that every single thought, desire, and life event comes to us from the Creator. Our job is to become more sensitive to that.
But it does not mean that we can just sit around doing nothing all day. The correct way to work with this concept is to split our work to internal and external. Externally I continue to exist on the level of this world so I must function in a normal way in society, follow the normal rules and laws of society, to work, take care of my family, health, etc. Meaning to do everything normally.
And internally, I try to attribute everything that is happening to the Creator, to “none else besides Him”. But this is our internal work and it does not cancel out any of the normal external actions that we need to take.
We’ll learn about free will and how to do this work practically in the more advanced lessons. In the meantime check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2017/12/there-is-none-else-besides-him/
Albert @ KabU
I’m feeling nourished by all the information and teachings here, but one refrain keeps going through my head: “Where are the women teachers on this path?”
Hi Krista,
Throughout history, there were many women Kabbalists, such as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, and Miriam.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/11/the-modern-woman-and-kabbalah/
Albert @ KabU
Why did the books of Kabbalah become public in 1995? What happened that year, and who decided it was time to make them available to everyone? Thank you.
Hi Joan,
I did not define that, this is what we learn from other Kabbalists.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2016/03/dispelling-myths-about-kabbalah-part-1/
Albert @ KabU
Hi György,
Although we point to 1995 as to when Kabbalah became revealed, technically the prohibition was lifted much earlier, from the time of the Ari. He was the one to make a very special correction within the entire spiritual system, after which its not only possible, but a must to openly disseminate the wisdom of Kabbalah in order to help the whole world reach its correction.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details on the Ari: https://laitman.com/2010/08/the-ari-rav-isaac-luria-the-godly-man/
So why do we say 1995? Let’s put a few things into perspective:
Kabbalah is the method of correction of our egoistic nature, thereby revealing the Creator, the general force of love and bestowal. Why was it necessary to conceal such a wisdom? Because egoism was still not yet fully developed. For example: if you compare Kabbalah to a medicine that can cure a rare disease, obviously you can’t take the medicine before you’re diagnosed with the disease, but once the disease actually manifests, you can take the medicine and be cured of it.
It’s just like the 5 stages development of a disease within a person. First a person is healthy. Then he is sick, but he does not feel it. Then the disease spreads to the point that he starts to feel pain and symptoms of the disease. This then pushes him to go to a doctor to get diagnosed and find the cure, and etc.
2000 years ago, egoism was still on a very low level, there was no need to correct it. Starting from the days of the Ari, egoism already grew to a certain extent (and technically the prohibition on Kabbalah ended there), but humanity still didn’t feel sick, on the contrary the ego was the main driving force of all of our development. Then from around 1995 egoism peaked and began to show itself as bad, like a cancer that begins to kill the host body. This is the peak at which there was a true need for the cure. Which in essence is what the Kabbalists have been waiting for all these years, for the desire, for egoism to fully ripen.
Albert @ KabU
Hi
How can you know that you have an authentic teacher? Also, should we be reading the Torah along with the Zohar?
ThanksHi Yvette,
1. The only compass we have is to follow our point in the heart. It will lead us to the place where we need to be. In other words, no one can tell you if this is the place for you or not, or that this is the teacher for you or not, you need to feel it for yourself. This follows the rules that “there is no coercion in spirituality” and “one learns only where one’s heart desires”.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2010/06/trust-your-heart/
2. The Zohar is essentially a commentary on the Torah, so by studying the Zohar you are already studying the Torah. If you want to read the Torah separately, it’s up to you.
And if you’re interested in learning how to properly decipher the Torah, check out the books: Disclosing a Portion or The Secrets of the Eternal Book.
Albert @ KabU
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