Jewish mystical tradition, particularly in the text Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, speaks to this very feeling. It describes two kinds of light: an "inner light" and an "encompassing light." Think of the inner light as the spark of divine wisdom already within us, the potential for insight. The encompassing light? That's the vast, boundless wisdom that surrounds us, the complete picture of all things.
Initially, these two lights are "far from one another." There's a gap, a distance between what we know and what we could know. But the beautiful thing is, according to Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, they "steadily come closer together, little by little…"
Isn't that encouraging? It's not about instantly grasping everything, achieving enlightenment in a single moment. It's about a process, a gradual unfolding. "We certainly see in these lights something that advances gradually, stage by stage," the text assures us. It’s a slow dance of revelation, a step-by-step approach.
What’s driving this dance? It’s "the steadily increasing closeness of the inner light and the encompassing light." Each time we learn, each time we question, each time we seek understanding, we’re drawing those lights closer.
And what's the ultimate goal of this convergence? Here's where it gets really interesting. Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah suggests that "it is the end of this gradation that actually brings forth the root of the Likeness of Man." This "Likeness of Man" isn’t necessarily about physical resemblance. It's more about embodying the divine qualities, reflecting God's attributes in our own lives. It's about becoming more fully human, more aligned with our highest potential.
So, what can we infer from all this? That "in these lights Atzilut is successively revealed little by little." Atzilut, in Kabbalah, is the realm of emanation, the world closest to the divine source. It’s the realm of pure being, of unadulterated truth. The implication here is profound: as these lights converge, as we bridge the gap between inner knowledge and outer wisdom, we gain glimpses into the very nature of reality, into the heart of the divine.
It’s not about achieving perfection, but about embracing the journey. It's about recognizing that every step, every question, every moment of seeking brings us closer to that encompassing light, closer to our own potential, and closer to the divine spark within us all. So, keep seeking, keep questioning, and keep letting those lights draw closer. What might you discover?