Question:
Growing up as a Pentecostal, my Pastor always preached we must be upright and sin-free, for we are created in the Creator's image.  I can't say I truly know what that means and how to practically apply this teaching to my life.  What do the Kabbalists have to say?

Answer:
As you said, the Bible does write that man was created in the image of the Creator. This is a powerful lesson, and I agree, it is unfortunately misunderstood by many, and therefore its many lessons and ramifications are lost as well.

If we truly understand, internalize and live the meaning of this verse, our lives will be completely transformed. The Creator in this verse is teaching us one of the most fundamental of spiritual understandings: we have, imbued within our being all the powers and abilities of the Creator.

Simply put, anything the Creator can do, we have the potential of doing. This means that we have within us the potential to heal, bless, and assist others in the deepest way…and so much more.

Kabbalists stress the importance of taking the time to internalize this lesson. We cannot even begin to fathom the awesome powers that we can and are meant to have.

Once we understand the powers that we are meant to reveal we can begin developing ourselves to activate this potential. This is the process of our spiritual development in general, but specifically we need to remember that the best way to activate our amazing Creator potential is by erecting a monument of warning against the ego.

Or as the Kabbalists refer to it, the desire to receive for the self alone.

There is no greater barrier to revealing our Creator potential than our ego, and there is no more powerful way to reveal it than by proactively diminishing the ego.

It is important that we also remember this is not simply a nice spiritual lesson and concept; rather this is, exactly our purpose in this world. Our purpose in this world is to reveal our awesome Creator potential and with it, to assist others and ourselves. This is also the only way to achieve true and lasting fulfillment.

Imagine if Jonas Salk (American biologist and physician best known for the development of the polio vaccine) spent his time doing something else, maybe traveling the world, relaxing more, collecting stamps whatever.  How many people would have died and suffered because he chose not to develop his innate abilities?

We are all in this position!

Thank you for your question and may it be a giant wake up call for all of us. As we begin the New Year, let us appreciate our unbelievable potential and resolve ourselves to further developing it. Not only for the sake of all the people we are meant to help, but also because it is the only way we can achieve true and lasting fulfillment.

Ever been to the circus?  Perhaps you've noticed how animal handlers keep the elephants at bay.

They tie a rope around its leg, then tie the rope to a stake and then drive the stake into the ground. The elephant can't move.  Two tons of muscle and force tied down by a tiny rope and stake.   

Hmmm.  What's their secret?

The handlers train the elephant from day one to stay put in the same way.  Conditioned consciousness.  Over time, the beautiful beast becomes convinced it can't pull out the stake.  And because it's convinced it can't, it can't!

We do the same thing.  We convince ourselves we can't earn a million dollars a year, so we don't.  Not only that, the actions we take don't even put us in a position to earn a million dollars a year.

Or, we are convinced we'll never meet the right person.  Therefore, the actions we take don't put us in the position to meet the right person.

Or, we want to make things right with our mate.  We have a good relationship but we want to take it to the next level.  But we can't see that next level is right there waiting for us, and so we don't take the right steps to get to that next level. 

As you may know, Libra is the beginning of the new year.  The holiday of Rosh Hashanah is the re-creation of the world – your world.  We are given a blank slate.  Therefore, now is the ideal time to look at your conditioning; to reprogram your thoughts that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 

Love, healing, well-being, prosperity, simple happiness, confidence - what is it you want?  It's here.  These next few weeks, as you work on your 99% (consciousness), you'll notice that your 1% (physical circumstances) will follow suit.

What is it you are convinced you can't achieve?  

Figure that one out and you're on your way to an incredible year.

All the best,

Yehuda

For more information please call 702.243.0559 or email lasvegas@kabbalah.com or stop by the Kabbalah Centre at 3824 S. Jones Blvd (between Spring Mountain & Flamingo).

Visit our bookstore Tuesday – Thursday 10am-9pm and browse through our selection of kabbalistic books, cds, dvds, jewelry, candles, and more.

FREE Introductory Lecture Every Tuesday at 6:30pm – Learn How the Wisdom Of Kabbalah Can Help You Unlock the Door to Lasting Fulfillment