Question: What is the animal state and how does it differ from double concealment?

Answer: An “animal” is an ordinary person with five senses and a desire to enjoy that are divided into desires for animalistic pleasures, money, honor, and knowledge. In the animal state you seek to enjoy whatever you see in the material world.

Double concealment differs from the animal state in that you yourself determine for yourself that you are in double concealment, that you have no connection with spirituality, that you are in a state of darkness, and the Creator does not look upon you and elate to you in any way at all. Thus, in double concealment there is still some measure of revelation.

The light that shines from above does not shine on us more strongly or more weakly for no reason. It may shine in a way as to define the form of its presence or of its absence that manifests as a “hiding Creator” when I feel that He is hiding.

If the light simply comes, this is called its “face” (Panim). When it shows you that it is not there, this is called the “back side” (Achoraim). In this lies the difference between the path of Torah and the path of suffering. If it shows you that it is not there, this awakens in you the path of heavy sufferings; if it shines in a direct form, this is the path of Torah, the path of light. Everything depends on your reactions.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/1/26, Rabash, “Why the Festival of Matzot Is Called Passover”

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Double Concealment
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Rising Above Consciousness

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