Kabbalah Revealed - Interactive Lesson 1 – Definitions

Bold = word in English with a special meaning in Kabbalah.

Bold Italic = A Hebrew word written in English with a special meaning in Kabbalah.

Italic = Sources

A ADAM KADMON

In Kabbalah, Adam Kadmon is the first (highest) spiritual World that came into being after the contraction of God's infinite light. Adam Kadmon is not the same as the physical, Adam Ha-Rishon (the first man), whom God created from the dust. The spiritual realm of Adam Kadmon corresponds to the sefirah of Keter ("crown"). It is the divine will and program for subsequent creation. Adam Kadmon is divine light without vessels, i.e., pure potential. In the human psyche, Adam Kadmon corresponds to the yechidah, the collective essence of the soul. - Wikipedia

B

BARRIER

In Hebrew: Machsom. The barrier is the divider, the gateway between the physical world and the upper worlds that must be crossed through attainment.

Conceptually, "The barrier is the relinquishing of the thought, “for me alone.” In fact, it is the relinquishing of every single thing in this world. The abandoning of the thought, “for me alone,” already relates to spiritual desires and pleasures." - Michael Laitman, Ph.D.

D

DESIRE

There must be an initial desire for the Creator. If it’s there, you need nothing more! If you have been endowed with such a desire, the whole process is in your hands from that moment on,

because all the forces you need are already in your soul. All it takes is to develop them, and that’s your work.

It is in your power to do so because your unique body was created specifically to allow you to attain the purpose of creation. Therefore, no one can say that they were incapable, that circumstances prevented them from attaining the goal for which they were born in this world. - Michael Laitman, Ph.D.

I

INTENTION

Thought is at the root of everything. Thought has an incredible impact on every level. Kavanah = is the first step in thought. It points the direction of our thoughts, whether bad or ,(כונה) Intention good. Kavanah is our target.

Kabbalah teaches us to invest Kavanah-Intention into everything. If you drink a glass of water, and are truly aware and grateful that it gives you life, the act of drinking is transformed into something deeply pleasurable, or even sacred. Ancient rabbis used to say “Prayer without Kavanah is like a body without a soul.” The investment of Intention is what makes spiritual practice powerful. The affect of the Kavanah-Intention is seen in the final result of every action. - WalkingKabbalah.com

L

LADDER

A Ladder to Infinity

The wisdom of Kabbalah teaches us that we live in a multi-layered reality.

Reality is divided into two basic levels—our world and the upper, concealed world.

The upper world consists of 125 different degrees of existence positioned one atop the other, like a ladder with 125 rungs.

At present, we exist below even the lowest rung on the ladder. The point in the heart evokes us to climb up to its first rung.

When we discover that there is a higher rung, the urge to reach it and climb up the ladder will awaken in us until we reach its top.

This form of development will lead us to infinity.

-Michael Laitman, Ph.D.

W

WORLDS

...the Creator created a communication system between Him and us. Through it, He leads us from above, and through it we can ask from below and receive His assistance. This system is divided into several parts:

1. Its top is the world of Ein Sof [Infinity], where the Creator’s power is out in the open.

2. Below it is the world of Adam Kadmon [Primordial Man], where the Creator divides His bestowal into five types, according the level of our egos.

3. Below Adam Kadmon is the world of Atzilut [Emanation], which is a system of guidance and governance that divides into five parts: Keter [Crown], Hochma [Wisdom], Bina [Understanding], Zeir Anpin [Small Face], and Malchut [Kingship]. They are also called Atik [Ancient], Arich Anpin [Long Face], Aba and Ima [Father and Mother], Dechar [male] and Nukva [female].

The Zohar refers to Atik and Arich Anpin as the “hidden head” or Atzilut.

Aba and Ima are those from whom all the lights come to us.

These lights traverse Zeir Anpin and reach the Nukva, Malchut of Atzilut, who is called “Divinity,” since all the light that is intended for the souls comes from her, from Divinity. Malchut is also called “the Assembly of Israel” because she assembles within her all the souls that wish to reach Yashar El [straight to God], meaning rise to the world of Ein Sof.

4. Below the world of Atzilut are the worlds Beria, Yetzira, and Assiya (BYA), where our souls exist.

5. Finally, there is this world.

All the worlds, Upper and lower and everything within them, was created only for man.

-Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah”