Kabbalah 1; Class 3
With David Ghiyam
The beginning of the class was a review about why we came here to this physical world- or why we even created this physical world- which is the chance to become the Light, proactive, the giver and the cause. We did not have the ability to express-the ability to be the cause, the creator, the initiator. We thus separated from the Light. This brought about the physical world, the world of chaos, of challenges (or opportunities).
Why do we want to be the cause? Not because we want to be “spiritual” or “righteous”. It is because I want to connect to something bigger than temporary energy or “winning” in that one fleeting moment. We want to allow in the magical unseen force that will make a huge difference in every aspect of our lives. We want to access all the miracles and blessings and everything we truly need.
Are things just “random” or is there a cause? Why am I born into this particular family? Why am I born under a particular sign? Why did certain events happen to me in my life, maybe some particularly painful? Who is in charge of the thoughts that come to my head? What causes the thoughts that I have?
In Kabbalah, we are taught that just as there is the physical DNA that is unique to each one of us, there also exists a metaphysical DNA. Just as no two people have the exact same fingerprint; this metaphysical DNA is individual to each one of us. This metaphysical DNA influences our natural different thought patterns, emotions, reactions, personalities, and realities. Some people may blame their childhood or a particular experience for their reality when in fact these are just physical manifestations of something much deeper.
Originally, we came from one unified soul. This soul manifested as Adam and Eve. Without going into detail, these two souls separated into many many different souls. We are all an aspect of this one unified soul. We chose to separate in order to become proactive, to transform, and to turn back to the Light. This is where tikkune comes in. Tikkune is the process of correcting our soul. We all have different selfishness, ego, and reactivity to correct. Our tikkune can be anger, ego regarding honor or respect, jealousy, fear of saying no to people, judgment, lack of perseverance, lack of patience, etc. We came down for one reason- to overcome our tikkune, which will in turn bring us closer to the Light. The only way I can connect is to find the areas where I am disconnected and transform them. These areas may be when I react to my personal fears, others criticism of me, fear of what others think of me, fear of opening up- every area where the opponent controls me: my mind, my feeling, and my behavior.
Our tikkune is like an onion, when you transform one aspect, you discover new layers. It is a curtain around the soul that doesn’t let my power or my potential shine. My uncorrected tikkune is areas of ego or blockages that consistently attract similar situations in my life. No matter how unfair a situation may be, I have to let go of my reactivity to it. My main business in my tikkune. When I take care of this, I will be able to take care of all the other business in my life.
Life is about being better, not just good. We came to identify areas where we are blocked. Are we really looking to transform, to make miracles in our lives? We need to always ask ourselves, how much have I transformed today? Have I located my garbage today?
How does the concept of destiny work in Kabbalah? Is our destiny predetermined or do we have control over it?...Since the moment we are born, ALL potential destinies or scripts are written for us- parents, issues, fears, abuse, ups, downs, marriage, divorce, making money, losing money,- every thought I have, every action I make, EVERYTHING. Why did the Creator provide me with this one set initially?- To give me the thoughts, feelings, situations that will help me face my tikkune. The Light will create certain situations in my life so that I can see my tikkune and thus transform it.
Every time we overcome a tikkune- change a behavior, choose the discomfort- in this moment we get a new destiny, a new movie. We shift to a better universe. We will then have new challenges and new situations. This is how we create miracles in our lives.
Our job is to change our destinies, to shift tapes, not to stay the same. The goal is to search for the opportunity to overcome our flaws. We are afraid; we don’t like to see our flaws. But this is the only way we will create a better life. No matter what, we will fix our tikkune- if not by choice, by pain. Pain, unfortunately, is a longer process but is still cleansing our soul.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Kabbalah 1; Class 2 with David Ghiyam
Our destiny is to become like God- to have all of the gifts, talents, and abilities the Creator has. All of our desires possess some type of energy we are looking for. What we want is the energy behind the physical. The Kabbalists named this energy the ‘Light force of the Creator’. When we go about getting it the wrong way, it becomes like a spark of Light that flashes and burns out. We keep trying to improve things on a physical 1% level but it does not work. All we have to do is learn how to use all the tools God gave us to tap into this force called Light.
Why were we created? Let’s start with the Big Bang. Science speaks of the Big Bang as the moment physical matter began (time, space, and motion). Kabbalists speak of this explosion as the beginning of physical reality as well. BUT, what brought about the physical reality- what was prior to this??? What was the cause of the Big Bang?
As you will read in the Power of Kabbalah book, this infinite force of energy- the Light force- created a Vessel or the Original Soul, also known as the receiver. This Vessel or receiver contains all the souls that have ever existed. The vessel was pure desire. We human beings are walking “desires” and, simply, happy when our desires are fulfilled. We all have an unseen desire that is our force of motivation, also known as the Desire to Receive for the Self Alone. So the Light created the Vessel and the essence of this vessel (or our soul) is the infinite desire to receive fulfillment. And the Light wants to give infinitely.
When we were created, we wanted to receive EVERYTHING (security, power, fulfillment, happiness, joy, harmony, peace, strength, tranquility, etc.). Everything you could ever want and more, we were given. The Light is the cause or giver. We, the Vessel, are the effects or receivers. This Vessel (we) was instantly fulfilled beyond time, space and motion when it was created.
