Unifications

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan obm wrote an essay which explains the underlying dynamics of unifications ("Yichudim", in Hebrew). Unifications happen when spiritual forces combine and unify in response to physical occurrences. In their most ideal form, these physical occurrences are the performance Mitzvahs (Torah precepts). If accompanied by certain kinds of Kabbalistic meditations, all the better. In his explanation, Rabbi Kaplan employed a principle popularized by Rabbi Yehuda Lieb Ashlag concerning the difference between how space works in the physical realm and the spiritual realms. In physical space, unrelated entities can move into each other's proximity. When they do, they're said to be close. When they move away from each other they're said to be distant. 

Spiritual space works differently. Its measure of space resembles psychological distance and closeness. Psychologically speaking, two people who share a lot in common are said to be close. Two people who do not share much in common are said to be more distant. So too in spiritual space, entities who more closely resemble each other orientations, styles and goals are said to be closer to each other. Entities who less closely resemble each other's orientations, styles and goals are said to be more distant from each other. 

Everything in the physical realm extends from some sort of soul in the spiritual realms. There is nothing in the physical universe which is not somehow “ensouled”. It's just a question of soul level. For example, the Midrash relates that every blade of grass has an angel causing it to grow. This angel is the blade of grass' spiritual counterpart, its soul. Even a rock has a soul, projecting it into existence. Of course, it's a more limited, lower, soul than one which imparts life to a plant.

When humans bring together physical entities, ideally to do a Mitzvah, they also bring together the spiritual counterparts of these entities. This is true even if these spiritual forces are very distant from each other. Think of the physical side of an entity as a kind of handle extending into the physical realm, which humans can wield. When an entity is moved by its handle the rest of the entity, trailing into the spiritual realms, gets pulled along. So, once the physical sides of entities are brought together, their spiritual sides draw closer and unify regardless of the inherent spiritual distance between them. Once unified, their union gives birth to blessings, which flow down into the physical realm in various forms of benefit for earthbound life. 

The above is a general adaptation and summary of what Rabbi Kaplan explained. Soon after reading his essay, I did an experiment to see what would happen if I tried to unify my own inner spiritual forces by physical acts; namely, with how I studied for accounting exams in college. 

I reasoned to myself that since the brain is the seat of the soul's illumination, my mental capacities are spiritual; at least, in relation to the rest of my body and the rest of what's physical. So, after studying a chapter in the textbook, I performed most of my remaining study by solving practice questions relating to the chapter, counting on physical practice to weave together and integrate what by now had a presence in my mental faculties.  

When a fellow student marveled at how well I grasped the material, I shared with him my secret. I explained to him that actual practice brings together more mental abilities than studying does alone. Of course, one needs to begin by studying. The information needs to be introduced into the brain. But after that initial step, learning by doing is a more powerful approach.

Later on, I also applied this principle to daily meditation - though I had not planned to. At the time, I lived in South Florida. I wanted to meditate in nature. The only problem was that I couldn't simply sit still in one place. The mosquitoes liked me too much! Ouch! More accurately they loved me, kissed me incessantly. I discovered that to be out in tropic nature, I had to on the move or I would be instantly discovered. So, I conducted my meditations by walking the nature trails in a local park, one which extended from the mangrove ecosystem. What I discovered was that the act of walking seemed to help the flow of spiritual insights which I encountered during these sessions.

Some years later, I had to modify my meditative practices again. Sometimes, my opportunities to meditate occurred during the day, when I was out in public. I discovered that the conversation I carry on with God, as the core of my meditative practice, can be done on paper as well. 

Till today I often bring a notebook to a cafe', sip coffee and if asked, share that I am writing my diary - well, in a sense I am. Again, I notice a more frequent access to my depth of self and insights than I would get if I carried on that conversation in my mind alone or even if I had engaged in it verbally (a grade more physical).  The overt physical act of writing is apparently successful in bringing together inner forces of my soul. 

Rather recently, I began to wonder whether there is more to initiating unifications than bringing together physical entities; like an arm, pen and paper. Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi was fond of relating that the angels Michael and Gabriel have very opposite orientations. Michael conveys God’s kindness and Gabriel His severity. Yet, both come together to coordinate and collaborate in honor of God. This seems like a unification initiated from above rather than from below. Interesting. 

This gets me wondering, perhaps even when humans initiate unifications from below, the real unifications really happen from above; as they still require God to stamp His blessings on them from above. I would expect that most dispatches of Michael and Gabriel are really in response to human behavior. Yet, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi credits their unification to their joint yearning to fulfill God's will, without referencing human behavior. It seems that God alone factors in human behavior when dispatching these angels. It's their yearning to carry out His will, which then in turn motivates them to unify and act.

Accordingly, it makes sense to me that though doing unifications set off identifiable processes whose stages can be "mechanically" charted and explained by those in the know, like so much else (health, livelihood, success, etc.) they really depend on God's blessing to proceed. The presence of identifiable processes is just there so humans can relate and participate. Otherwise, they would be deprived of their co-creative roles, essential to the goals of their creation.

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