Question:
1) The Rav says in a derasha [in Succos_009_A Jew’s Inner Seal] that as long as a person wants to reveal his own individuality, he cannot become a container to receive the spiritual light of the “Yechidah”, the light of the Infinite (ohr EinSof) because he is still found within the “I”, and instead, a person first needs to reveal the “Yechidah”, by nullifying the “I”, by leaving the “I”, and then a person becomes a container for the light of the “Yechidah”, the light of the Infinite. However, the Rav has written in a recent response that the series דע את יחודיך explains how one can reveal his individuality. And in the beginning of the series דע את התבודדותיך the Rav also explains that this series explains how a person can reveal his individuality, which is the way to reveal the “Yechidah” level of the soul. Therefore, I don’t understand. If a person wants to reveal his true individuality, will this prevent him from revealing his Yechidah, or not??
2) In relation to the above question, the Rav says in the aforementioned derasha that a person needs to begin his avodah from the Yechidah level of the soul, by silencing and quieting one’s desires, leaving the “I”, etc. However, in the series דע את הויתך the Rav explains that most people need to first work through their soul levels of Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah, and then Chayah, while only individuals can begin right away their avodah from the Yechidah level of the soul. But in the series דע את נשמתך the Rav explained that everyone is different when it comes to this – some people need to begin from Nefesh and work their way upwards to Yechidah (“from below to above”) while others can begin from Yechidah and work their way downwards to Nefesh (“from above to below”). Being that I am confused about what exactly the approach is, can the Rav please clarify to me what the order of the avodah should be, especially because this is such a fundamental part in all of our avodah?
Answer:
- The ideal path is to begin from “Yeish” [the view from your existing self], then you graduate to “Ayin” [“nothingness” – the negation of your existence], and then arrive at a new perspective towards “Yeish” [enlightened level of existence].
There are two ways to go about this – either “from above to below”, or to go “from below to above”.
If you go “from above to below”, the order of one’s avodah is:
(1) To begin from absolute “Yeish”, by recognizing the Ein Sof, the Infinite, (2) Then moving to “Ayin”, nothingness, by recognizing the tzimtzum [contraction of Hashem’s Infiniteness, which allows for the space of Creation], (3) Then by moving down to the elementary “Yeish”, by recognizing the created beings.
If you go “from below to above”, the order of one’s avodah is: (1) To begin from “Yeish” by revealing your true individuality, (2) Then graduating to “Ayin” (nothingness), through nullifying the self, (3) Then arriving at a new “Yeish”, through becoming integrated with the Infinite.
[The “Yechidah” dimension of the soul has five levels to it: the “Nefesh” level of the Yechidah, the “Ruach” level of the Yechidah, the “Neshamah” level of the Yechidah, the “Chayah” level of the Yechidah, and the “Yechidah” level of the Yechidah”.]
-When one reveals his individuality, this is the “Nefesh” level within the “Yechidah”. When one then nullifies his individuality, this is the “Ruach” level within the “Yechidah”. When one becomes attached with the Infinite, this is the “Neshamah” level within the “Yechidah”. When one becomes nullifies to the Infinite, this is the “Chayah” level within the “Yechidah”. Finally, when one becomes integrated in the Infinite, this is the “Yechidah” level of the “Yechidah”.
- Your question contains the answer: Every person is different. Some people need to begin “from above to below” – beginning from the higher point and working their way downwards – whereas others need to begin “from below to above”, by beginning from the elementary levels and working their way upwards. Most people need to go “from below to above”, while only individuals can begin “from above to below”.
However, all of that is from the view of the “soul”. From the perspective of “time”, we are currently in a “time” where we can all begin “from above to below”, because the light of the end is greatly shining, although it is not here completely. [Therefore, in our current times, since we are very close to the Redemption, anyone is able to begin from the “Yechidah” level of the soul]. That is what was being discussed in the derasha on Succos about beginning from the “Yechidah”.
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