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I guess I’m getting hung up on some of the language used here. Kabbalah has nothing to do with mysticism? My definition of mysticism is that in entails a direct experience of the Creator. Does Kabbalah not do this through teaching the student how to correct the Tikune? Perhaps I am getting hung up on definitions.
Hi D.R.
I cannot comment on how others define this word, but when we use the word mysticism, we are referring to something mystical, something removed from reality, something that does not follow the laws of nature. So when we make the distinction that Kabbalah is not mysticism, this is because Kabbalah is very much so grounded into nature. Kabbalah researches nature and the laws of nature using a very strict scientific method: “a judge has only what his eyes can see” and “what we do not attain we do not call by name”.
Even our knowledge of the Creator is limited to our research tools, meaning the desire. And whatever does not enter into this desire, we cannot research or talk about. For these reasons, it’s more accurate to classify Kabbalah as a science.
Check out these blog posts from Rav Laitman for more details:
https://laitman.com/2011/06/a-science-about-the-world/
https://laitman.com/2017/11/the-concept-of-god-in-kabbalah/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Łukasz,
Yes. Kabbalah is the method by which we can correct our egoistic nature. As a result of this correction we become similar to the Creator and reveal Him in practice, in our lives.
But correcting our nature is not within our power. Just like a PC cannot just reprogram itself to run as a Mac, we too cannot just change our own nature. We need outside help for that. This help comes to us from the light. This is a special force in nature that we can use to correct ourselves. By studying from authentic Kabbalistic sources, we tap into that force. Our work boils down to extracting more and more of that force, especially through the Kabbalistic studies, and it does all the rest.
So we can start practicing and experiencing Kabbalah even now, in the fundamentals. And in the more advanced courses, we’ll explore a few more means by which we can amplify the influence of the light on us.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2013/02/sunbathing-in-the-rays-of-the-reforming-light/
Albert @ KabU
The definition of Jewish came up. I can’t get a clear cut answer regarding the Brit milah (circumcision) physical circumcision is mentioned everywhere in Kabbalah.info videos, in the Zohar and Torah. I understand the whole deeper meaning of it as a symbol but there seems a hesitation to say that in order to begin correction you need to perform a physical Brit milah. There is heaps of content that hints you should. For me this is a really religious thing and I struggle with this because I just don’t believe in it. But I respect Jewish people’s decision to perform it.
Hi Luke,
In Kabbalah, we learn that the commandments are allegories about the internal process of the correction of our desires. Meaning that first of all, we should perform these commandments internally, correcting our egoistic desires into that of love and bestowal.
Externally, if a person decides to perform these things physically as well, like it’s done in the Jewish religion, that’s up to them. But that’s not what we’re learning about here.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2016/02/mitzvot-commandments-the-correction-of-desires/
Albert @ KabU
I am seeing contradicting information about providence, fate and free-will. I need help reconciling all this. In fact this is of supreme importance to me. On one hand I hear that we can change nothing in our lives, but how we experience it. Then there is the info that we can only change our environment (which is explained in seemingly contradicting ways) and now in the prep video you say we can change our fate. I have been studying Bnei Baruch sources for many years and am terribly confused about this issue. Here is a quote I truly understand from this article: laitman.com/2016/10/a-persons-only-task/ “Accordingly, the only task of a person is to attribute all thoughts, desires and actions to their source, the Creator, and to see himself as a result of all the actions of the Creator.” and to me it also contradicts the idea we can change our fate. I desperately need to clear this up. Please help me!
Hi Erik,
Regarding fate, the purpose of creation is to bring everyone into complete adhesion with the Creator. This purpose is preset, we cannot change that at all. Meaning that at some point in our development, each and every single person will reach that state. The only choice we have in the matter is the path we take to get there: whether by the path of light of the path of suffering.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2011/01/lets-go-with-the-light/
Regarding free will, choosing to be influenced by the spiritual environment is how we reach freedom in practice.
It’s like with a seed, what happens to the seed depends entirely on where you plant that seed. If you plant it in fertile soil, it’ll get the right nutrients to grow and develop. If you just keep it on your shelf, nothing will come out of it. Likewise with us. Our entire spiritual future depends on which spiritual environment we plant ourselves in. Even our good thoughts and actions are a result of placing ourselves in the spiritual environment. Meaning that the work of attributing everything to the Creator is a RESULT of placing ourselves in the spiritual environment.
We’ll learn about this in depth in the next semester, in the meantime, here’s a quote on the topic from Baal HaSulam’s article “The Freedom”:
“However, there is freedom for the will to initially choose such an environment, such books, and such guides that impart to him good concepts. If one does not do that, but is willing to enter any environment that appears to him and read any book that falls into his hands, he is bound to fall into a bad environment or waste his time on worthless books, which are abundant and easier to come by. In consequence, he will be forced into foul concepts that make him sin and condemn. He will certainly be punished, not because of his evil thoughts or deeds, in which he has no choice, but because he did not choose to be in a good environment, for in that there is definitely a choice.
Therefore, he who strives to continually choose a better environment is worthy of praise and reward. But here, too, it is not because of his good thoughts and deeds, which come to him without his choice, but because of his effort to acquire a good environment, which brings him these good thoughts and deeds.”
Albert @ KabU
One of the concerns I heard from a Torah-educated man living in Israel, is that the study of kabbalah takes you over: i.e. once you start, it is impossible to leave. Is it a misconception or a legitimate fear? Kind of like when a person becomes a criminal, they cross-over into a different world. A person can stop committing crimes but the moral distance travelled stays with an individual (all covered in depth in Dostoyevsky’s novels and other good literature).
The blog post by Dr. Laitman referenced above offers a compelling vision of spiritual humanity >>>”The only resemblance to this system in our world is the perfectly corrected human body, in which the heart and mind and all the systems like the circulatory, nervous, lymphatic, and other systems operate in harmony, in unison.
They support each other, nothing is superfluous, and only the correct mutual functioning creates the opportunity to experience the entire system and study it.” Will taking the course bring all the participants to this state? If this is so….
Thank you, Albert.
I am very familiar with everything you say. I have enthusiastically immersed myself in the materials for 14 years. I actually live in a community with the mission of Unity. I have considered Rav Laitman as my teacher for 14 years. I live and breath Kabbalah and disseminate it daily. I have no doubt there is none else besides Him. I am constantly aware of my intentions and constantly pray for correction with all my heart. I love the Creator and all people deeply. I have complete trust in the Creator. No doubts at all. Nothing is more important to me than serving the Creator and people. I am in such sorrow when I fall short. I am broken yet I do nothing in my life but feel love for others and try to lift them up. As I write this now I was directed to this, “Rabash writes that fear before the Creator arises when a person is afraid that he will be unable to bring contentment to Him.” Perhaps this is where I am. Thank you.
Hi Nika,
1. We learn that “there is no coercion in spirituality”. If a person wants to leave, we cannot stop them.
2. The course does not promise to get us to any particular state. Rather, by taking the course, we learn about such states. And whether we actually reach it in practice or not depends on whether we ourselves put in the necessary efforts to reach that state.
Albert @ KabU
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