The Kabbalah of Gender
Adapted by Tzvi Freeman from the Writings of the Ari, Likutei Torah, Vayera
When the Infinite Light emanated a world, it did so with
two minds, two states of consciousness. One mind sees from Above to Below - and
so, all is insignificant before it. From Above to Below, there is no world, only
One.  | | " From Below to Above, there is a world - a world to point to the Oneness Above...." | | |
The other mind sees from Below to Above - and so all of
creation is G-dly to it. From Below to Above, there is a world - a world
to point to the Oneness above.
At the nexus of these two minds, at the razor's edge of
their paradox, there shines the very Essence of the Infinite Light. The first
mind descended into man; the second into woman. That is why the man has the
power to conquer and subdue, but he lacks a sense of the other. That is why the
woman feels the other. She does not conquer, she nurtures. But her light is
tightly constrained and so she may become filled with harsh judgments. | | " In the union shines the very Essence of the Infinite...." | | |
As they bond together, the man sweetens the judgment of the
woman and the woman teaches the man to feel the other. And in the union shines
the very Essence of the Infinite.
[Sefer Halikutim, Shmot, according
to Chabad Chasidut]
* * * * *
There are three partners in the conception of every child:
the mother, the father and the One Above.
The One Above provides the breath of life. But that breath
cannot enter this world unclothed. If that breath is a "new" soul it is too
delicate to survive here without protection. If it has been here many times
before (as with most of us) then its memory of the past, it's failure and its
bruises, will greatly hinder it from dealing with a new body and a new life. And
so it enters with a "suit", fitted for breathing life from Above while
manipulating the body it is given here Below. | | " The thoughts and conduct of the mother and father at the time of conception...will allow the child's soul to shine...." | | |
Every thought, word and act the soul does in its lifetime
must relate through that suit. Even the current of blessings and life from Above
must pass through its channel. The soul itself may be pure and luminous, but if
its suit doesn't match, that light will have great difficulty breaking through.
How is that suit formed? It is fashioned by the thoughts
and conduct of the mother and father at the time of conception. Selfish
thoughts, distracted thoughts, coarse thoughts - these will provide great
challenges for the child throughout life. Oneness of mind, elevated thoughts and
caring thoughts - these will allow the child's soul to shine.
Even when no children are born from relations, there are
souls born above in higher realms. And all that a person does for those souls
will return to him.
From "Men, Women & Kabala", published by Class One Press: ClassOne@theRebbe.com
Visitor Comments: 1
Anonymous, 5/9/2006
I found this article very inte
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