Blessing & the Sea of Divine Abundance - Part 2

To return to Even, the cubic stone of Malchut, which is understood to be the foundation of all existence. Zechariah 4:7 calls it Even Rishonah (first stone) and Psalm 118:22 refers to it as Rosh Pinah (chief cornerstone), saying “The Even that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” This verse is an important part of Masonic studies in both the “Mark” and “Royal Arch” degrees of Freemasonry, and has many hidden meanings. The Shechinah as the (Panim—"Face," "Countenance" or "Presence") of Adonai, is in fact the Rosh Pinah to whom all existence must turn (Ponim).

Everything said so far, refers of course to Malchut on the Tree of Life, represented on earth as the (Bet ha-Mikdash—the "Holy Temple"), said to be another cognomen of Adonai. We should understand the Temple to be the place where Adonai dwells, as it is written, “I will give my dwelling place to be among you” (Exodus 26:11). It is in the actual (Mikdash—"Sanctuary") where the Shechinah resides, as it is written “and let them make Me a sanctuary v’Shachanti (that I may dwell) among them” (Exodus 25:8). Again this refers to the sphere of Malchut, and specifically to the Sanctuary and Ark in our Temple, where the Divine Dweller (Shechinah) may rest on the altar, the latter itself comprising a double ashlar of two Avanim (cubic stones).

The realm of physical existence, is in fact the place of the Shechinah, as is written in Isaiah 66:1 “And the earth is my footstool,” but the fact that the Shechinah dwells among us, and as our highest Selves (Neshamot), does not mean that we are always open to Shefah. The Shechinah is not the Divine Abundance, but the container receiving the flow as it is channelled from the higher Spheres on the Tree of Life, which is in turn poured into the Kingdom of physical manifestation. Here a major problem is encountered. Sometimes the Shechinah receives this flow, and then She is called Mikveh ha-Mayim ("Pool of Water"), but there can be periods when the Shechinah does not receive the abundance, and then She is called Yabashah ("Dry Land"). Naturally creation suffers when this happens. Why should the Divine Abundance “dry up” so to speak?

From a Divine Perspective the Shefa is always there, undifferentiated in the Eternal Now, but the “Abundance” flowing into creation, can be restrained when (ha-Tzinorot—the "Divine channels" leading into manifestation) are blocked. This is said to happen when creation moves into states of separation from the Oneness of the Whole, when we no longer recognise ourselves as part of the Selfsameness of One Being, ("I Am," the Oneness of Being). It is extremely important to realise that the Oneness is never separate from us. It is we who separate ourselves, and thus it is also we who are responsible for repairing the Tzinorot, the Divine Channels, by recognising and returning to the Oneness of Being. It is equally important to realise that any recognition of duality in any form is a separation from that Being in Whom all are one.

Kabbalah recognises only one God. Yet this Oneness may be revealed in a multitude of aspects. Still It is One and there is no other. We may see life as the diversification of the One into the many, but Kol (all) are unified in the One. This is what is meant by that great statement of faith “Shmah Israel, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad” (Hear Israel, Adonai our God, Adonai is One). There is not “God” and the “Devil,” there is only “God.” It is therefore written in Isaiah 44:24 “I am the Lord, who made Kol, who alone stretched out the heavens.”

Blessing & the Sea of Divine Abundance - Part 1

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-Olam Asher Kid’shanu b’Mitzvotav.

Blessed are You Adonai, our God, King of the Universe, Who consecrated us to do good deeds.

It is our responsibility to become receptacles for Shefa , the sacred influx of Divine Abundance, which means to literally channel this “Divine Flow” into mundane existence. This is done through service, which is the assistance towards well-being we give to our world and everything within it. It is said that in assisting another individual, the “Divine Channels,” allowing the flow of Divine Abundance and goodness into this world, are restored.

