| Some people think of Kabbalah as a mystery, a | | | | are called "the Upper Worlds." And just like |
| new age religion, mysticism, or magic. In | | | | no one would call the new knowledge a child |
| fact,Kabbalah is none of these, yet even | | | | learns in the fourth grade "mystical" or |
| Kabbalist call it "a concealed wisdom." At | | | | "mysterious," but rather a "science," so |
| first, this seems like a paradox: How can | | | | Kabbalah is a science that reveals new, |
| Kabbalah be something that's "concealed," yet | | | | spiritual layers of reality to a student in a |
| not be a mystery? | | | | clear, scientific manner. |
| | | | |
| The key discernment here is to understand | | | | In Hebrew,Kabbalah means "to receive." This |
| that by "concealed," the Kabbalist do not | | | | means that what Kabbalah students learn is |
| mean that Kabbalah is something which can | | | | how to receive or feel the concealed, Upper |
| never be understood or comprehended. When one | | | | Worlds. There is no secret here. The only |
| looks at the many charts and diagrams in | | | | mystery or concealment is that there is |
| Kabbalah books, with their arrows and | | | | always more to attain, just like in college |
| sketches, one may instantly think that this | | | | there are always more advanced levels of |
| wisdom is too complicated to ever be | | | | mathematics or physics you can learn. And as |
| understood. In a way, they are correct-since | | | | a person walks further along the spiritual |
| Kabbalah is not meant to be understood | | | | path, he becomes more "mature," in the |
| through our regular mind and concepts. But | | | | spiritual sense, and his world expands. |
| "concealed" also doesn't mean that this | | | | Things that were a mystery yesterday become |
| wisdom is unattainable or that it is a secret | | | | second nature today. |
| only a few are willing to share. Rather, | | | | |
| "concealed" means something which is | | | | The most famous Kabbalistic book, the Bible, |
| presently concealed to us, but that can be | | | | allegorically explains how a Kabbalist feels |
| revealed. | | | | as he discovers the Upper Worlds: It |
| | | | describes how Abraham leaves a familiar |
| According to this definition, Kabbalah is a | | | | country, only to be led to a place he does |
| science. It gradually reveals broader and | | | | not know. In a similar way, one who is on the |
| broader layers of reality that were | | | | spiritual path often feels that many new |
| previously concealed to the student, doing so | | | | discoveries are ahead and that he is walking |
| to the degree that the student is able to | | | | in uncharted territory. |
| grasp and comprehend. It is like a child in | | | | |
| the first grade who learns that the world he | | | | Hence, the purpose of all Kabbalistic book is |
| lives in is the earth. But in the second | | | | to help us reveal the Upper Worlds, or parts |
| grade, the child learns that there's an | | | | of the universe that are presently concealed |
| entire solar system and even a galaxy. | | | | to us. There is nothing mystical, magical, or |
| Finally, in the fourth grade, he discovers | | | | religious about this wisdom, but rather it's |
| that he lives in an infinite universe. | | | | a universal science that's available to all |
| | | | who want to learn it. Therefore, there are no |
| In a similar way, Kabbalist also learn about | | | | restrictions on race, age, or gender. One |
| parts of reality that they were not aware of | | | | doesn't even need to know Hebrew to study. |
| at first and that were concealed to them. In | | | | All one truly needs is a willingness for the |
| Kabbalah, these concealed layers of reality | | | | concealment to be lifted. |