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“He created the desire to receive in me, and I’m ashamed of how I use it.” This is one of my favorite quotes from the lesson. Will we learn how to use shame as a corrective tool for our egos?
Hi Jj, This refers to either a state in Eyn Sof, after the 4 Phases of Direct Light, or a very high spiritual degree when one is awarded a similar state from below up. Because we, in our current state, lack all the components that give rise to Shame in Malchut. Shame resulted from the feeling of the Creator (we lack such a feeling), that He is the bestower (of course we also lack this sensation), that there’s no universe and other people like we feel, but rather it’s just me, the receiver in order to receive, and Him, the force of pure love an bestowal. In fact, we lack even the sensation that we are truly receivers through and through, which is the only thing that is called ‘evil’ since it is opposite to the Creator’s quality. Therefore, we have no reason to feel shame, and we also can’t move towards anything that might cause that sensation to arise. In fact, we live our whole lives only in order to avoid that feeling, due to the entire reality we feel being the result of that high root of spiritual shame. So, we have to begin gradually, in a group, to begin building the inner discernments, to approach gently the concept that There Is None Else Besides Him filling the whole reality. It starts only as an axiom, but later we’ll attain it, when we can handle it. And still later, in a pleasant way, we’ll discover what actions we need to do back to Him in order to not feel shame per se, but to use the shame as a guide-post that helps us navigate only to use our desire in a form that will be equivalent with that all-inclusive singular force of bestowal that we reveal.
SHAME: I don’t live my life in shame and I never really lived it in any shame. I wasn’t always perfect and I know I’m not perfect and I accept that. I choose to live each day learning and growing to be better than yesterday. Mistakes can be made as long as you can grow and learn from them and be good to people. When I was a small child, I remember always being preached about shame (catholic religion), and I had to pray for forgiveness. Even then, as a child, I didn’t agree with the guilt and shame they tried to make me feel when I knew in my heart that I was good and kind. None of that made any sense to me and I quit going to church.
I believe if you live life from your heart to do good and mean well to others, you have nothing to be ashamed of. We are all human and are here to receive the good and bestow. If I make a mistake unintentionally, I will not feel shame, only look to do better for myself and others.
Kabbalah agrees that we have nothing to be ashamed of. We are under a law that was arranged before our universe, that says that we shall never again feel shame. That’s why a person lives their whole life never allowing himself to get into a shameful situation. By the same token, people would like to cause others to feel shame, especially when they do things we disapprove of. But spiritually speaking, the Shame that was felt in the Upper Worlds, will never be again because we will correct our desire to receive that lacks an intention to bestow, and then we will be able to receive the true pleasures without shame. Until then, what we experience in our world is called “thin candle” and not the true fulfilment that awaits us.
Hi Gianni,
Do we all have shame? People who have a big strong ego for themselves, to take from others, to build their personal success, do not seem to suffer from shame. (Maybe they are unconscious of the shame.) But people who are more inclined to seeking “spirituality” (even conventional spirituality not aligned with Kabbalists’ definition) seem to suffer from lots of shame and guilt in them.
Thank you, again!
No, I don’t need to be ashamed if I’m Jeff Bezos. I earned all this because I’m diligent and smart. I deserve it. But not only that. Humanity is indebted to me. Look what wonderful convenience I’ve created for billions of people. Look what wealth my company has given its shareholders. If anything I deserve a Nobel prize. And no matter who you give as an example, they will have justified themselves similarly. Even a thief has his self-justification. Man lives his whole life as he does only to avoid ever feeling shame, and he never does. He would first die than truly feel shame. Every decision he makes is a calculation to avoid shame.
Hi Gianni,
Malchut’s decision to not receiving any light for self pleasure except for bestowal does not mean negation/renunciation of, for example, the physical body, right? (In my experience, negation/renunciation of the physical body is a form of shame.) The decision could express itself as change of value about material things as tools, e.g. A person is used to eat for tastes, comfort (the head serving the desire), but after his Malchut decides not to receive any light except for bestowal, s/he now eats to live, eat to live longer so s/he can bestow longer on Earth (head above desires). Another example, s/he used to use the internet for entertainment but now use the internet for connecting with the Ten, building one’s spiritual environment or dissemination. Am I understanding correctly?
Thank you!
That’s right, Hing. We don’t need, don’t benefit from and even detract from spiritual advancement by breaking our corporeal desires, since those are considered above reproach. They are what you have to give this donkey you live with, for it to exist. The test is if I would prefer not to use it but I need it to live in this world: a normal apartment, car, career, family, etc. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of my spirituality. And if I live this way it becomes clear that I can use it all for the sake of the spiritual goal.
I have spent my life experiencing the cancellation of pleasure once I received it and I always thought that the shame I felt was related to my Jewish upbringing that was peppered with guilt…. that I shouldn’t ever enjoy anything while others went without. It’s interesting to find out that there is a destiny to this feeling that is actually propelling me forward in my spiritual growth. Am I misunderstanding?
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