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I’d like to make sure I’m getting off on the right foot in understanding the text, so I have one overarching question that will either cause or answer numerous others, to be sure.
Many of the videos linked describe the language of Roots and Branches quite well, but does this apply even to those we’re reading right away, like Attaining the Worlds Beyond? I can see several instances in just the first two chapters where I can perceive a concept on a potentially higher level, even though it’s described in ‘this world’s’ terms, however there are many references to both the body (told to us referring to egoism) and to the ego directly – when the Kabbalists on the YouTube channel say that the Kabbalah texts “never refer to anything here in this lowest world”, does that mean even Attaining the Worlds Beyond, and even when it directly refers to concepts that we’re told only exist “here”?
In other words, how soon is too soon to begin to learn the language of Roots and Branches – are these texts we’re starting with written in that manner in their entirety, to some extent, or not at all..?
Hi Andrew, great questions!
The books we’re learning from help us to understand some of these concepts, these spiritual roots, but they do so in an everyday style of language. The language of roots and branches is what we find primarily within books like the Torah, the Zohar, the Study of the 10 Sefirot.
As for learning this language, this is not something that we can master by learning it, rather it comes with spiritual attainment. Without spiritual attainment, we cannot truly understand these things. It’s like a blind person that is trying to study colors. He can learn the wavelengths behind each one, the different feelings they all evoke, but ultimately he will never truly understand colors. But if this blind person was to undergo an operation and gain his sense of sight, how easy and simple it would be to teach him colors. We would simply point to it and say “this is red”.
It’s the same with the language of roots and branches. It’s currently impossible for us to truly grasp these things. But once we gain our “spiritual sight” we would pick these things up very easily and naturally.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2010/12/the-spiritual-decoder/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Lisa, good question!
Above and below is referring to the root and branch or to cause and consequence. We learn that our world is on the level of branches. In order to make any change here, we need do so on the root level.
It’s like watching TV. Let’s say I’m watching a TV show and want to change something in the show. I can start yelling at the show or even turn it off, or go to sleep or make a thousand other actions, but ultimately it will not change the show itself. In order to make any change, I would need to go to the source. In this case maybe to contact the director or something.
This is how our world works. That we’re on the level of branches, like that end result of a TV show that was already made. And in order to make any change here, we need to go to the roots.
We’ll learn more about this in the upcoming lessons, in the meantime, check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2009/09/the-law-of-roots-and-branches-the-most-imporant-law-in-kabbalah/
Albert @ KabU
So does this mean the Torah, Talmud, etc will be explained through a Kabbalistic lens at some point on this journey?
Hi Dave, good question!
Yes, to some extent we will be deciphering the Torah and the Talmud. Keep in mind that although these are indeed Kabbalistic books, in our days we usually don’t study them directly. This is because egoism grows from generation to generation, so Kabbalah, the method for its correction, needs to get adapted in each generation for that level of egoism. For example it’s like in medicine, if a person has a headache he can just drink a tylenol and that’s enough to fix him. But if it’s not just a little headache but something cancerous, then that tylenol won’t do anything for him but he needs a completely different regime to heal himself.
This is why Kabbalah gets adapted in each generation to the level of egoism that is currently found in that generation. So although there were many different Kabbalists and Kabbalistic books throughout the generations, nowadays we mainly learn from the writings of Baal HaSulam and Rabash, since their writings contains the light that is most suitable to correct the egoism that is found in our generation.
Check out these blog posts from Rav Laitman for more details:
If you’re interesting in learning how to properly decipher the Torah, check out the books: Disclosing a Portion or The Secrets of the Eternal Book.
Albert @ KabU
Hello Dear Instructor and Fellow Students,
My feelings are that the very act of studying, discussing, and just participating together are actually changing us, transforming us, like we are all being pulled towards the Light. Is this the true alchemy of Kabbalah, and is anyone else experiencing a more positive and harmonious shift in your day-to-day life? Thank you all.
Hi Karen,
Yes, you can say that. Essentially the process of learning about higher spiritual states and yearning to be in them is already bringing us closer to them. This is because through the study we extract the light, a special force that gradually corrects us and adapts us to the pure spiritual qualities of love and bestowal. This is why a big part of the method is simply to regularly return to the study, to the source of the light, which makes all the changes 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
Hi Brian, good question!
The light has multiple connotations. When we use the word light, we’re not referring to colors or waves but rather that this is the force that is opposite the desire. All that was created was the desire to receive pleasure. The force that created this desire and fulfills it is the light. So the light is the Creator, the pure quality of bestowal. We can also say that light = pleasure, since this is what fulfills that desire.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: http://laitman.com/2014/12/what-is-the-light/
Albert @ KabU
Since I have begun studying Torah , how can the study of kaballah compliment torah study and is there the risk of my becoming confused by the different study methods?
Hi Kenneth, good question!
The Torah is a Kabbalistic book. So there is no issue there.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2016/10/what-came-first-the-torah-or-the-wisdom-of-kabbalah/
The issue is what do we do with these Kabbalistic books? What is the goal of our study?
If our goal is simply to acquire knowledge, then it’s not called that we’re learning Torah or Kabbalah. Rather we’re simply filling ourselves up with data just like we fill up a computer hard drive with data.
If our goal is to reveal the giver of the Torah, meaning the Creator, then in order to do that, we need to become similar to Him. This is what Kabbalah helps a person to do: to correct our opposite egoistic nature, for it to become similar to the Creator, thereby revealing Him in practice, in our lives. This is the goal that needs to be in front of us when studying Kabbalistic books.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Fer, great question!
Our generation did not develop in a bubble, rather it’s the result of thousands of years of development and disillusionment from being unable to fulfill oneself. When we’re unable to fulfill ourselves, our point in the heart begins to awaken and ask “what is the point of life if we can’t find any fulfillment in it”? It’s thanks to the point in the heart that a person begins to aspire for spirituality.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2009/04/we-have-gone-through-thousands-of-years-of-suffering-to-reach-just-one-conclusion/
Albert @ KabU
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