[T C]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Thomas Curry and I’m currently located in South Texas. I’m looking forward to continue learning, and eventually having enough discipline to reach my goal here.

[T C]

I think it is simply changing the question from, “What can I get?”, to ‘What can I get from giving?”

[T C]

It makes perfect sense that connection is the path to the ultimate goal. Since we are the result of shattering and silo-ing, our corrected state is a connected state. This week’s lesson really drove that point home to me.

[T C]

I think it is a change in thought from, “I exist to fulfill my desires in themselves, and it doesn’t really matter about others so much,” to a position of, “The greatest fulfillment of my desires, and so the greatest pleasure I can receive, is the pleasure that comes from being able to help other created created beings fulfill their desires.”

I’m not sure if this makes me an apikoros, but I would even say that in some ways the greatest pleasure we can bestow is upon the Creator by receiving the bestowal the Creator bestows on us with a joyful heart. Using the example often used about the dinner party, not only do we get enjoyment and pleasure from the food, music, company, and atmosphere of the dinner party, but expressing our enjoyment brings so much pleasure to the host of the dinner party. We, can then experience the pleasure of pleasing the host simply by being pleased by the good received. It kind of creates a feedback loop of receipt-bestowal-receipt-etc.

[T C]

I agree, but I think the answer to Mr. Seraphim’s comments are in the readings for this week. I don’t want to presume how the instructors will answer, but the readings seem to address this concern pretty clearly – IMHO.

So, to add what I’ve learned this week – or at least I have been able to clearly articulate – is that Kabbalah is a method and not a person. There are different groups teaching Kabbalah and the one we choose to belong to (B’nei Baruch) is one of many (hence this is why only the Jewish Kabbalists are mentioned as it is part of this specific lineage, as I’m sure the Hindu, Christian mystics, etc… mention their lineage to their students in lieu of mentioning every spiritual teacher/method out there.).  Also, this method we are learning is not the exclusive/only method (clearly stated in our readings this week) to the upper worlds and the Creator, but it is the shortest method. Again, as stated in our readings this week, the teachers say that we should experience other groups and other approaches so we can see and judge for ourselves whether this is the best/shortest method to reveal the Creator to us.

[T C]

Thanks…I just have one question, really, which is a clarification of the reading materials. In the readings it talks about the need for the upper light to be disconnected from the Creator by the time it reaches our lower worlds in order for the creature to eventually develop the desire to be like the creator. Is this to say that all our “earthly desires” are simply ways for us to develop a singular desire (viz. to be like the Creator)? Once this singular desire is then developed, is this to say that the real “work” of kabbalah is done? Thanks!…Thomas

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