What if everything we experience, everything we perceive as solid and concrete, is just… a manifestation? A sort of shimmering reflection of something deeper, something beyond our direct grasp?
That’s the idea that Baal HaSulam, a towering figure in 20th-century Kabbalah, grapples with in his "Preface to the Zohar."
He talks about "substance," which is basically the activities that flow out from any "essence". Think of it like this: a tree's essence is, well, its "treeness"—the underlying blueprint that makes it a tree. The substance is all the things that tree does: growing leaves, bearing fruit, casting shade.
And here's the kicker: Baal HaSulam argues we can fully understand the essence through its substance. We don't need to directly perceive the hidden core.
He writes that these manifestations "manifest to us the essence that lies within the substance in a comprehensive manner, such that we do not suffer at all from the lack of perception of the essence itself."
It's like, do you really miss having a sixth finger? No! Because what you do have is enough. In the same way, understanding the substance, the actions, the outward expressions, is completely sufficient. It's enough for us to understand ourselves and the world around us. We experience love through actions, through kindness, through shared moments. Do we need to dissect the essence of love to know it’s real? No! The manifestations, the substance of love, are enough.
This idea has profound implications. If we can understand the divine essence through its manifestations in the world, then every act of kindness, every moment of beauty, every connection we make is a glimpse into something greater.
It suggests that the world, with all its complexities and contradictions, isn't just a random collection of stuff. It’s a carefully crafted expression, a language even, whispering secrets of a hidden reality. And all we have to do is pay attention.
So, next time you're marveling at a sunset, or moved by a piece of music, remember Baal HaSulam’s words. You might just be glimpsing the essence of something truly extraordinary.