Baal HaSulam - "Shamati" Book

[shamatibook]

Shamati 14: “What Is the Exaltedness of the Creator?”

The Romemut [exaltedness/sublimity] of the Creator means that one should ask the Creator for the strength to go above reason. This means that there are two interpretations to the Romemut of the Creator:

1. To not be filled with knowledge, which is intellect with which one can answer one’s questions. Rather, he wants the Creator to answer his questions. It is called Romemut because all the wisdom comes from above and not from man, meaning that man can answer his own questions. Anything that one can answer is regarded as answering everything with the external mind. This means that the will to receive understands that it is worthwhile to observe Torah and Mitzvot [commandments]. However, if the above reason compels one to work, it is called “against the opinion of the will to receive.”

2. The greatness of the Creator means that one becomes needy of the Creator to grant his wishes. Therefore:

1. One should go above reason. Then one sees that he is empty and becomes needy of the Creator.

2. Only the Creator can give him the strength to be able to go above reason. In other words, what the Creator gives is called “The Romemut of the Creator.”

[shamatibook]

Shamati 13: “A Pomegranate”

There is emptiness only in a place where there is no existence, as in “The earth hangs on nothing.” You find that what is the measure of the filling of the empty place? The answer is, according to one’s elevation of oneself above reason.

This means that the emptiness should be filled with exaltedness, meaning with above reason, and to ask of the Creator to give him that strength. This will mean that all the emptiness was created, meaning it comes to a person to feel this way—that he is empty—only in order to fill it with the Romemut of the Creator. In other words, one is to take everything above reason.

This is the meaning of the verse, “God has made it that He will be feared.” This means that these thoughts of emptiness come to a person in order for one to have a need to take upon himself faith above reason. And for this we need the help of the Creator. It follows that at that time, one must ask the Creator to give him the power to believe above reason.

It turns out that it is precisely then that one needs the Creator to help him, since the exterior mind lets him understand the opposite. Hence, at that time, one has no other choice but to ask the Creator to help him.

It is said about this, “One’s desire overcomes him every day; and were it not for the Creator, he would not overcome it.”

[shamatibook]

Shamati 19: “What Is “The Creator Hates the Bodies,” in the Work?”

One must not be angry when he has work with the will to receive, that it obstructs him in the work. One would certainly be more satisfied if the will to receive were absent from the body, meaning that it would not bring its questions to a person, obstructing him in the work of observing Torah and Mitzvot [commandments].

However, one should believe that the obstructions of the will to receive in the work come to him from above. One is given the force to discover the will to receive from above because there is room for work precisely when the will to receive awakens.