The Zohar, Chapter “VaYeshev (And Jacob Sat),” Item 114: There is not a person in the world who does not feel the taste of death at night…

If the Light (bestowal) doesn’t shine on a person and darkness (egoistic desires) come to rule over him, then even the most righteous person with the most powerful screens will feel the taste of death, because in this condition he is detached from the Light, the Creator. Later on he will overcome this gap and correct his desire, but at first, for some fraction of a second he still disconnects from sacredness (bestowal and love) and feels the taste of death. He falls under the power of the desire to receive, tastes it, and declares that it is the taste of death.

We have to sense this taste in order to feel that we are under its influence and power, We must then overcome it with the help of the group, since we are unable to do it on our own. Only another, external power – the influence of the group – is able to help me arrive at the conclusion that the desire to be pleased, which governs me at this time, is in fact, death.

If I don’t receive outside assistance, then nothing will help and I’ll remain under the power of the desire to enjoy and I won’t be able to see that amounts to death. I will feel as if I am living and everything is all right, the way we all do now.

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Zohar | Add Comment →