Egoism And The Tree Of Knowledge

Question: What is the connection between the manifestation of the evil of egoism and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17)?

Answer: Without the ego and its development, we could not achieve or know anything. With the correction of egoism, meaning that I change it from serving myself to serving others, I use it to get everything possible and make it useful for others.

In this way, I change myself in an inverse manner, and then all the forces and fulfillments of the Creator pass through me. I become equal to Him and attain His level. This is the manifestation of the greatest egoism in a person. About this it is said, “My sons have defeated me” (Bava Metzia, 59b).

Question: So, what was Adam HaRishon’s (First Man’s) mistake?

Answer: There was no mistake! Everything was planned from the start, including where you will go and what will happen to you later on. Each has his or her own predetermined point and there is nowhere to escape from it.

The question is whether you want to attain the goal by yourself, whether you have been searching for it throughout your conscious life, do you want to break through into this state now and not in your next incarnation?
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 2/26/17