First Comes The Appetite, Then The Meal

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, Shamati (I Heard) #3, “The Matter of Spiritual Attainment”: …the Creator wanted us to attain and understand the abundance as “His desire to do good to His creations.

Question: In general, what do we need all these secrets along the way?

Answer: The “secret” is a place we are about to discover, gradually, by applying sufficient effort; it appears more and more in “small doses” that alternate with our efforts. So, little by little, we are shaping vessels, the desire to eventually reveal the Light of Infinity, the whole world, which will allow us recognize, understand, and be in adhesion. The Creator wants to fulfill and please us; for that, we have to attain equivalence of form with Him by following His example and building ourselves accordingly.

In the meantime, it is a mystery to me. He is in front of me, but I still cannot attain Him because I don’t have suitable vessels.

However, I have to want it. What is the value of giving you a present you don’t want it?  How could you enjoy it? Let’s say, I am offered a wonderful meal that includes fish, meat, numerous salads and fruits, wines, the richest and most exquisite meats; at the same time, I am limited by a very narrow desire, very small both in magnitude and quality, i.e., by the ability to distinguish tastes.

How can the Creator trigger our “appetite”? I can’t just be sold this “dinner”; first something needs to be stirred, exited, opened. A strong desire must be cultivated in me so that I myself go to Him and ask Him for this meal. At the same time, He gives me obstacles until my desire becomes completely formed, which then will only need to be filled.

Question: Is there any other way to attain this state except by going through blows?

Answer: These are not troubles or misfortunes; they are a means of awakening true needs. I make them into troubles. The Creator suffers, but He has no other option. After all, He wants to me to enjoy. He prepared so much to give to us, but my desire is drawn to different things: crude food instead of His feast. The appetite is there, but not for His dishes.

Hence the form of concealment and awakening, internality and externality, this entire world that brings me confusion, the group, etc., I still see no other way, that it all comes down from Infinity, which the Creator wants to give to me.

“The end of an act is in the preliminary thought.” There is only the Light of Infinity and a desire to receive; according to the goal of creation, the desire to receive pleasure should be filled with the Light completely. And yet, the Light contains certain details that in order to enjoy them I have to attain the Creator’s height.

So, we have three factors:

  • Enjoyment
  • The embryo of desire
  • The conditions under which the desire should be extended until the delight is “swallowed” completely, and “tasted” fully in all of its intrinsic properties. In the end, I comprehend every last crumb, feel all the tastes, the Creator has prepared for me.

These three factors give rise to further descent to this world to present me with all my “troubles.” That’s the way all the necessary conditions are ordered, and there is no way we can hide from it. The final state is pre-set at the very beginning; everything is bound to the World of Infinity, to the thought that will eventually bring us to the complete delight.

It means that everything that we go through is meant to reveal our “appetite” – a desire to be pleased by the Creator’s delicacies. The Upper Light stays in absolute rest and awaits only my needs.

How can I generate a need to receive His Light? Where can I find a stimulus that will “stir up” my soul as hunger “stirs up” my stomach? How can we tune in to the Creator’s tastes?

For that, we need a special kind of aspiration that is formed through our work in the group, with our friends. The group is the place where a new desire begins. When we manage to correct the shattering, we will recognize our new needs that are instigated not by our “animate” impulses, but by the authentic “evil inclination” that prevents us from connecting with each other.
[120404]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/13/13, Shamati #3

Related Material:
Discern The Evil And Prevail Over It
The Secret Of Desire
Before A Set Table

Discussion | Share Feedback | Ask a question




Laitman.com Comments RSS Feed