The first principle of upbringing: “Nature is unified, and we are opposite to it.”

Part two: “Reciprocity as the ground for balance”: Each component of nature strives for balance and harmony (in the language of science, to homeostasis). So do we, being part of the nature’s system, must reach equilibrium and harmony.

Unlike the still, vegetative, and animate levels of nature that aspire to balance instinctively, we have to come to oneness and mutual consideration of interests based on conscious development. This constitutes the unique difference between man and all other elements of nature.

A person must disclose the imbalance—mindfully, consciously, experientially, and logically. He must see all the positive and the negative aspects: how opposite to and how balanced with nature he is. He must feel and cultivate his receptivity to it, developing it to such a degree when his sensitivity to being in equilibrium with nature in particular would lead him to the very top of the spiritual ladder.

As Baal HaSulam states, we received the method of Kabbalah in order to become aware of our evil. We approach a new way of upbringing so we may become conscious of our evil since there is nothing else we need to do. Having experienced evil, we naturally flee from it and withdraw just enough so we don’t feel it any longer. Hence, cultivating within ourselves sensitivity toward evil, we will walk further and further away from it, always to such a distance where we can feel it no more.

Evil unfolds in our mutual hatred which makes us opposite to the nature of creation. This is the problem we are facing today: to connect all pain and misfortunes of the modern world with the lack of our interconnection, our discord with the global nature.

Our major issue is the absence of connection between us. The problem is not in shortage of natural resources and pollution. In truth, it doesn’t matter. Nature is able to clean itself up and return to the corrected state, but even this depends solely on our good interconnection.

We must look not at nature but at what is going on between us. Thereby, we will reach similarity to it.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/16/2011 on The Principles of Global Education

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