Preparation Prompt: What does transitioning from a self-centered perception of reality to one grounded in altruism entail?

[Julian Edwards- KabU Instructor]

Preparation Prompt: What does transitioning from a self-centered perception of reality to one grounded in altruism entail?

[tom]

The more we use our EGO to bestow upon others, the lesser sorrows we have for ourselves. I suppose that changes our frequency, by which we perceive another reality. Like changing the TV-channel

[Leo]

If my girlfriend gives me flowers, I receive them in order to give her pleasure.

[Dee]

Change our perceptions and develop our Klee by a different calibration. Connection with bestowal and love of others draws the reform light to help us attain equivalence of form and grow our egoism. A Torah life with the passion of desire in the heart attracts the light.

[Wendi]

It means Childhood’s End. Also a novel by Arthur C. Clarke who provided tremendous insights in a futuristic science fiction context.

[Terra]

I apologize for posting off topic here but I’m unable to access the other Week 2 forums (a black pop-up box appears when I click on the links at the end of the lesson material).

A few months ago, I ended a seven-year relationship with someone who exhibits narcissistic traits. I stayed a long time because I thought he behaved toward me in these negative ways (lack of emotional empathy, manipulative control and coercion) because I needed to learn how to put my personal needs or ego aside and be more giving of myself and understanding of his needs. I feel that practice is a big part of the practical teachings of Kabbalah.

Since I have left, I can identify the ways this person and myself have been hurt as children/young adults, leading to the way we behave toward each other and others as an adult. So I can empathize with their feelings and behaviors but at the same time, I believe I need to uphold my boundaries of not being in a romantic relationship with them because those actions are harmful to me. Still, I do have some guilt around asserting my needs.

Although we speak a lot about correcting our egoistic desires and moving toward being altruistic, is part of the reason we will be doing this in carefully selected “lab groups” because we need to do this work with others who have an awakened point in the heart and have progressed in the coursework, vs those who perhaps are not ready to do the self-reflecting work necessary for this shift to occur?

I am looking forward to learning more about how being altruistic may not mean being submissive or dismissive of our own needs and would love to hear some insights from instructors or other students on this.

[Tatjana Ristanić]

it means we become true adults

[Author]

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