The Separation between State and Religion

In time we will realize that Democracy is the entitlement of individuals to every right that was in its times alloted to kings. The right to speak and decide, to be treated with decency, to serve and be served by people in a State of “love” that is, to serve with one’s work for the development of ‘life’. To belong to the Kingdom of Human Beings without racial, national, social or academic separations. To love and be loved. To die at the service of the whole and be honored in one’s death, for one’s life and work was legitimately valued. To be graceful and grateful. To have the pride and the humility of being One with the Universe, One with every realm of Existence, One with every living and deceased soul. To treat with dignity and be treated with dignity for One is dignified together with All others and Life itself. To walk the path of compassion, not in the sorrow of guilt but in the pride of being. To take responsability for one’s mistakes and sufferings and stand up again and again like a hero and a heroine and face the struggle that is put at one’s feet and in one’s hands. Millions of people, millions and millions of people might take many generations to realize the consciousness of our humaneness but there is no other dignified path for the human being.

The “work” as I conceive it is psychological and political. Psychology is the connection between the different dimensions within one’s self and Politics is the actualization of that consciousness in our practical lives. Religion is the ceremony that binds the connectedness between the individual and the Universe. The separation between religion, politics and science, the arts and sports is, in the sphere of the social, the reflection of the schizophrenia within the individual and the masses. The dialogue between individuality and the "human" belongs to consciousness. The tendency to develop cults resides in the shortcomings we’are finding in life as it is structured today. “Life” has become the private property of a few priviledged who cannot profit from it because as soon as it is appropriated it stops to be “life” or “life-giving”.

We are all the victims of our own invention and each one is called upon to find solutions. The only problem is believing our selves incapable of finding them. We are now free to use all Systems of knowledge objectively, sharing them without imposing our will on each other. To become objective about our lives means to understand that the institutions that govern its experience are critically important. That we are one with the governments, one with the religious activities that mark its pace, that the arena’s in which we move our bodies and the laboratories in which we explore our possibilities are ALL part and parcel of our own personal responsibility. That WE ARE ONE WITH EACH OTHER AND EVERYTHING AROUND US and acknowledge for ourselves a bond of love in conscious responsibility. That we human beings know ourselves part of each other and are willing and able to act on our behalf for the benefit of each and every individual. That we no longer allow governments, industries, universities or any other institution to run along unchecked by the objective principles of humaneness. That we do not allow gurus to abuse their power or governors to steal the taxes and use them to their personal advantage in detriment of the whole. That we do not allow abuse from anyone anywhere because life is too beautiful to do so and that we are willing to stop the rampant crime with the necessary compassion Conscious knowledge is every individual's right. Conscious action is every individual's duty.

Blog Archive

Tuesday 19 October 2010

The King's attributes


Adapted from Sichos of
Shabbos Parshas Shoftim, 5750

http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/timeless-patterns/51.htm

"I am My Beloved's"

Our Rabbis[1] note that the name "Elul" is an acronym for the Biblical phrase,[2] Ani Ledodi V'Dodi Li - "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine." In other words, the intense love between G-d and the Jewish people comes to the surface during Elul. This particular verse also indicates that during Elul, it is man who takes the initiative in his relationship with G-d. In chassidic thought[3] this verse is contrasted with a similar verse,[4] "My Beloved is mine and I am His," which reflects a different expression of this love relationship. "My Beloved is mine" suggests the initiative is taken by divine revelation, which then evokes a response from man. "I am my Beloved's," by contrast, suggests an expression of love initiated by man, to which G-d responds.

Is the Initiative Man's or G-d's?

In Likkutei Torah,[5] the Alter Rebbe describes the tightening of the bond between G-d and the Jewish people in the month of Elul with the following parable:Before a king enters his city, its inhabitants go out to greet him and receive him in the field. At that time, anyone who so desires is granted permission [and can][6] approach him and greet him. He receives them all pleasantly and shows a smiling countenance to all....
This parable appears to contradict the direction suggested by the phrase, "I am my Beloved's," for the parable seems to indicate that in Elul it is G-d Who initiates the relationship, by revealing His Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. (The Sages explain that these Attributes refer to an unlimited expression of Divine love.) In contrast, the verse "I am my Beloved's" indicates that the initiative is taken by man.
In chassidic thought,[7] this difficulty is resolved by explaining that the revelation of the king in the field, i.e., the expression of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in the month of Elul, generates the potential for the initiative to be taken by man. Otherwise the people of the field, ordinary men whose spiritual attainments are modest, would be incapable of turning to G-d with the inspired commitment expressed by the phrase, "I am my Beloved's."
Though the potential is initially granted from above, the nurturing of the love relationship depends on man's initiative. The revelation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy is merely a catalyst. In going out to the field, the king makes himself accessible to his people. It is the people, however, who take the step of turning to him.

