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Hi Richard,
The Torah is entirely written in a type of code called the language of roots and branches. This code uses words of our world to describe spiritual phenomena. So none of it is literal. On the other hand there is a law that every spiritual root must touch the corporeal branch at least once. Meaning although these are spiritual phenomena, they must have a corresponding corporeal branch in our world.
For example, Egypt represents the uncorrected egoistic desire while Israel represents the corrected desire, those are the roots. But in our world these things exist as branches as well. There is actually a physical place that is called Egypt and Israel. Still, despite all the above, the Torah is not a history book, not a single word of the Torah speaks about our world, history, morals, etc.
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 Torah, check out the books: Disclosing a Portion or The Secrets of the Eternal Book.
Albert @ KabU
Hi David,
Holding on to “none else besides Him” internally is perfectly fine. The only issue is if this would stop us externally. Externally we continue to exist on the level of this world. So we need to take care of all of our problems in the normal way that is customary to take care of these things. So if I’m sick, I go to the doctor. If I’m jobless, I don’t just sit around waiting for a job, rather I go job hunting. If someone is harassing me, I stop them, sue them, etc. In other words, seeing everything as coming from a single benevolent force is our internal work. Externally though, we must keep living and operating our lives in the normal way.
We’ll learn more about these things in the more advanced lessons, in the meantime, check out this blog post from Rav Laitman: https://laitman.com/2017/12/there-is-none-else-besides-him/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Richard, great questions!
1. Our development is in the form of a game. Just like kids play pretend that they are adults, fireman, doctors, etc. Through that game they grow and develop. It’s the same with us. We play “as if” we’re already corrected, as if we already have a screen and the qualities of bestowal. Such a game extracts the reforming light which gradually makes this game a reality.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2012/03/building-blocks-of-the-first-spiritual-degree/
2. You can call it an exercise, or a game, or spiritual work. Just keep in mind that we do this type of spiritual work only within this safe environment that we call the Kabbalistic group. With the rest of the world, we should act normal, just like everyone else.
As for the guide, yes there is a guide. Our guide is Rav Laitman. He helps us to implement the writings of the Kabbalists in our spiritual work.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2015/11/the-great-kabbalists-and-their-works/
3. We are awake. “There is no coercion in spirituality”. You cannot attain spirituality if you’re not consciously striving towards it.
As for the spiritual worlds, see my reply 221138 to Carlos below for more details:
4. A Kabbalist continues to exist on the level of this world throughout the entire spiritual ladder. So we exist on both levels at the same time.
5. If you reveal the Creator in practice, then you know.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2012/04/when-all-doubts-will-dissipate/
I don’t mind answering many questions as long as you don’t mind all the extra reading materials I’ll provide 🙂
6. Kabbalah is the method by which we correct our egoistic nature and as a result reveal the Creator, the general force of love of bestowal. “Body” in Kabbalah refers to our egoistic desires. Rising above means that we develop the Creator’s qualities of love and bestowal. So yes coming out of our egoistic body (desires) is what Kabbalah is all about.
7. I can’t say for sure, but it’s possible. After all, we go through many ups and downs on the spiritual path. The important thing is to just keep going, to keep placing yourself under the influence of the light and it’ll balance everything out.
So the best thing is to set aside some time to regularly return to the Kabbalistic sources, weekly lessons, videos, books, etc. Such habits of returning to the source of the light will help us get through all of the different ups and downs on the path.
Albert @ KabU
Hi Bonnie,
Yes, there is a certain order to these things which stems from the root of each person’s soul. But in practice we don’t work according to some pre-made list but according to what is being revealed in the moment.
See my reply 221960 to Zhenia below for more details:
Albert @ KabU
Hi Francisco,
Animals operate purely on instinct. As such, it’s not accurate to ascribe to them human attributes, like cruelty, egoism, etc. It’s like a machine that was programmed to act a certain way. For example, I’ve read somewhere that once one of those self driving cars made a miscalculation and got into a car accident, killing the owner. Why don’t we call that car a cruel murderer? It’s because it’s a machine. It was programmed to operate a certain way and that’s exactly what it does. The same thing with the still, vegetative, and animate levels of nature. They are simply carrying out their inner instincts and programming.
As for nature, when Kabbalists use the word “nature”, they are not referring to the outdoors but rather to the all encompassing system in which we exist. Furthermore, we can say that the words “nature” and the Creator are interchangeable. Baal HaSulam writes about this in the article The Peace:
“To avoid having to use both tongues from now on—nature and a supervisor—between which, as I have shown, there is no difference regarding the following of the laws, it is best for us to meet halfway and accept the words of the Kabbalists that HaTeva (the nature) has the same numerical value (in Hebrew) as Elokim (God)—eighty-six. Then, I will be able to call the laws of God “nature’s commandments,” or vice-versa, for they are one and the same.”
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2017/09/elokim-is-nature-in-gematria/
Albert @ KabU
Hi Francisco,
Yes, essentially the world is a reflection of our own uncorrected state. As long as we remain uncorrected, we’ll see in front of us an uncorrected, egoistic, and cruel world.
Check out this blog post from Rav Laitman for more details: https://laitman.com/2016/12/fantasies-and-reality-part-5/
Albert @ KabU
