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if we were created already experiencing unbounded fulfillment, eternity and perfection. what’s the point to descend, then try to climb back? what’s the purpose of this journey/circle?
thanks
Helen
Hi Helen,
We were indeed created in the state of perfection, in complete adhesion with the Creator. (Baal HaSulam describes this in the article Introduction to the book of Zohar). But this was an unconscious state, like a baby in its mother’s womb. So we necessarily had to come to the complete opposite state, to lose that state of perfection, in order to once again reach it, but this time consciously.
And the fact that we had to lose this state is not something bad, but it’s a necessary part of our development. It’s just like with kids. We don’t just give them a completed jigsaw puzzle. On the contrary we take it and break it down into many pieces. Then in the process of them putting it together, they grow and develop. Same with us, this process of losing that state is a necessary part of our further growth and development.
This process also adds to us a certain level of freedom, without which, we would be no different than machines, or robots, that were programmed to act a certain way and they just carry out this inner script. Instead, we were programmed one way, and we rise above this inner programming, become independent of it, and then develop our own desire to advance towards this goal.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2014/01/from-perfection-to-perfection/
Albert @ KabU
how, if at all, does the 2 paths relate to the concept of negative and positive polarization. the Idea being that one can evolve on a service to self path (negative polarization, and a service to others path (positive). how do these tow concepts relate, the way I understand it, one can consciously be involved in a service to self orientation
Hi Terry,
I’m not an expert in other methods, so I cannot comment on that. In general, there are two path of development: the path of light and the path of suffering. The path of light means that we develop consciously under the influence of the light.
Whereas the path of suffering is an inactive form of development, where we wait for sufferings to accumulate until we start to move. It’s like a child that refuses to go to school, so the parents put more and more pressures on him until he agrees to go. Keep in mind that we don’t really advance on the path of suffering. Since pressuring and punishing a child is not the same as educating him. So after all of the pressures and punishments they put on him, he will still have to go to school and get his education.
Check out these blog posts from Rav Laitman for more details
https://laitman.com/2011/01/lets-go-with-the-light/
https://laitman.com/2015/05/we-wont-follow-the-path-of-suffering-forever/
Albert @ KabU
I’m sure is a question you’ve been asked many times. I don’t recall hearing/seeing an answer so I hope you won’t mind answering it again. I realize Kabbalah is a science and not a religion, but it is so closely related to scriptures which are also the basis of religion, therefore, how does the concept of Messiah fit in with Kabbalah? Thank you.
Jonah
Hi Jonah,
Kabbalah is the scientific method by which we can correct our egoistic nature. As a result of this correction, we become similar to the Creator, to the general force of love and bestowal. As a result of becoming similar to Him, we reveal Him in practice, in our lives. This follows the law of equivalence of form and this is what Kabbalah helps us to achieve.
As for the Messiah, in Kabbalah, the Messiah is not a person but a force. Messiah (Mashiach in Hebrew) comes from the verb “to pull” (Moshech in Hebrew). This is the force that has the ability “to pull” us out of our egoistic nature into the Creator’s nature of love and bestowal.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2013/02/what-do-they-expect-from-a-messiah/
Albert @ KabU
In the process of development . . .Kabbalah speaks about the development of wealth . . .attaining Light in this area . . .is this the accumulation of wealth as in finances . . .the material? All Spiritual paths previously have taught me that wealth is a detractor to living Spiritually and I have personally tried to become devoted to lessening my dependence on consumerism. I understand that Light/wealth can mean wealth in kindness, care for others, etc; however, Kabbalah often speaks about attainment of wealth. . . just as it seems to say that we should be partnered . . .although many other devoted paths speak about being able to develop the capacity for for being alone with the Divine as a path to Light and becoming less dependent on the accumulation of wealth (a worldly desire) . This actually seems a mundane or simplistic question to me as I ask it . . .yet I sincerely ask for clarification. Thank you.
Hi Sue,
I’m not sure in which context you heard it, but in general, Kabbalah talks about how our desires evolve. First come our basic desires for food, sex, family, etc. After that level develop the desires for money, honor, and knowledge. And at the peak of this pyramid is the desire for spirituality, which we call the point in the heart.
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).
In practice, we don’t need to suppress our corporeal desires or live a life of poverty. We only need to work on making the desire for spirituality the most important thing. Then naturally the rest of our desires will fall into place. For example, it’s like with an artist that is so involved in his art, that he fulfills all the rest of his desires out of necessity so he can quickly return to his passion. Same with us, when spirituality is the most important desire, then we will be able to properly relate to all the rest of our corporeal desires in a balanced way.
Albert @ KabU
Hi there,
As always, I have deep appreciation and respect for the instructors that spend their time answering our questions. Thank you.
My question for this week, while not entirely related to the material – has to do with the ‘Screen’ and what practically does it mean to build one.
I have begun to develop the sensation that there is a ‘giver’ behind both the desires and fulfillments of my mundane existence in ‘This World’. And while I understand intellectually that building the Screen involves inverting the intention on how that fulfillment of the desire is accepted, I cannot help but feel that I am deluding myself into feeling like it is even possible to receive some fulfillment for a mundane desire for the sake of the Creator – despite whether I feel or cannot feel that this fulfillment comes from a source (The Creator).
It seems like only _direct_, unmistakable perception of the Creator is sufficient for one to ever begin building the screen, otherwise it seems as if one could easily trick oneself into believing that I am, for example, eating a delicious meal ‘for the sake of the Creator’, if one is only armed with an intellectual understanding that the fulfillment of the desire is being bestowed by the Creator.
But then we run into a chicken/egg scenario, because as far as I have studied – one cannot actually perceive the Creator until one has built the screen.
I understand that a heartfelt prayer for his revelation is involved in this, but the deeper I begin to think about this situation – the more confusing it gets. I tend to fallback maintaining Faith Above Reason, but certainly this does not make the inner questions disappear.
I hope this makes sense. Thanks again.
Hi Nick,
The screen is the intention. More specifically it’s the intention to bestow. It would be nice if we could just choose a screen, choose an intention and go with it. The problem is that our egoistic nature does not allow us to have a clean intention for bestowal.
In the best case scenario, we can ASPIRE towards the intention of bestowal. We can play pretend AS IF we want bestowal. This is as much as our nature allows and actually this is enough. Such a game, especially when played with other points in the hearts in the Kabbalistic group, is how we extract the reforming light. It’s ultimately the light that corrects our nature. Our work is to extract more and more of it, until it begins to work on us and makes this aspiration a reality.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2012/03/building-blocks-of-the-first-spiritual-degree/
Albert @ KabU
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