Shame—Help In Correction

Baal HaSulam, The Study of the Ten Sefirot, Part 1, “Histaklut Pnimit“: There is a flaw of shame in any free gift. In order to spare the Neshamot this blemish, He has created this world, where there is work. They will therefore enjoy their labor, for they take their pay from the Whole, in return for their work, and are thus spared the blemish of shame.

Question: So this world was created in order not to suffer from shame?

Answer: No. It only seems so at first glance.

Nothing was created in vain. If shame is created, it is not to suffer from it, but to use it to achieve certain spiritual levels, to turn the shame into a positive component and to move forward with it’s help. Therefore, I need to develop shame, cultivate it,  and use it with even greater desire.

Different variations of the sense of shame will help me understand where I am in the spiritual system and how I can be more fully associated with it.

After all, the different nuances of feeling shame from rejection, lack of connection, deceiving one another, from everything that our egoism pushes us to, committing small cruelties, will help me to correct all this. If it were not for the shame, I would not have felt any of this and would have enjoyed everything without a twinge of conscience.

What is the difference between a rude and an intelligent person? It is the fact that the rude one does not feel shame; it is hidden in him very deeply, and therefore enjoys everything absolutely thoughtlessly, without any pangs of conscience. And a more sensitive, intelligent man feels ashamed of using his egoism, at least in the sight of others, and therefore hides it, tries to smooth it.

Question: So, our earthly shame can at least somehow be compared with spiritual shame?

Answer: Yes. Our earthly shame can help us sort out the spiritual shame, but we do not use it correctly. A person needs shame. The more shame, the better. If I am deeply ashamed, it will quickly lead to correction.

This is a very serious lever. There is nothing else against egoism—only then does one begin to feel one’s insignificance and imperfection. This is called shame.
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From the Kabbalah Lesson in Russian 4/22/18