I am by nature a scientific rationalist and consequently seek proof for my beliefs and avoid as much as possible any leaps of faith. However, I am also aware that science is bound to the material world and consequently has a limited realm through which it can access knowledge.
On a personal level, I have dedicated much of my life to science, but I am consciously aware of its zones of applicability. Having said this, I will exhaust all scientific explanations before deferring to an extra-material analysis in grasping the phenomenology of events. I owe this to myself. In a sense, I am a skeptic, not a logical positivist, but a realist armed with Occam's Razor but cognizant at the same time of the extra-material universe.
I personally believe in an essence that extends beyond the physicality of the matter/energy universe. Perhaps this is a function of my individuality (so defined by my genetics and environmental history), but as much as I have tried to shrug off its presence and succumb to scientific materialism, I simply cannot.
The Kabbalistic concept of Ein Sof, which translates (from the Hebrew) as 'without an end, appeals to me.' This makes the extended point that to truly define the essence is to actually limit it. All power, I believe, ultimately resides with the Ein Sof, which cannot be fully articulated, reduced, or even truly conceptualized. However, its presence is ubiquitous.
I envision Ein Sof as multifaceted, and this is a consequence of omnipotence. It can be perceived on many levels. The Spirit God is 'the transcendence' from which our souls originate, and the personal God is the one that I communicate with. However, they are intrinsically linked as one.
The way I see it is that individual souls are derived from the Ein Sof. Our abstraction from the Ein Sof does not in any way reduce the Ein Sof as it supersedes the material. The laws of physics do not limit the Ein Sof as all its constraints and realities are ultimately a product of the Ein Sof. The Ein Sof is consequently the cause of why something, as opposed to nothing, exists
As Ein Sof Derived Souls, we can interact with the Ein Sof by following the path of goodness. This involves the extension of our sense of self and a concerted focus on the positive growth of our being and the assistance of others
In the Hindu Uppanbishad, it is written - That supreme Brahman is infinite, and this conditioned Brahman is infinite. The infinite proceeds from infinite. If you subtract the infinite from the infinite, the infinite remains alone.
The Ein Sof is similar to the Uppanbishad definition of the Infinite Soul - Brahman. I am actually very much taken by the Hindu understanding of our individual soul - the Athman - being in its essence a derivative of the Brahman. As mentioned, we can approach the Ein Sof/Brahman by performing meaningful acts of goodness.
Others have addressed this dynamic but have unfortunately allowed themselves to lose focus in the vortex of cultural noise. Meaningful belief has to extend beyond this 'noise' to reclaim the connection with the Ein Sof. This brings us the greatest joy.
The direct approach toward goodness involves the elucidation of perspective. This substantiates itself in the prioritization of goals, daily events, and thoughts. Perspective is triage for the mind; it places our challenges in context so that we never lose sight of the goodness of the Ein Sof.
Meaningful acts are tantamount to acts of kindness – an extension of one's sense of self to include the other. Martin Buber wrote about this in the 'I and Thou.' These bring one closer to Ein Sof and allow us to appreciate its magnificence. Life also has to be lived with purpose. In doing so, we discover the Ein Sof 'Spark.'
We must be thankful for what we have. I call this a consolidation of reality. Once such a step has been undertaken, the mind framework towards goodness is rooted. This catalyzes the drive.
I would argue that each morning until the end of the day, we awake with a new opportunity (for the most part) to prove and better ourselves. We should appreciate that we have life and act to help others.
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