Why the King Goes Into the Field

In Likkutei Torah, the parable is further used to explain the difference between the revelation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in the month of Elul, and the revelation of these attributes on Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur, the king is in his palace; G-d reveals Himself in all His majesty. During Elul, however, the king is in the field; G-d reveals Himself at a level which can be apprehended by man within the framework of his mundane reality.However, G-d descends to this level not only in order to make Himself accessible to man. Rather, to borrow the terms of the analogy, the king meets his people in the field because a field has intrinsic value.
A field is a place where grain grows. Growing grain and converting it into the food which sustains us requires a great deal of effort. And this effort symbolizes the full scope of our activities within our mundane sphere.[8]
The value of these activities can be seen from the fact that most of our time is spent dealing with our material needs and earning the means by which to provide for them; as it is written,[9] "Six days shall you work, and the seventh day shall be a Shabbos unto the L-rd, your G-d."
Faced with this state of affairs, we are inclined to wonder why G-d designed a world in which man is forced to involve himself primarily in material rather than in spiritual activities. The reason for this seemingly problematic apportioning of time is that it reflects the purpose of creation. G-d created the world so that He could have a "dwelling place in the lower worlds."[10] In accordance with this desire, our service of G-d has to center on the ordinary details of existence for the purpose of infusing them with G-dliness, and not on the purely spiritual as it exists on an abstract plane.[11]
In light of this, we can appreciate the significance of our parable to the month of Elul. The king's presence in the field represents the ultimate purpose of creation. Our efforts must be directed towards bringing G-dliness into our material world. G-d's Presence must be found not only in the royal palace, i.e., where spirituality is manifest; rather, even the lowest realms of existence must be transformed into a dwelling place for Him.[12]

G-d's Smiling Countenance

The parable of the king in the field expresses the importance of our divine service within the framework of the ordinary, but it also underscores the unique relationship between the king and His subjects. In the field, "He receives them all pleasantly and shows a smiling countenance to all." In the "field", G-d allows His subjects to relate to Him as His presence is manifest.[13]Throughout the year, we emphasize the importance of carrying out our service of G-d in the field with the intent that this should lead to the revelation of the King's Presence. In Elul, which marks the culmination of this service - and the preparation for the coming year - our efforts are rewarded by the perceptible revelation of the King's Presence.

Expressing Our Love Relationship with G-d through Torah Study

In light of this, we can understand the importance of increasing our Torah study during Elul,[14] for the revelation of the King's Presence is dependent on the study of the Torah. As mentioned above, our service of G-d in the field involves primarily mundane matters. We concern ourselves with activities which are not in and of themselves holy, but are performed "for the sake of the King." As our Sages state,[15] "All your deeds should be for the sake of heaven." And it is likewise written,[16] "Know Him in all your ways."Because G-d desires a dwelling place in the lower worlds, this mode of divine service is valuable, but because it involves materiality, G-dliness is not manifest within this framework.[17] It is, however, revealed through the study of Torah, because the Torah, the embodiment of G-d's will and wisdom, is one with Him.[18]
G-d's will is that His Presence be revealed "in the field"; i.e., that we recognize our world as His dwelling place. This revelation depends upon the Torah study of the people of the field. Although they may be engaged in mundane activities for most of the day, the fixed times that they set aside for Torah study[19]suffuse their entire day with Torah. In this manner, manifest G-dliness is drawn down into every aspect of their lives, even into the day-to-day activities of "the field."
The "men of the field" need not forego their ordinary activities entirely and devote themselves solely to Torah study. This is not what G-d desires. In the parable, when the king passes through the field, the people pause from their work and approach him.[20] Similarly, during Elul, although the "men of the field" continue their daily activities, because they are aware of the King's Presence they should also increase their Torah study.
Hence the emphasis during Elul on Torah study as well as prayer, for they are both associated with the verse, "I am my Beloved's."[21] In fact, our love relationship with G-d is most completely expressed through the study of the Torah. Thus the verse,[22] "He kisses me with the kisses of His mouth," alludes[23]to Torah study, a time at which G-d's words are in one's mouth.
By intensifying our love relationship with G-d during Elul, we ensure that the entire Jewish people is inscribed with a kesivah vachasimah tovah, and is granted abundant blessings in the coming new year. May those blessings include the most fundamental and necessary blessing - the coming of the Redemption, and may this take place in the immediate future.
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