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Kabbalah teaches that the universe began
not with an atom or a subatomic particle, but with a thought of God.
This thought of creation encompassed a world in which every human being
would enjoy total happiness and fulfillment, free from any form of chaos
or pain. This is what the Creator desires and intends.
For us to manifest complete fulfillment, we need to evolve into our greatest
selves. In our thoughts, feelings, and actions, we need to erase negativity
and replace darkness with Light. It is for this purpose that the teachings
and tools of Kabbalah were given to all humanity—and the greatest
of these tools is The Zohar.
The Ultimate Resource of Connection with the Light
Physically, The Zohar is a book, a commentary on the Bible, structured
as conversations among a group of friends, scholars, and spiritual masters.
But the far-reaching reality and power of The Zohar transcends the limits
of the physical world. Zohar is a Hebrew word meaning “splendor”
or “scintillation,” and The Zohar is literally an unlimited
resource of brilliant spiritual Light. As the kabbalists explain, simply
possessing The Zohar brings power, protection, and fulfillment into our
lives. Then, as we scan the pages in the original language or study them
in translation, a deep connection to the Creator’s Light comes
into being. As we gain intimacy and understanding of The Zohar, our consciousness
deepens and expands. Spiritually, we grow and evolve. We become who we
need to be in order to gain the joy and fulfillment that God intends
for us. The Zohar is like a mirror in which we see our own expectations
and intentions.
There are some who depict The Zohar as simply another “spiritual”
text, or an object for academic study. They find The Zohar difficult
and even forbidding—but what they find was already determined by
what they set out to look for. In contrast to this, the greatest minds
in history have found wisdom and enlightenment in The Zohar’s pages.
From Pythagoras in ancient Greece, to Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century,
to the architects of modern physics and biology in the modern era, students
of Kabbalah and The Zohar have discovered startling insights and information.
On a practical and personal level, The Zohar not only reveals spiritual
principles that can assist us in our everyday lives, it also gives us
the power to put those principles into action. This takes place in every
area of our lives, including our relationships, our spiritual work, and
even our businesses and careers.
The Language of The Zohar
The Zohar is written in the ancient language of Aramaic, a sister language
to Hebrew that employs Hebrew letters. While Hebrew was the language
of the upper classes, Aramaic was the language of the common people.
The Zohar’s revelation in Aramaic is a message that this tool of
Light can and should be used by all people, regardless of their spiritual
level.
Above and beyond the importance of the Aramaic language, even the individual
letters of The Zohar have special significance. In our everyday lives,
we’re used to thinking of the letters of the English alphabet in
purely functional terms. The letters are units that we put together to
create words, just as bricks are the units we use to create a wall. We
think of both the letters and the bricks in practical rather than spiritual
terms—they’re small, inert objects that we use to create
larger objects.
The letters of the Hebrew alphabet (used for both Aramaic and Hebrew)
should be understood in an entirely different way. In addition to their
functional importance as components of words, each Aramaic letter is
also a channel to a unique form of spiritual energy—and this is
true whether or not we know how the letter sounds or how it fits into
a given word.
The Aramaic alphabet is a gift of the Creator, just as The Zohar itself
is a gift. The gift is for all humanity, not just the few who know the
ancient languages of Hebrew or Aramaic. Scanning the letters—just
letting your eyes pass over them—opens an unlimited channel to
the Light.
A Wellspring of Spiritual Energy
The Zohar not only reveals and explains, it literally brings
blessings, protection, and well-being into the lives of all who come
into its presence. Nothing is required but worthy desire, the certainty
of a trusting heart, and an open and receptive mind. The Zohar’s
ultimate purpose is to draw Light into our lives, and thereby bring complete
fulfillment. The Zohar, therefore, is an opportunity for us to transform
our natures. To bring about this transformation is why all the teachings
of Kabbalah exist, and why The Zohar should always be in our homes, our
thoughts, and our hearts. |
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the age of 18 and finished ten years later. This profound text is the very core of kabbalistic thought. 