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
genuinely attract it with the help of the group and serious study, the Upper
Light demonstrates to us the insignificance of our essence.
What is the actual matter here? The matter is that, in addition to
the animal essence, we have something that is above animal existence.
This something is called our egoism. It is based on our aspirations
to wealth, honor, fame, power, and knowledge. Animals do
not have these aspirations. This is called “Kina”, “Ta’avah”, and
“Kavod” – envy, inclination to pleasures, and aspiration to honor.
These aspirations bring a person to a level above the animal. Since
they are above animal qualities, these aspirations and qualities are
praiseworthy. On the other hand, their common natural utilization
puts us below all other levels.
Therefore, Baal HaSulam says:
When we look at ourselves, we feel that we are so spoiled and low
that no one is more despicable than we are.
Animals kill other animals because it is integrated in them at the
level of instinct. A lion kills only in order to fulfill his small desire to be
sated. However, egoism in humans is so much higher than for its own sake;
humans want to destroy everyone. Consequently, the additional egoism
that elevates us above animals actually makes us lower than animals.
However, if we look at the One who created us, we would think that
we were supposed to have become the crown of everything, higher
than everything, because an excellent Creator should only perform
excellent actions.
Baal HaSulam tells us here about people who can roughly imagine
what the Creator, Perfection, and a desire to bestow mean.
Yet, how did it happen that a perfect Creator created such a mean
being that is so much meaner than the rest? What is He like, if He is perfect?
Additionally, are we perfect or imperfect? We have observed from
Universal laws that imperfection does not emanate from perfection.
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