It’s actually… real.
In his "Introduction to Zohar," Baal HaSulam delves into the nature of spiritual growth, and how we’re all connected to something far grander than ourselves. He suggests that each of us is born with "points of light from the soul" already within us. These points, he says, are "enclothed" within the soul, like tiny seeds waiting to sprout.
Think of it like this: when a Partzuf – a Kabbalistic term for a divine configuration or "face" of the soul – is born, it doesn’t arrive empty-handed. It comes into being with a tiny spark from the next higher level, specifically, the lowest aspect of the light from the "spirit of Asiya," which is one of the four spiritual worlds in Kabbalah. This spark nests itself within the inner workings of the Partzuf, a hidden potential waiting to be unlocked.
And it doesn't stop there. This principle applies to all the spiritual levels. Each time a level is born, it carries within it a spark, a point of connection, from the level above. It's like a ladder, reaching towards the heavens. As Baal HaSulam puts it, this creates "the link that connects between the higher and lower levels, up to the greatest heights."
So, what’s the purpose of all this? Why are we born with these little sparks of higher light?
Baal HaSulam explains that this "perfect light" is there to help us. It’s what empowers us to invest effort in Torah and mitzvot – in study and good deeds – and ultimately, to climb to greater spiritual heights. That spark, that connection to something higher, fuels our desire to grow and evolve. The very properties of that point, that connection from the level above, is what makes it possible for us to rise.
It's a powerful idea, isn’t it? That we're not just solitary individuals, striving in the dark. We're each born with a divine spark, a connection to the infinite, guiding us towards our fullest potential. It's a reminder that even when we feel lost or disconnected, that spark is still there, waiting to be ignited. And when we connect to that spark, when we nurture it through learning and action, we have the potential to ascend to incredible heights.
So, what will you do with your spark today?