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The best experience from the previous course was how quickly my worldview changed. I always thought I was afloat in a sea of conflicting forces: light vs. dark, good vs. evil, etc. In this chaotic sea, I saw my fellow humans also floating separately in various stages of chaos, most just drifting on the various currents, while others like myself, swam against the current. This I found to be heresy against the fact that there is none besides Him, and He is in total control. I also learned that my fellow humans and I are not haplessly floating but are all connected and flowing to an eventuality of adhesion to the Creator, and there is reason to what I see as madness.
I expect to take Kabbalah to the next level and learn practical steps in integrating its wisdom into my life.
I think my best experience from the previous course is that I continued to have a great hunger for the creator. Learning about some of the basics was important, but there was no way in 10 weeks that I could digest all of the concepts intellectually but that doesn’t matter. The intellectual part will develop and I can always go back to the content when I need to, and will find the right teacher, books, and environment when I am ready to receive the correct instruction.
I expect to begin the practical work of Kabbalah, to learn how to pray and walk the path to correction.
Following the lessons and reading the texts was a pleasure, causing me to dream one night about the names of the Creator. I learned how everything comes from the Creator, there is only One. However, I used to have a more personal, maybe somewhat childish relationship with G_d. Kabbalah changed my concept of the G_d into a much more distant Creator. I hope I’ll find this more intimate relationship with a personal Creator back again.
The previous course revealed many wonderful insights about Lishma and Lo Lishma ( quite different than my previously held understanding of these terms) ; how to build a second nature; what is a prayer; and much more. The best experience for me was the idea of come and taste of the Lord, as it helped me to feel the nature of the work we are beginning from an interior place. something I struggle with greatly. Recently I begin to feel what seems a closeness to the Creator then soon the feeling slips away and I’m left confused and bewildered and somewhat saddened.
I hope this course will reveal the practical application methodology of the knowledge we have been exploring, including but not limited to the operative qualities of the group of friends and how we grow in similarity to the Creator.
I was impressed by age-old puzzle of freedom and free will. As humans, we pride ourselves on being intelligent creatures, masters of our own destinies. This inherent sense of free will seems to suggest the ability to act based on our own choices, independent of external influences.
However, a closer look challenges this notion. Our decision-making process often resembles a complex software program, weighing options based on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. Even our ability to delay gratification, a seemingly advanced trait, can be seen as a calculated pursuit of future reward. In essence, it becomes a sophisticated form of “commercial calculation.”
Adding another layer of complexity is the societal dimension. Living in a social structure often requires us to conform, to prioritize the needs of the group over our individual desires. Our choices become entangled with the expectations of others.
So, where does true freedom lie amidst these constraints? The answer lies in a deeper understanding of existence. Consider the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 1:9: “There is nothing new under the sun.” This doesn’t imply stagnation, but rather that creation unfolds from a pre-existing source, a wellspring of pure potential. Think of it as a formless essence, constantly flowing and expressing itself in ever-evolving forms within the manifested world.
This source itself is unchanging, but within its essence lies the potential for infinite variation. Just as a single ray of light can be refracted into a spectrum of colors, the source expresses itself through countless unique combinations. In the case of humans, the source manifests through the genetic inheritance we receive from our parents – a unique blend that forms the initial spark of our being.
Society then plays its role, molding these inherent traits through interactions and expectations. This societal influence can become a “second nature,” a set of ingrained habits that guide our decisions. External factors like illness, war, or financial hardship can further impact our development. These forces can either hinder or accelerate our growth.
However, amidst this intricate dance of internal and external forces, there’s a spark within each human – the potential for a “second nature” rooted in the “will to bestow.” By consciously choosing to cultivate this desire to give and connect, we can begin to transcend our ego-driven impulses.
This “will to bestow,” when nurtured and strengthened, becomes the dominant force in our decision-making. It allows us to break free from the cycle of self-gratification and societal pressures. This is where true freedom emerges – the freedom to choose actions that align with our higher purpose, to connect with the source, and to act in accordance with the Creator’s will.
This ultimate freedom, however, presents a final paradox. As we fully embrace the “will to bestow” and merge with the source, the concept of separate individuality dissolves. There’s no longer a “self” seeking freedom, but rather a complete oneness with the source.
The journey towards true freedom, then, becomes a paradox – a process of self-dissolution leading to complete connection. It’s a path paved with intention, self-correction, and the cultivation of a love that transcends self-interest. And while the destination may seem like a loss of self, it’s ultimately a return to the source, a state of boundless unity and fulfillment.
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