Yesod Blocks: Foundational Torah

Nefesh HaChaim Ep #17 Ch 9.1

In this episode, we continue to explore the Kruvim, the guardians of the Aron (and also the guardians of the Garden of Eden).  These statues reflect the pattern of mirroring we engage in with the Endless One, Hashem, as we operate within the consciousness network we call "the world".

Nefesh HaChaim Episode #16 Chapter 8.2

Nefesh HaChaim Episode #15 Chapter 8.1

There were once two golden statues that physically represented the consciousness interface between people and Hashem, the Endless One.  They are called the Keruvim, and in Chapter 8, the Nefesh HaChaim analyzes their role in our consciousness expanding journey through time.

Pharoah's Hard Heart: Understanding Your Internal Emotional System

There's a popular idea that in the Exodus story, Pharoah, the king of the Egyptians, lost his free will. This idea is a distortion of the truth, as while Pharoah did have a particular problem, this wasn't it. Hard hearts are real- and when we understand how they work, we uncover a profoundly deep layer of our being.

Lashon HaRa: What You Say Distorts Your Reality

We forget that our words don't accurately capture what's in our heads. When we try to put our inner selves into words, those words often fail to capture the truth within us, distorting how our listeners perceive us. This is the root of mediocrity and stagnancy in relationships and connections.

Nefesh HaChaim Episode #13 Chapter 6.5

Nefesh HaChaim Episode #14 Chapter 7

Your consciousness/Neshama radiates through all of reality, intertwining with the other consciousness fragments of the people around you, and with the Total Self, the Endless One, Hashem.

Nefesh HaChaim Episode #12 Chapter 6.4

What, exactly, are Mitzvot?  People like to translate the word as "commandments" or "divine commands", but they're actually "bridges", or "groupifiers" (a made up word:).  A mitzvah is a tool you use to create a bridge or group connector between you and the root of all being, allowing you to actually become more conscious, as Hashem's larger self fuses with you, and then flows through you into the finite platform we call "existence".

Understanding Shabbat

People sometimes say Shabbat is about "not doing work" and "resting". But did you ever notice that the actual issue is "Melacha", and Melacha is the same as the word "malach" (usually translated poorly as "Angel")? The layers here are profoundly deep, as we explore what, exactly, this day is about.

Nefesh HaChaim Episode #11 Chapter 6.3

Traveling deeper into the world of distortions and preferences, the legacy of the Tree of Experiential Knowledge of What You Want and What You Are Apathetic Towards.