Corporeal Activities and Spiritual Advancement

Question: Each person has abilities and talents that were given to him from birth. How do we use them correctly in life?

Answer: A person with talents, let’s suppose he is a musician, a painter, or a writer, can certainly combine the wisdom of Kabbalahwith his specific activities, but it is very difficult since he invests both intellect and emotions in his creativity, which in principle he should invest in the wisdom of Kabbalah.

When a person is involved with the wisdom of Kabbalah, in the development of spirituality, he spends a great deal of energy in order to yearn for it, with his heart, his soul, and also his intellect. It doesn’t mix well with such worldly activities like science or art.

Question: Isn’t it possible that these talents were given to a person specifically so that he could apply them in the wisdom of Kabbalah?

Answer: As strange as it might sound, there is no kind of corporeal activity that can be of any use in the wisdom of Kabbalah except for the art of writing and drawing, and also these tendencies must be used only in order to disseminate Kabbalah, for describing it and bringing it closer to people.

Question: What about theater, painting, and sculpture? Especially if it brings joy to thesoul….

Answer: I do not know why people think that the soul is “happy” when it sees some sculpture; I understand that people think of it in this way, but it isn’t the soul.

Observing in this way comes from the physical urges that still control a person, but this will gradually change to a more inner observation.

Man should not in any way destroy, belittle, get rid of, or be ashamed of anything within himself, or blame himself that he still has these urges.

He can enjoy art, literature, music, and anything else, but as a result of the study of Kabbalah, when he begins to come closer to the revelation of the spiritual world, this revelation will be so comprehensive and inclusive, exciting and fulfilling, that he won’t have room in his heart or his mind to be involved with anything else except simple necessary work.

My teacher Rabash explained that the very best thing for a Kabbalist to be was a shoemaker.  He was referring to any monotonous work that allows a person to think about spirituality.
[190110]
From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 4/10/16