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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