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My apologies if these questions aren’t cogent to this first lesson, but they’re on my mind and I will ask: Could it be considered that Yeshua (“Jesus”) was a Kabbalist and this is why he spoke in parables (akin to the language of branches)?
Also, I am understanding that the Torah was written in the language of branches — something I have long felt, never believing it to be completely historical/factual, but telling a deeper story. With this in mind, were the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) written in the same codified language? And if so, has Christianity been on a somewhat “wrong track” with its interpretation of said scriptures and belief in the historical/factual basis of them? (I understand you are not an expert on religions, nor do you wish to invalidate an entire faith! But the questions remain as, having been brought up a Christian, I’ve always felt the point of scripture was being missed and misrepresented).
Lastly, I truly appreciate your time answering questions. Thank you so very much for this gift.
Hi Jerry,
It’s like you said, I’m not an expert on religions. I cannot comment on such things. In general, Kabbalah is a science dealing with the correction of our nature and the revelation of the Creator, the force of bestowal. It has no connection to faith, religion, or religious leaders. But ultimately these things are not so opposed. Both talk about the importance of loving others as yourself. Kabbalah goes even further and gives us a method to actualize loving others to such an extent that we can reveal in our lives the Creator, the general force of love and bestowal.
As for religions, 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.
Albert @ KabU
I wanted to start by saying I am enjoying the class materials so far. Thank you.
What is the meaning of the spiritual world names? (AK, Beriyah, etc.)
Hi Melinda,
The 5 spiritual worlds are not place like we think, but rather levels of concealment. World (Olam in Hebrew) comes from the word Concealment (ha-alama). So the 5 worlds are 5 levels of concealment between us, the desire to receive, and the Creator the general force of love and bestowal. To the extent that we correct our own opposite, egoistic nature, for it to also operate in the direction of bestowal, to that extent we reveal these worlds, these higher qualities.
Regarding the order and meaning of each world:
First is Adam Kadmon (primordial Man) this 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.
Atzilut (from the words etz lo: at his place, in his possession). This is the place where the Creator exists, meaning the pure desire to bestow.
Beria (creation), comes from the word Bar, meaning outside of. Meaning that it’s already a distinct degree of remoteness from the quality of bestowal.
Yetzira (creation), also means creation but this time it stems from the word yetzer, inclination. Meaning there is already an inclination of its own to the Creator.
Assiya (action), this completes the action of creating the desire to receive.
Keep in mind that we usually don’t translate these words when we use them in the lessons. A lot of times it’s better to use the Hebrew word instead of being confused by the translation.
Albert @ KabU
It was a very revealing video. Thank you very much.
Apart from the books suggested for the course, what other books do you recommend for this course?Hi Jehoseph,
There are 3 main books for this course: Kabbalah Revealed, Attaining the Worlds Beyond, and Kabbalah for the Student. For the books Kabbalah Revealed and Attaining the Worlds Beyond, you can read through them from beginning to end. This will give you a solid foundation. Kabbalah for the Student on the other hand is a textbook of primary sources. It can be very challenging. So it’s better for now to just read the recommended reading materials in that one. After you get a good foundation, you can read through that one as well.
As for other books beyond that, if you’re interested in deciphering the Torah, you can check out Disclosing a Portion or Secrets of the Eternal Book. There are also other beginner books you can find in our bookstore. But in truth, I wouldn’t recommend anything else right now. If you start with the 3 above books, it’ll give you a strong foundation for everything else.
Albert @ KabU
Is Kabalah a revelation from G.d to man, in a similar way to the 10 commandments? If so when and how did that take place? If not divinely inspired, then where did the knowledge of 125 steps etc come from? How is it proved in the way we can prove the earth orbits the sun and not the other way round? Where is the science to prove that 125 steps actually does exist or is it just a believe system, in a similar way to some cultures explain the world as a ball carried on the back of a turtle?
Philip,
Go from week to week. Try on what you are learning. See if it is true for you. Don’t believe anything, but from week to week make serious efforts in the material, work with it, rewrite it for yourself in a clear way as if you were going to one day teach it. Advance like this from week to week. Keep good notes, write down all of your questions. Go back to them after a month and after another month and see how things start to come into focus.
We are here to give you tools to discover all of this yourself.
Seth@KabU
how can i rise to a spiritual level where i have completely eradicated self interest?
how in practise do work with the law of equivalence of form?
what is equivlence of form?
Ben,
That is what we are here to learn.
First things first we need to understand who we are (100% will to receive), and if we are going to change, we need to not only understand, but to feel it and not only to feel it, but to start to feel how opposite we are from the Creator (100% bestowal) and how much we feel that we will never achieve equivalence with Him from our own powers since we cannot lift a finger unless we feel we will receive some reward, even just to feel better than I did before I moved the finger. So we require new feelings, we need to feel the greatness of the Creator so that we have power to go after Him.
We will learn all of this. Step by step so that you acquire it with your own hands.
Seth@KabU
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