We are completely at the mercy of nature and are guided in all our actions, both in the body and in the soul. Yet Kabbalists say we have freedom of choice, otherwise there would be no point in creating all of creation if the upper force had predetermined everything that happens within it.

However, freewill exists above our current life, solely there, where we wish to rise above our egoistic nature, in a higher dimension, in the quality of bestowal.

Only in this ascent from one degree to another can we choose to rise under the blows of nature if we do not wish to use our freewill and do not make our own effort, or to advance of our own accord in the same direction, that is, to see it as the desired goal. When we seek the forces that can help us make this ascent, there we find our freedom of choice.

Kabbalists explain that freedom of choice exists only in building the right environment. In any case, I advance under the influence of the environment; only I do not usually choose it myself.

But I can choose my environment consciously and thereby accelerate my progress and change the nature of my ascent. Instead of being tossed about under the blows of fate like a beaten animal, I can rise by a beautiful path, by my own desire, full of feeling, understanding, and inner strength, as befits a human being.

If I examine the goal, wish to draw closer to it, and understand that to accelerate my development I must draw more light than comes to me naturally, then I make use of the means given to me, which is called Torah, the upper light that draws me and returns me to the source.

Regarding this work, it is written that if we leave it even for a single day without realizing our freedom of choice, we are stopped for two days in our development, and prevented from advancing independently. The natural upper forces begin to act upon us.

It is not enough simply to lose the amount of effort we did not invest; this would not teach us anything. Therefore, we must receive a punishment slightly more than our fault, so that when a stronger obstacle arises next time we will be careful not to stumble over it.

Thus the spiritual law states: “If you leave Me one day, I will leave you two.”
[16938]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/9/10, Writings of Baal HaSulam “If You Leave Me One Day, I Will Leave You Two”

Related Material:
“If You Leave Me One Day, I Will Leave You Two”
Involuntary “Freedom Of Will”
One’s Path

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Free Will, Spiritual Work | Add Comment →