Baal HaSulam, the article “ Exile and Redemption”: A secular ideal stems from humanness and hence cannot raise itself above humanness. But a religious idea, which stems from the Creator, can raise itself above humanity.

We always need to see this test in front of us: Whom do we wish to please? And the opposite, before whom do I fear being disgraced? In the eyes of the public, the surroundings, my relatives, or strangers? Or I only take the Creator into account, although this calculation may be the opposite to everything that happens to me on the level of this world. Usually this is how everything is arranged for us, one thing in place of the other.

For example, I am shamed in this world and through that I am brought closer to the Creator, or I prefer to refuse to approach the Creator only not to feel the shame in this world. Here a person always checks himself, to what extent is he able to suffer.

This is a very painful point. It is a major moment since shame is at the core of our nature. Thus it isn’t enough to just to restrain or to justify yourself with one’s own exclusivity, that we inherited unwillingly. No. When all the shame is revealed to me, I need to agree and so via this concession to invite one gram of bestowal to the Creator, which He doesn’t even know about.
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From the 4^th part the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/3/12, “Exile and Redemption”

Related Material:
Whom Do I Want To Please?
Shame Is The Opposite Of Perfection
Shame As The Means Of Correction

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