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Hi Zeinab,
We are here because we don’t want to develop simply like robots, which were programmed to act a certain way and they act that way. Although we have a certain ingrained programming (the desire to receive), through the process of developing on the level of our world, we learn how to rise above that programming, and reach freedom from it. This is why we are here.
Furthermore, the sages tell us that “it is not for you to complete the work, and you are not free to idle away from it.” Meaning that although the Creator controls everything and does all the work, it’s still up to us to build a desire for Him to help us make this change. Without this type of work, we would be no different than robots.
We’ll learn about this principle in the more advanced lessons, in the meantime, check out this blog post from Rav Laitman: https://laitman.com/2010/07/its-not-for-you-to-complete-the-work-look-for-the-creator/
Albert @ KabU
One of my main questions about the world we live in is, “why is there suffering, pain, & death?” I was born with Cerebral Palsy, & when I matured enough to start questioning “why,” my search began down a path of studying religion. I even earned a degree in religion from college. But the more I searched for answers, the more questions arose. Now, since starting this course in Kabbalah, I am beginning to understand some things on my quest. This video on “Force of Development” has helped me begin to understand the contrast between the Creator’s will vs. my will. I am grateful for this course & the teachers who are shining the light of Kabbalah.
Regarding the shattering into 600,000 pieces, does every human have a piece of that? If so, there is about 8 million people on earth. How does the math work where everyone has a piece of the 600,000 shards/sparks when there’s 8 mil. people. Also, are you considered a Noahide (gentile desiring to become Jewish) according to Kabbalah or does it not matter?
Hi Eugene,
600,000 is less of a quantitative number and more of a qualitative number. It represents the strength of the spiritual desire after it’s been fully corrected. So essentially all of humanity is included in this number.
Check out this blog post to see how this number is derived: https://laitman.com/2010/09/love-and-hatred-of-600000-souls/
As for being Jewish or a gentile, in the Wisdom of Kabbalah, these things are not determined by our nationality but only according to our desires. If a person has a desire to reveal the Creator, that person is called Israel (from the Hebrew words Yashar-El, straight to God). If a person has a desire only to fulfill one’s stomach, then that person is called an animal. In other words, these things are not fixed at our birth, but rather as our desires change, these labels change as well.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2013/05/roles-that-come-along-our-way/
Albert @ KabU
Thank you for the above video, but my question about the nature of suffering still remains. The fact that we need a contrast to understand something, in this case suffering & pain vs. love, is clear. However, considering the premise that the creator is all able, the fact the suffering was ‘chosen’ as the optimal way by which we can go through our correction and understand the creator’s nature best, is confusing me. If I was given the choice of allowing my AI agent a process by which they can become conscious and independent, I would choose suffering as my very last resort. Ethically, I should choose to stop development until there is a better way. Once again, considering God is all good and all able, why did they opt for the option that requires pain? surely the creator could invent some other emotion/way by which the creature could get to the same outcome without suffering?
Hi Sapir,
Suffering is not the optimal path. The path of light is actually the optimal way. Suffering is indeed a last resort.
Furthermore, although we say that there are two paths towards the goal (path of light vs path of suffering), in truth we don’t really advance on the path of suffering. It’s like a child that needs to go to school. Pressuring and punishing him is not the same as educating him. So after all of the pressures and punishments we put on him, he will still have to go to school and get his education. In other words, the path of suffering is only there to pressure us to return to the path of light.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/05/we-wont-follow-the-path-of-suffering-forever/
Albert @ KabU
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