Two Forms Of Perception
Whenever we begin reading The Book of Zohar, we have to attune ourselves so as to flow along with the material prepared for us by the great authors of this book. They tell us that the only thing that was created is the desire to enjoy. This desire has two forms of perceiving reality (or perceiving its Creator). One is a direct perception within the desire, which they call "from above downward." In this form the desire can only perceive what we feel right now, "within ourselves." Such a perception is called "this world." The second form of perception take place above the desire, "outside" of it. It is when we don't fulfill ourselves, but others (or, what seems as others).
We are not accustomed to the second kind of perception since we weren't born with it. It seems odd and alien to us, and yet the authors of The Zohar tell us that this form of perception is the most natural, because it stems from nature (the Creator). In addition to the tiny world we feel within ourselves, there are other vast worlds "outside" ourselves.
The Zohar aims us so we could acquire this additional perception of reality outside our bodies. For this reason, if we want to see what The Zohar speaks of, we must attune ourselves to perceive the reality that exists "outside" of us, rather than "within."
This book describes many things that sound like phenomena in this world, as well as magical creatures like angels, spirits or chambers. However, regardless of how realistic or supernatural these things may appear to us, The Zohar always speaks of the form of perception "within" ourselves. Therefore, if we want to understand what The Zohar wants to tell us, or rather, what it wants to reveal inside us, we must attune ourselves in the same direction-instead of aspiring for self-fulfillment, we should aspire to feel reality "outside" ourselves.
Our World Is Like A Picture On A Computer Screen
In order to see the true reality, we have to imagine nothing but our own desire. Since birth we have been conditioned to see a movie that shows the whole as being outside of us. However, it exists only inside our desire. We have to fight an inner war with ourselves in order to become convinced that everything happens inside the desire. However, this fact does not revoke reality, since desire is reality.
We normally think that a desire is simply when we want something. However, desire is everything. The wall that blocks our path is also a desire-when we come up against it, we come up against a desire. Everything around us is desires or forces, which are depicted a certain way on our screen. When we look at a photograph on a computer screen, we don't think that there are real objects inside the computer. We know that the picture is created by electrical forces. However, when we look at our world, we don't realize this because we don't see the screen onto which this world is projected.
Yet, in reality, everything taking place is even simpler. What we see on a computer screen seems to be happening outside of us, on the screen, and from there the image enters our eye, is processed, compared with what is stored in our memory and is then recognized with the help of electro-chemical processes in our brain. However, when we see the world, we see it inside ourselves, in our brain. That is where we see a projection of this world, which appears as being outside of us. In reality it's also projected on a screen where electrical forces are depicting a picture. Meanwhile, however, we think that this picture is located outside of us.
If we come closer to this authentic perception with the help of The Zohar, then we will see a world of forces and qualities before us. These forces and qualities are operated by one general force, the Creator. Upon reaching this vision and realization, we will reveal the Creator, which is our greatest desire. This revelation takes place inside our desire, depending on its equivalence of form with the Creator. All of The Zohar is aimed only at revealing the right perception of reality.
Kabbalah International
