Two questions I received about pleasure and suffering:

Question: Why does the Creator make us suffer?

My Answer: It follows from the rule, “the greatness of the Light is seen from darkness.” For example, soccer fans can’t be fully satisfied with a game unless their favorite team goes through difficulties. Research showed that fans of a winning team that had gone through negative emotions due to a risk of the team losing had keener and more positive feelings about the match. Negative emotions play a key role in positive sensations.

Question: I have a question which has bothered me for a long time and thus hindered me in my acceptance of Kabbalah. Why did God want to please Himself (by pleasing His creation – since we are one); why not just maintain His perfection? That must have meant that He also had an egoistic desire to bring pleasure to Himself.

My Answer: You reason this way because you do not understand the quality of bestowal. You think that it includes some kind of reference to oneself, but it does not.

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: The Right Approach To Every Problem In Life
Laitman.com Post: The Darkness Is The Beginning Of perception Of The Upper
Kabbalah Today Article: The Tree Of Life
Rabash Article: “The Prayer”
Attaining the Worlds Beyond: “Not for One’s Self”
Perceiving Through Bestowal – 5 Minutes Of Light (5:04)

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