Hearing The Higher Music

The Zohar, Chapter "Lech Lecha (Go Forth)," Item 211: Seven firmaments did the Creator make above, which are the ZAT (seven Sefirot) de Atzilut, HGT NHYM. All of them are in order to know the glory of the Creator and all of them are poised to announce the meaning of the high faith.

Why are the Sefirot called firmaments? A firmament is a screen, and there are many types of screens. A screen that partitions spiritual levels is called a firmament.

We are talking only about desire, and above it there is a screen and Reflected Light. The desire is under restriction. It has Aviut (thickness or size of desire) and, to the degree of overcoming it, a screen.

These are all technical terms. However, when we work with desires and the opposition to them, we reveal feelings and impressions. There is a will to enjoy and inside it, various phenomena become revealed. We are talking precisely about the phenomenon and not the actual desire that evokes the phenomenon.

Suppose I am able to give a detailed explanation about a violin: its structure, its material, exactly how I slide the bow across the strings, with what pressure, speed, and so on. Alternatively, I can verbally convey my feelings and impressions of a melody. In both cases I am describing a phenomenon, but I do it in different languages. One is a technical language that is understood by the mind, whereas the second is a language of feelings, understood by the heart.

The Book of Zohar speaks in a language of feelings, and therefore it is clear to those who feel these phenomena. Baal HaSulam added the language of Kabbalah to The Zohar‘s text, which is a description of The Zohar using technical terms (Sefirot, Partzufim, Aviut, and screen). Thus, we have a parallel description in two languages, which helps us to connect these two languages and come closer to revealing and uniting with the actual phenomena.

In order to reveal the text, I must unite with the environment, the group. That is exactly how the authors of this book, the group of Rabbi Shimon, revealed it. It was precisely through the connection between them that they attained all 125 levels of Upper Light, and called it "Radiance" (Zohar).

-from the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/29/10

How To Unite All The Pyramids Into One

The pyramid upon which all of nature is based includes four levels: still, vegetative, animate, and human. It exists inside every person. It is always inside a person, which means that he always combines all the desires within. Therefore, he must always take into account, and realize, that he has to build up his desires in the form of this pyramid or according to this scale of priorities.

You cannot detach from reality completely and soar up to the spiritual world. That would be wrong! It would mean that you do not control, see, and feel your desires. You have to see the whole system and know to which level every one of your desires belongs: still, vegetative, animate, or human.

This is my full spiritual Kli (vessel)-HaVaYaH (Yod, Hey, Vav, Hey), and I work with these desires by creating a screen for each of them. That is how I hold the soul in my own hands!

Clearly, I need help from the environment and the Upper Light, but this entire spiritual structure must be "in front of me." Even if I make a mistake and sin by accidentally making an egoistic calculation, I must be fully conscious of what is happening.

The whole world, as well as every person, is built according to this pyramid. Through these pyramids of desires we unite with each other. We cannot correct anything in this world until we unite the tops of our pyramids in their highest point by uniting together with each other and with the Creator.

Then everything will balance out and unite into one system. Only inside this higher point of unity will we be able to unite our pyramids of desires correctly. We will discover that all of our desires and qualities are good and necessary when they unite together and complement each other to become one whole!

-from the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/29/10