R' Ashlag Ch. 24

Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag's "Introduction to the Zohar"

-- as translated and commented on by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

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24.

"Now, since the body (i.e., the ego) is essentially (nothing other than) a ratzon l’kabel and everything that happens to it as well as all its effects are replete with that corrupt ratzon, which was only created from the first to be eradicated from the world in order to bring on the perfect third era at the final reparation -- it and all its effects are thus as ephemeral and mortal as a passing shadow that leaves nothing behind."

"And since the immortal soul is essentially a ratzon l’hashpia and everything that happens to it as well as all its effects are replete with that (lofty) ratzon, which already existed in the eternal first era as well as in the third era that’s due to come about -- it’s thus not at all ephemeral or mortal. It and all its effects are eternal and exist forever. In fact, not only don’t they experience nonexistence when the body dies, on the contrary, the nonexistence of the corrupt body actually strengthens the soul and enables it to ascend to the Heavens."

"We’ve thus clearly shown that the immortality of the soul is in no way dependent on (the caliber of) the concepts it had acquired as philosophers claim (see 21:1); it’s immortality is inherent, meaning to say that it’s in its ratzon l’hashpia which is its essence. And any concepts it acquires are its reward rather than its essence."

(c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

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