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Hi Christian,
1. Instinctively is the key word there. Meaning that the first three levels are simply carrying out their inner programming, like machines, without any free choice.
Humans too follow their own inner egoistic programming. So in that regard, we are no different than animals. It’s only when we start to develop spiritually and begin to rise above our inner programming, become independent of it, only then do we truly rise above the animate degree into the human degree.
What then is the use of the first three levels? They are there to support the human level. Baal HaSulam writes about it in the Introduction to the Book of Zohar, here’s an excerpt:
We must not ponder the state of the rest of the beings in the world besides man, since man is the center of creation, as will be written below in Item 39. All other creatures do not have any value in themselves, but to the extent that they help man achieve his wholeness. Hence, they rise and fall with him without any consideration of themselves.
2. It depends on the context, but in the corporeal world, inanimate refers to the still part of nature, like rocks, minerals, etc.
3. Kabbalah does not look at the stories in the Torah as literal stories, but rather as a road map of our inner spiritual development. Male symbolizes the desire to give while female symbolizes the desire to receive. Essentially our entire work is to bring these two opposites together, in the sense that we’ll be able to receive all of the goodness that the Creator wants to give us, in order to bestow back to Him.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2016/05/dispelling-myths-about-kabbalah-part-4/
If you’re interesting in learning how to properly decipher the stories in the Torah, check out the books: Disclosing a Portion or The Secrets of the Eternal Book.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Michael,
In the introduction to the book of Zohar, Baal HaSulam explains to us the three state model of Creation. From there we learn that the end goal is set, we have no choice there, every single one of us must reach it. The only difference is that there are those with awakened points in the heart, that are doing this consciously, and there are those whose point in the heart is still not ripe, so they are advancing on the path of suffering. But both are advancing towards Him and both will eventually reach Him.
Check out these blog posts from Rav Laitman for more details:
https://laitman.com/2014/01/from-perfection-to-perfection/
https://laitman.com/2011/01/lets-go-with-the-light/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Anthony,
It’s normal. We go through many states on the spiritual path. Many ups, downs, and everything in between. The main thing is to just keep going, to keep placing yourself under the influence of the light, especially during the Kabbalistic lessons, and it will balance everything out.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2013/02/sunbathing-in-the-rays-of-the-reforming-light/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Jonah,
In the advanced semesters of KabU, all the students will be grouped up into virtual KabU groups and taught how to do spiritual work in groups.
Also after you graduate from KabU, there is an option to be placed into a local KabU group.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Sheila,
Yes, essentially the entire correction is in connecting with others. Just picture all of humanity is part of a single system. Like a 8 billion piece jigsaw puzzle. Each piece of the puzzle (each person) is perfect by itself and does not require any correction. Meaning that we don’t need to recolor any of the pieces or cut off any seemingly excess parts. The only thing we need to do is find where each piece fits relative to all the other pieces. And by that we correct everything.
We’ll learn how to do these things practically in the more advanced semesters, but reading other students’ questions is definitely a good start.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Ron,
You’re right, we will always be the creature. But through the process of correcting our egoistic nature, we will reach adhesion with the Creator. Meaning that we wont become Him, we will be separate from Him, and yet connected with Him on a very deep level.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2019/04/the-purpose-of-creation/
As for freedom, we’re currently enslaved to our egoistic nature. Everything we choose, consciously or unconsciously stems from this nature. If we want to reach freedom, we need to come out of this nature. We’ll learn how to do that in semester 2, lesson 2.
Albert @ KabU