In Jewish mysticism this is considered to be the duty of every Jew, but as far as I am concerned, this is the duty of every person in existence. We are told that it is Malchut, the Kingdom of our mundane existence, which receives the Shefa as it pours from Ain Sof (the Eternal No-Thing) into, and through, all the Sefirot (Spheres upon the Tree of Life). The “Universal Abundance” is directed via the Divine Name (Adonai), into the realm of physical manifestation, thus, every time you attempt to make the world a better place for anyone or anything, you need to bow mentally and express, either aloud or silently in your mind, the blessing “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu, Melech ha-Olam, Asher Kid’shanu b’Mitzvotav.” This statement is a formal recognition of and a conscious link to the “Divine Abundance,” understanding the injunction “Close is Adonai to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). Of course the blessing can be simplified to (Baruch Atah Adonai—"Blessed are You Adonai").

The blessing in itself is in fact a magical invocation. Firstly, the language is Divine and links those who utter it to the powerful forces, the Divine Hosts, residing in the subtle “Realms of Being” behind the words. Secondly, during the invocation you surrender to the these Divine Forces, and let your entire being, that is body, mind, soul and spirit, act in unity as a conduit allowing these Spirit Forces to flow into manifestation. In other words, you once again “make the words flesh.”

Looking at and understanding what this blessing is all about is immensely rewarding in terms of expanding ones consciousness. The noun of the verb (Baruch—"Blessed") is (Brachah—"Blessing"), which is synonymous with (Breichah—a "Pool," "Pond" or "Lake") the source of Shefa, the Divine Influx. Every time you say the Brachah you are linked to the Breichah, and then you can be the channel directing the flow to all of creation, if you so will. The Biblical Abraham was said to be the first person to receive this Brachah, which tied him to the Divine Source, the Breichah. He passed this on to his son Isaac, whose children Jacob and Esau battled over it. Eventually Jacob successfully claimed it, and the knowledge of the power of this Brachah was passed on to his twelve sons.

The third word of the Blessing, the Divine Name Adonai , is an extremely powerful God Force, since it contains and directs the powerful forces flowing from the Breichah, the divine reservoir of abundance within the Being of the Most High. In fact, uttering the Name Adonai, instantly links you to this Infinite Source. Kabbalah explains that the Source and its outpouring of Divine Abundance is referred to in Genesis 2:10 — “A river issues from Eden to water the garden, and then it divides and becomes four branches.” It also states that the four divisions refer to the Shechinah, the “Countenance of God,” or Female aspect of the Divine here in manifestation. We know that this verse also refers to Malchut, the Kingdom of this World, with its fourfold cycles (elements, seasons, lunar rhythms, etc.). In fact, anthropomorphic, or physical, representations of the sphere of Malchut on the Tree of Life, often show the Shechinah as Malkah (the “Divine Queen” of the Earthly Kingdom) seated on a cubic throne.

This stone is extremely significant since a cognomen for the Name Adonai is the word (Even—"Stone"). Adonai is the foundation of everything in this realm of three-dimensional existence, and since all existence is fully dependent on Adonai, this Divine Name is also called (Kol—"All"), the Whole in which there is no lack. It is thus written in Isaiah 44:24 “I am the Lord, who made Kol who alone stretched out the heavens.” Here we are brought once again to the earlier mentioned Breichah, the pool of Infinite Abundance, also called (Yam—"Sea"). This is referred to Biblically in Psalm 104:25 “There is a sea, vast and wide, with its creatures beyond number, living small and great.”

Of course this vast “Sea of Abundance” not only refers to physical manifestation, but also to mind, soul and spirit. Therefore it is also called (Yam ha-Chochmah—the "Sea of Wisdom"), because all knowledge, on all levels of manifestation, is within it. Once again it was said that this was given to Abraham, as it is written “And YHVH, blessed Abraham with Kol” (Genesis 24:1). As indicated, he in turn passed it on as a birthright to Isaac, who in turn bequeathed it to Jacob, who said “For God has favoured me and I have Kol” (Genesis 33:11).

(More to follow)