KETER: MAIN READING OF THE WEEK – THE ZOHAR BOOK

Main Reading for PRAYER OF MANY, today with ENGLISH ZOHAR READING, page 144.

ARVUT OF : Robin Anderson

The impure system of the worlds ABYA exists on the same level, parallel to
the pure one. Our world is located under these two spiritual systems. Our world
is also called egoistic and impure, but its forces and desires are so insignificant
that they are located below the worlds of the impure ABYA.
When, with the help of Kabbalah, one surmounts the level of our world’s
egoism, he enters the pure world of Assiya. And immediately after, the impure
world of Assiya begins to influence him, tempting him with its false pleasures.
By overcoming the temptations of the impure world of Assiya, one ascends
spiritually. But until one surmounts the impure desires of his body, of our
world, he will not begin to sense, or enter the spiritual worlds, for he would not
be able to withstand the impure forces that act there.
Unlike the forces that act in the spiritual world, man in our world is only
influenced by the small egoistic force called his “body,” his ego. Man can struggle
with this force, either winning or losing his battles. But even if he is defeated,
man retains that tiny spark of Light (Ner Dakik), which sustains his existence.
Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag gives the following example: man’s work in this world
resembles writing on a school blackboard, where any mistake may be wiped off
without harming the writer, where he can make corrections and write anew,
until he learns to write correctly. Only when he learns to write correctly is he
allowed to enter the spiritual realm.
Therefore, our world is the most insignificant of all. Everyone must begin
here, and everyone is bound to return here, and be born again and again until
he crosses the boundary between our world and the spiritual one. (There are
many additional conditions required for the soul to not descend to this world
anymore, and those who will merit, will understand).
Hence, the vertical line, the leg of the letter Kuf, descends below the writing
line, which signifies the Light descending through this letter down to the impure
forces. And no other letter descends below the writing line, like the Kuf does.
For the impure forces to exist (any creature, whether pure or impure, can
only exist by receiving Light), the last, lowest degree of pure forces descends into
the impure forces and gives them the Light necessary for their existence and
realization of their role: to entice man with their pleasures and convince him to
act according to the law of the impure forces.