Jewish mystical thought, specifically in texts like Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, wrestles with this very idea when discussing the stages of spiritual and intellectual maturity. It’s not just about getting older; it’s about the evolution of our Mental Powers, those capacities for understanding and insight that shape our connection to the Divine.
So, why only two stages of maturity mentioned explicitly? Why the apparent gap? That’s the puzzle the text presents us. It seems logical that there would be incremental steps in between major shifts in the human experience, but no!
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah suggests that the focus is on the origin of those powers. It boils down to this: our Mental Powers derive either from Abba and Imma (Father and Mother, archetypal divine principles of wisdom and understanding), or from what's called the Second Israel Sabba-Tevunah.
Who are these figures? Well, the First Israel Sabba-Tevunah represents Malchut (Kingship or manifestation) of Abba and Imma – think of it as the way these divine principles become real in the world. The Second Israel Sabba-Tevunah, then, is Malchut of the First Israel Sabba-Tevunah, a further refinement and emanation of those initial powers. It's like wisdom building upon wisdom.
The key here is that during what we might perceive as an "in-between" stage, there isn't a fundamental change in the source of the Mental Powers themselves. They are still attributable to that First Maturity, that initial gift from the Second Israel Sabba-Tevunah. Instead, what happens is an addition, an expansion of encompassing levels.
Think of it like this: you're baking a cake. You start with the basic ingredients – flour, sugar, eggs (our Mental Powers from Abba and Imma). Then you add frosting, sprinkles, maybe some fancy decorations. The cake is still a cake, the essence hasn't changed, but it's become something richer, more complex, more… you.
These "encompassing levels" are like the layers of experience and understanding we accumulate, enriching our initial Mental Powers without fundamentally altering their source. We are building on our initial foundations, rather than laying entirely new ones during this phase.
It’s a subtle but important distinction. It suggests that spiritual and intellectual growth isn't always about radical transformation, but also about deepening and expanding what we already possess. We may not always experience dramatic shifts, but we are constantly adding layers of meaning and insight to our core understanding.
So, the next time you feel like you're in that "in-between" phase, remember that even without a complete overhaul, profound growth is still happening. You're adding those layers, building upon your foundation, and becoming a more complete and nuanced version of yourself. What more could we ask for?