The laws of nature, our place in the
world and our behavior have been studied by scientists
and philosophers for thousands of years.
Along with logical assumptions, science
uses quantifiable research and data. Yet our scientists
and researchers have discovered that the more they advance
in their research, the more obscure and confusing they
find the world to be.
Science has undoubtedly brought enormous
progress into the world, yet it is limited. Scientific
tools cannot measure man’s inner world, his soul, behavior
and sources of motivation. Man, the major component of
the creation, is still left without knowledge about his
role in this universe.
Man has always looked for answers to
the basic questions of life: Who am I? What is the purpose
of my being here? Why does the world exist? Do we continue
to exist after our physical being has completed its tasks?
In this world of constant pressure, some
find temporary satisfaction in Eastern techniques, measures
aimed at relaxation, or reducing suffering by minimizing
personal expectations and desires. Various forms of meditation,
nutrition, and physical and mental exercise quiet man’s
natural instincts and enable him to feel more comfortable
from the point of view of his physical state. This process
teaches him to lower his expectations, yet leaves him
in conflict with his true desires.
Our life experience teaches us that we
have unlimited desires – and only limited resources to
satisfy them. This is the primary reason there is no way
to completely satisfy all our desires and therefore avoid
suffering. That is the subject of Kabbalah. Kabbalah answers
the basic questions of life and guides us toward achieving
unlimited satisfaction on a daily basis.
The essential questions of man’s being
add another dimension to human suffering. They do not
allow us to feel satisfied even when this or that goal
has been fulfilled. When one attains the goal he strives
for, he immediately feels he’s missing yet another pleasure.
This prevents him from enjoying his achievements, and
his suffering is renewed. In retrospect, he sees that
he has spent most of his time making an effort to achieve
his goals, and has gained very little pleasure from the
successes themselves.
Everyone, each in his own way, tries
to answer these questions from the sources of information
at his disposal. Each one of us formulates our own perception
of the world based on our experience. Reality and everyday
life constantly put this perception to the test, making
us react, improve, or otherwise change it. With some of
us, this process occurs on a conscious level; with others
it happens unconsciously.
Kabbalah reaches out to all those who
are seeking awareness. It teaches you how to add an essential
feeling of the spiritual sphere – the sixth sense – that
will affect your life in this world. This will allow you
to perceive the upper world – the Creator – and to gain
control over your life.
The Bible, The Zohar, The Tree of Life
and other authentic spiritual sources were set down in
order to teach us how to progress in the spiritual realms,
to study them and to receive spiritual knowledge. They
explain how to set out on a path to spiritual ascent in
this world. Over the generations, Kabbalists have written
many books in various styles, each in accordance with
the era in which they lived.
In total, four languages were created
to introduce us to our spiritual reality: the language
of the Bible (which includes the Five Books of Moses,
the Prophets and the Scriptures), the language of legends,
a legalistic language, and the language of Kabbalah, which
describes the spiritual upper-worlds system and how to
reach it. The differences in languages simply present
various perspectives on the same subject in different
formats – each suiting the generation it was intended
for.
The Kabbalist Baal HaSulam writes in
his book Fruits of the Wise:
The inner wisdom
of Kabbalah is the same as that of the Bible, The
Zohar and the legends, with the only difference
between them being the manner of the logic. It is
rather like an ancient tongue translated into four
languages. It is self-evident that the wisdom itself
did not change at all due to the change in language.
All we need to consider is which is most convenient
and widely accepted for conveyance. |
By reading this book, you will be able
to take your first steps in understanding the roots of
human behavior and the laws of nature. The contents present
the essential principles of the Kabbalistic approach and
describe the wisdom of Kabbalah and the way it works.
A Guide to the Hidden Wisdom of Kabbalah is intended
for those searching for a sensible and reliable method
of studying the phenomena of our world, for those seeking
to understand the reasons for suffering and pleasure,
for those seeking answers to the major questions of life.