And in the Kabbalistic tradition, particularly as illuminated by Baal HaSulam in his introduction to the Zohar, we find a path, a journey, towards that very connection.
It begins with something quite… human. Our desire to receive.
See, according to Baal HaSulam, the purification of our ratzon l'kabel (desire to receive) is key. It’s not about eliminating that desire – after all, we’re built with it! It's about refining it, about using it for something higher than just ourselves.
When we manage to purify the human aspect of that desire – and this is no small feat, mind you – we achieve something incredible: an equation of form with the world of Atzilut. Atzilut, often translated as "Emanation," is considered the highest of the four spiritual worlds in Kabbalah, closest to the Divine source.
What does this "equation of form" mean? It signifies a harmony, a resonance. Our inner being begins to align with the very fabric of the Divine. And that, my friends, is when things get really interesting.
With this alignment, we begin to ascend. We receive the light of Ḥaya. Ḥaya, meaning "life," represents a higher level of spiritual vitality and awareness. Think of it as a permanent, sustained infusion of divine energy. It's not a fleeting moment of inspiration, but a constant connection to the source of life itself.
But the journey doesn't end there.
Baal HaSulam hints at an even greater potential. When we become even more worthy, we can access the light of the Ein Sof – the Infinite – and the light of Yeḥida, which is enclothed within the light of Ḥaya. Yeḥida, meaning "oneness," represents the ultimate level of connection, a complete merging with the Divine. To reach a state of Yeḥida is to experience a profound and ineffable unity.
Imagine that: the light of the Infinite, flowing through the vitality of Ḥaya, and ultimately merging into the absolute Oneness of Yeḥida.
Now, Baal HaSulam himself says, “This is not the place to expand on this.” And perhaps that's because some things are best experienced, not just explained. But what we can glean from this brief glimpse is that the journey towards the Divine is a progressive one, a series of ascensions built upon the purification of our own desires.
It's a reminder that the potential for connection, for true and lasting union with the Infinite, resides within each of us. It all starts with that first step: the willingness to look inward, to refine our desires, and to strive for something higher.
So, where does this leave us? Perhaps pondering our own desires, and how we might use them not just for ourselves, but as a bridge to something far greater. What do you think?