Introduction to the Book of Zohar (PDF) - Kabbalah Media Archive

I N T RO D U C T I O N T O T H E B O O K O F Z O H A R
34. In order to prepare His creatures to reach the aforementioned
exalted level, the Creator thought of four levels that evolve one out
of another. They are called still, vegetative, animate, and human,
and they are indeed the four phases of the will to receive that each of
the Upper Worlds consists of. For although the vast majority of the
will is in the fourth phase of the will to receive, it is impossible for it
to materialize all at once, except by the preceding three phases that
gradually expose and develop it, until its form has been completed.
Man gradually enters into the sensations of the Creator, becomes
similar to Him, masters the system of creation, and begins to rule over
the heritage that the Creator prepared for him. Man gradually ascends
the four levels still, vegetative, animate, and human, while attaining the
four degrees of comprehension of the universe.
These four levels exist in our will to receive and, by correcting each
of them, we ascend to the next level of sensation of power over the surrounding
world.
35. In the first phase of the will to receive, called still, which is the
preliminary exposure of the egoistical desire in this corporeal world,
there is but a general movement that includes the whole of the still
category. But in particular items there is no apparent movement.
That is because the will to receive generates needs and the needs
stimulate movement that is sufficient to attain what it wants.
It is the same with us; the most important thing is desire. If there
is a desire, I will be able to make a move to receive what I want. If I feel
that I am too lazy, (What does it mean, to be lazy? – It means that my will
to receive is insufficient), I have to work on increasing my will to receive,
and then I will not be lazy anymore.
How can I make this happen within myself? Only with the help of
studies, contacts with others like me, by receiving the Kabbalistic method
from the books, listening to what Kabbalists advise us.
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