So, WHAT HAPPENED? We disconnected from the Light and this decision brought about this physical world as well as all the planets and stars in the universe. Why did WE say NO MORE? We felt that one thing was missing- the ability to be like the LIGHT! The Light filled us and created us- our attributes are not just to receive but to be the Creator- the giver. When you pour hot water into a cup, does the temperature of the cup that contains the hot water change? Yes, the actual cup feels hot. It is the same for the Vessel. When the Light gave to the Vessel, the Vessel gained the attributes of the Light- which is to share. The Vessel wanted to be like the Light as well as earn the gifts it was getting from the Light. Kabbalah calls this Bread of Shame- the feeling we eventually get when we receive something without earning it. We then entered a realm where we have a chance, a choice, an opportunity to earn the Light. Through the struggle of life, we get the chance to be the cause and earn the Light. We wanted this world of chaos, of challenges, so that we can overcome it.
The purpose of Life is to learn how to transform ourselves from becoming the effect to becoming the cause. The universal law of the universe is: The only way I would like to receive the Light is only if I am acting like the Light. What does this mean for us practically? We need to constantly remind ourselves that if we don’t go through a challenge or a process of learning, we will not get fulfillment because we are not connecting to the cause- the place where we overcome something. If I am the receiver where I don’t overcome something, I will feel emptiness Emptiness will eventually be replaced with chaos. Our job is to transform ourselves at a soul level to be in complete affinity with the Creator.
Why were we created? Let’s start with the Big Bang. Science speaks of the Big Bang as the moment physical matter began (time, space, and motion). Kabbalists speak of this explosion as the beginning of physical reality as well. BUT, what brought about the physical reality- what was prior to this??? What was the cause of the Big Bang?
As you will read in the Power of Kabbalah book, this infinite force of energy- the Light force- created a Vessel or the Original Soul, also known as the receiver. This Vessel or receiver contains all the souls that have ever existed. The vessel was pure desire. We human beings are walking “desires” and, simply, happy when our desires are fulfilled. We all have an unseen desire that is our force of motivation, also known as the Desire to Receive for the Self Alone. So the Light created the Vessel and the essence of this vessel (or our soul) is the infinite desire to receive fulfillment. And the Light wants to give infinitely.
When we were created, we wanted to receive EVERYTHING (security, power, fulfillment, happiness, joy, harmony, peace, strength, tranquility, etc.). Everything you could ever want and more, we were given. The Light is the cause or giver. We, the Vessel, are the effects or receivers. This Vessel (we) was instantly fulfilled beyond time, space and motion when it was created.
So, WHAT HAPPENED? We disconnected from the Light and this decision brought about this physical world as well as all the planets and stars in the universe. Why did WE say NO MORE? We felt that one thing was missing- the ability to be like the LIGHT! The Light filled us and created us- our attributes are not just to receive but to be the Creator- the giver. When you pour hot water into a cup, does the temperature of the cup that contains the hot water change? Yes, the actual cup feels hot. It is the same for the Vessel. When the Light gave to the Vessel, the Vessel gained the attributes of the Light- which is to share. The Vessel wanted to be like the Light as well as earn the gifts it was getting from the Light. Kabbalah calls this Bread of Shame- the feeling we eventually get when we receive something without earning it. We then entered a realm where we have a chance, a choice, an opportunity to earn the Light. Through the struggle of life, we get the chance to be the cause and earn the Light. We wanted this world of chaos, of challenges, so that we can overcome it.
The purpose of Life is to learn how to transform ourselves from becoming the effect to becoming the cause. The universal law of the universe is: The only way I would like to receive the Light is only if I am acting like the Light. What does this mean for us practically? We need to constantly remind ourselves that if we don’t go through a challenge or a process of learning, we will not get fulfillment because we are not connecting to the cause- the place where we overcome something. If I am the receiver where I don’t overcome something, I will feel emptiness Emptiness will eventually be replaced with chaos. Our job is to transform ourselves at a soul level to be in complete affinity with the Creator.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Power of Kabbalah Level 1: Class #1 Notes
Power of Kabbalah Level 1
Class #1
There is a wisdom that existed before Creation itself. This wisdom explains all of the physical and spiritual laws of the universe. A group of spiritual giants or teachers brought this wisdom down through the lineage in a way that we can all understand. This wisdom is called Kabbalah. The literal translation is ‘to receive’. Kabbalah is technology of how every soul can receive all of the fulfillment that was meant for them.
- Kabbalah promotes constant, ongoing change and transformation
- Kabbalah uses mystical tools that go beyond self-help to create lasting change in one’s core
- The greatest scientists in the world studied Kabbalah
- We can create global change when we, as individuals, transform
- Lineage of Kabbalah
- Abraham- first Kabbalist to bring Kabbalah to the world
- 3 separate religeons came from Abraham
- A religion takes the ancient text and studies it literally
- Kabbalists know the secrets behind the text; they look beyond the literal translation
- Abraham wrote the “Book of Formation”
- Moses- received Bible (Old Testament) and wisdom of Kabbalah on Mount Sanai
- Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai- author of the Zohar
- The Zohar goes through every word of the Bible and decodifies it; reveals the secrets of spiritual meanings
- Rav Yehuda Ashlag- Founder of the Kabbalah Centre
- Rav Brandwein- continued this lineage and passed it down to Rav Berg
- Rav Berg- opened the Kabbalah Centres worldwide with the Rav’s wife, Karen Berg
There are 2 realms that co-exist: the 1% and the 99%. To reveal our importance, power and abilities, we were put into the 1% realm. The 1% is a limited picture of reality- the realm where we perceive the world from our 5 senses. This is the realm of effects, of results. The 99% realm is the unseen realm where all the blessings come from which is concealed from our 5 senses. This is where all fulfillment, happiness, guidance, protection, insight, peace, etc. come from. Most things happen in this realm and manifest in the 1%.
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