That tension, that struggle, is at the heart of a profound concept explored in the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism. But to really understand it, we need a guide. And there's no better guide than Baal HaSulam, Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag, a 20th-century kabbalist whose commentary makes the Zohar accessible to us. In his introduction, he dives headfirst into the nature of impurity and what Kabbalists call the kelipot, the "husks" or "shells" that obscure the divine light.
The core of the problem, according to Baal HaSulam, lies within the very thing that makes us, us: our desire to receive. Now, hold on! Desire isn't inherently bad. In fact, it’s the very essence of our souls. It's how we are meant to experience and enjoy the fullness of creation. This desire is what enables us to receive all the goodness that God wants to bestow upon us.
But here’s the catch. If that desire to receive remains purely self-centered, unchanged, it creates a separation. A gap between us and the Divine. Why? Because, as Baal HaSulam explains, a difference in form separates us from God. Imagine trying to plug a European appliance into an American outlet – it just doesn't fit. Similarly, a purely selfish desire is incompatible with the nature of the Divine, which is pure giving.
So, how do we bridge that gap? How do we fix this separation?
That's where the whole cosmic drama begins! According to Baal HaSulam, God created all the worlds, dividing them into two opposing systems, mirroring each other. As it says in Ecclesiastes (7:14), "God made both, one opposite the other." Think of it like a cosmic seesaw, or maybe even a divine experiment.
On one side, we have the four holy worlds of ABYA: Atzilut (Emanation), Beria (Creation), Yetzira (Formation), and Asiya (Action). These are realms of increasing density, but all rooted in holiness. On the other side, we have their counterparts: four impure ABYA worlds.
In the holy worlds, God established a desire to give, to bestow, to share. And, crucially, He removed from them the selfish desire to receive. Where did that selfish desire go? You guessed it: into the impure ABYA worlds. It’s this concentration of selfish desire that separates them – and us, to the extent that we are influenced by it – from God and the worlds of sanctity.
So, where does this leave us? Trapped in a cosmic tug-of-war? Perhaps. But understanding the nature of the struggle, recognizing the pull of the "husks" and the potential for holiness within our own desire, is the first step towards… well, towards everything. It is not a coincidence that the Zohar dedicates itself to the task of elevating our desire to receive. The challenge is to transform that desire from a selfish one to one that is focused on giving and sharing. It is about aligning ourselves with the divine nature and finding our place in the grand scheme of creation.
Isn’t it amazing how ancient wisdom can shed light on our everyday struggles? The tension between wanting and giving, receiving and sharing… it’s a universal human experience, reflected in the very structure of the cosmos. And maybe, just maybe, understanding that tension is the key to finding a little more peace, a little more connection, in our own lives.