Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 75

What Is Choice?

“At that time, there is room for choice, for the lower one to say,”—not verbally, as words hold no true value here, but rather by reaching an inner understanding, an awareness, a state of recognition in heart and mind—“that this whole concealment that he feels is because the upper one restricted himself for the sake of the lower one.” What is choice? It is to reach the understanding that restriction, confusion, and feelings of emptiness are all meant to provide the opportunity for choice.

“This is called ‘When Israel are in exile, the Shechina [Divinity] is with them.’” The Shechina represents the upper degree. In our current perception, it appears to be in exile. “That whatever taste he feels”—in relation to the upper—“so he says,” meaning we determine our worth of the upper one based on that sensation. “That is, it is not his fault that he does not feel the taste of vitality. Rather, in his view, there really is no vitality in spirituality.” Our judgment always stems from what we feel and have.

So then, what is choice? “If a person overcomes”—“overcomes” means doing everything within our power, with all available effort, and acting accordingly. There is no clear path, but in the meantime, we should engage in various external actions within the group: studying together, helping friends, and drawing inspiration from them in order to gain additional strength.

“And says that the bitter taste he finds in these nourishments”—meaning in the upper one—“are only because he does not have the proper Kelim to receive the abundance because his Kelim are to receive and not to bestow, and he is sorry that the upper had to hide himself, for which the lower one can slander.” In this state, we become critical of the upper one, thinking that it holds no worth. “This is regarded as MAN that the lower one raises.” Frustration and discontent transform into a plea. By taking deficiencies from others around us, through mutual study and receiving light from above, this deficiency and dissatisfaction with life becomes MAN, a request that the lower one raises. We ourselves do not know how we raise this request, but nonetheless, such a relationship with the upper one is called “raising MAN.”

Related Material:
Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 74
Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 73
Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 72

Filed under: Talks about the Steps of the Ladder | Add Comment →