[In case you have never read the posts of Rabbi Ariel B. Tzadok,
please read this! More details see KosherTorah School (www.koshertorah.com). One of his books that someone could not miss buying is Walking
In The Fire available on Amazon, although he recently released two books
that are worth reading. - editor of Journal Mitzvah]
The Way of
Kavanot – Kabbalah in Practice, 1
By R. Ariel
B. Tzadok.
Copyright
2021 by Ariel Bar Tzadok. All rights reserved.
Kavanah is a
word used in Kabbalah to describe mental focus. Kavanot are the mental
constructs formed in the mind with the intent to project these constructs into
the higher and collective realms of thought and consciousness.
We are
taught, where one thinks is where one is at. Therefore, one who thinks thoughts
of holiness, and projects those thoughts of holiness is actually creating that
holiness through the ways and means of psychic influence.
Mental
constructs can take form in the theoretic mind. Yet, such constructs lack the
energy and soul that would give them the powers of influence. In Kabbalah the
diagram of the Sefirotic Tree of Life reveals to us the true reflection of our
inner human selves. We are composite beings made of up physical matter, emotional
energy, mental thought, and psychic attachments. Only when the Sefirotic Tree
is complete in all its parts will one have the necessary psychic power and
emotional drive to project one’s kavanot with sufficient force of influence.
The
purification of the internal and individual Sefirotic Tree takes its forms with
the language of Hebrew and the religion of Judaism, for it was within these
that the system was born and raised.
One cannot
properly learn the system outside of its original context. Whereas at the same
time that one does need to practice what the system teaches, one does not
necessarily have to embrace the Hebrew language or the religion of Judaism.
Judaism is a form and a structure for the Tree of Life for the Jewish people.
Jews have no other archetypal ladder of ascent other than Judaism. For Jews,
Judaism is their one and only kavanah. Any other path simply will not fit the
Jew similar to a hand trying on a glove not made for it.
When we
embrace the internal Sefirotic Tree of Life, we do so from the top down, not
from the bottom up. We begin in the beginning, end in the end, and cycle the
circle all over again neverendingly.
In the end,
we recognize the importance and value of proper righteous behavior and seek to
live accordingly. Psychic energy from the highest realms is always reflected in
the lowest of realms. Therefore, one’s behaviors matter very much. One will
never be able to receive, channel or reflect the higher dimensional planes of
psychic energy and consciousness all the while that one’s behavior and body are
not fitting receptacles.
As a religion
Judaism provides a full body of righteous behaviors. The Jew who performs these
properly prepares the body. However, a properly prepared body does not make the
individual soul in that body to be anywhere else other than in the proper place
to receive the higher sefirot. It does not give one access to those sefirot
automatically. Rituals have their vital purpose, but energetic righteousness is
how psychic energy flows.
Now, to the
top. We begin with Nothing. For from Nothing we come, and to Nothing we return.
But this Nothing is the very essence of and reality of every something that
exists.
The original
Nothing is not a no-thing as we may think of it with our limited human
intelligence. The original Nothing is what we call in Hebrew the Ayn Sof.
Literally, this means, “without end,” and is the ancient way to refer to what
today we call Infinity.
While we can
entertain the topic of infinity, it is still a concept beyond grasp of human intelligence.
The only way to grasp anything about the original Ayn Sof Nothing is to
experience it. But this experience is above thought and recognition. Therefore,
we speak of the experience of the Ayn Sof as a “feeling,” one that is far
removed and detached from emotion.
This feeling
may well be described by using a metaphor taken from a source of fiction
(science fiction). In the famous movie series, Star Wars, there exists the
concept of The Force. Although the description of what the Force is, as described
in the movie, does not coincide with the truths of the Kabbalah, the mention of
how the Force is felt, and how it flows through one is very accurate.
We take this
feeling of Force and project it into the mental constructs of the Sefirot of
the Tree of Life, in their many interactions, and subdivisions. These mental
constructs take on a highly metaphorical language of their own. This is
necessary so as to give form in the mind for the flow of this Force.
In Hebrew,
this Force is called Shefa, radiance. We can also call it Kedusha, holiness.
So, when we speak of holiness, we are not speaking about anything religious,
but rather something energetic. One cannot draw close to God without being
holy. This means that one cannot draw near to the Infinite unless one is
properly energetically aligned to do so.
Words by
themselves do not always enable one to understand their proper intent.
Therefore, rather than give mere words, I instead have given definitions and
examples in order to enable one to properly understand them, or better to say,
to feel It!
Kavanot are
vital mental constructs that are the vehicles for the Shefa-Kedusha, which
channel the Infinite into the finite. This is no mere intellectual exercise, or
spiritual entertainment. This is the way and means of psychic influence, the
likes of which, directs, influences, builds and destroys worlds.
I will pause
here. We will continue our discussion about this shortly. For now, pause,
contemplate these matters in your thoughts. Feel them inside your psyche (with
and without emotions). Cultivate insight and invite in revelation. See what
comes to you from the Infinite, however great or small it may be.
Use the Name
YHWH as your guide. Do what little you know, and do not underestimate the power
of the Infinite to make use of your finite self. We will continue shortly.
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