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Hi Permal,
1. Any place where the Kabbalist refer to degrees they are referring to ones equivalence of form with the Creator. Every action that brings us closer to the quality of bestowal is considered that we are climbing from one degree to a higher one.
2. In this passage, Baal HaSulam refers to a specific state of one who has already attained the discernment of above reason. In that state, one should add the discernment called within reason only to the extent that it can strengthen one’s work in above reason. Our entire work should be primarily in above reason.
For now, you are working with neither, so you shouldn’t confuse yourself. A student begins their journey in the preparation phase. Once a person has established a more conscious contact with the upper force, we can begin discussing the states of within reason and above reason. About pride, I asked my teacher a similar question once. The answer I got was that even if you feel prideful as a result of a certain action, it is still beneficial. Later we will learn how to add on top of the action the intention of bestowal.
3. Faith above reason means bestowal above reception. A person is born with the quality to receive. This quality governs all of ones thoughts and actions and determines everything that a person does. Through the influence of the reforming light, which one receives through the correct study together in the proper environment, one acquires the intention of bestowal which enables a person to act according to the will of the upper force and the plan of creation. The acquisition of the intention to bestow to the upper force, which is contrary to ones nature, is considered faith above reason.
4. A rod refers to the work of above reason, the intention to bestow without thoughts of self benefit. A serpent refers to the work of within reason, meaning one wishes to advance according to the knowledge they receive and not because they wish to be similar to the Creator and by that to bring Him contentment.
Joseph
Hi,
Kabbalists describe the book of Zohar as a remedy, meaning it has a special force within it that brings a person closer to spiritual attainment. This is on condition that a person who reads it wishes to draw closer to the quality of bestowal, which is the quality of the upper force. If a person reads the Zohar with this intention, then it doesn’t matter what part he reads. Ultimately, everything in our life is purposeful. Through the correct study we come to realize that.
Joseph
Hi Voldsom,
I would recommend not to draw comparisons between the teachings of the Kabbalists and actions of our world. Although such connections do exist, according to the law of root and branch, which indicates that every corporeal phenomenon has a spiritual root, still, this is beyond the scope of this course.
According to the source texts Adam is the one unified corrected and connected soul. And the kli is the spiritual vessel in which we receive the upper light. Stick to the definitions straight from the source texts and things will become clear. Eventually, we will also learn the connection between spiritual phenomena and our corporeal world.
Joseph
Hello,
An individual does not make connections between the sefirot. This is done by the upper force according to the desire in a person’s heart to achieve adhesion with the Creator through equivalence of form with the quality of bestowal.
Whatever a person wants on the path to spiritual attainment, one must simply ask. Our entire work is nothing more than formulating the correct request that will receive an answer. But this must be for the sake of others and not for myself.
Joseph
Hi Melissa,
Those who have not yet awakened to the work of the Creator, meaning those who have not yet been given the desire to connect with Him, are as babies in the arms of their loving mother. They are completely governed by the Creator and exist in absolute adhesion with Him.
Only those who have an independent desire for adhesion can be considered as separate from Him on the path to attaining Him. About those people we can talk about distance or closeness with the Creator, revelation and concealment, etc. For the rest of the world they exist in the perfect state, and one should primarily focus oneself on what inner changes one must undergo in order to see the perfection that exists outside of oneself, to see the world the way the Kabbalists describe it to us.
There are other aspects of this method that deal with how do we practically bring others closer to the end goal, but we will learn this at a later stage.
Joseph
