KAVANOT

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The Journey of Kavanot

From Cosmic Worlds to Divine Service

This essay unfolds the work of kavanot as the ontological continuum through which cosmic structure, human consciousness, and divine service are revealed as a single, integrated process. Beginning from the paradox of addressing the Ein Sof through Divine Names, it establishes that the dynamics of partzufim, zivugim, mochin, and birurim are not remote metaphysical descriptions but the operative mechanics by which intellect gives rise to emotion, emotion to action, and action to rectified influx. Slumber and awakening, purity and profanation, fragmentation and return, teaching and speech, and teshuva and maturation are presented as phases of one movement: the measured descent of light, its breaking into assimilable form, and its re-ascent as clarified awareness. Abba and Imma, Z’eir Anpin, and Nukva thus appear not only as supernal configurations but also as the structure of the human interior, so that the external kavanot of prayer become the internal formation of da’at and the restoration of proper coupling between thought, feeling, and deed. Prayer is disclosed as the actual circulation of Divine influx through all levels of being, with the individual serving as a conscious locus of clarification, reception, and return, until the presence of the Ein Sof is apprehended as the hidden life within every dimension of reality.

The Paradox of Names

All of our prayers ascend to the Ein Sof. Yet how can this be? The Ein Sof transcends all Names, all appellations, all kinuyim “appellations used to address the Ein Sof”. It stands beyond the grasp of human consciousness, infinite and unknowable. To speak a Name is to delimit, to define, and to confine. How then do we justify addressing the Ein Sof directly through the very Names that seem to contradict Its boundless nature?

The answer lies in the work itself. According to the measured amount of clarification—the birur “clarification”—that one clarifies and raises up of the sparks of divinity, from partzuf to partzuf until the highest heights where they are fixed and return to be drawn down as mochin “brains/mentality“, then the ohr Ein Sof “Divine Light” encased within, the spark and intermediary, is present and descends into every partzuf, from level to level to the end of all levels. At this juncture, relative to us, we are justified in using Names to address the Ein Sof directly. And so too in the souls, in the levels of NaRaNCha”I (Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chaya, Yechidah).

This is not a metaphor. The righteous individual is the vessel made physical. Humanity is the partzuf that attempts to reconstitute itself through a descent of the cosmic into the physical, which causes it to mitaveh—to congeal. Our physical world is spirituality congealed.

The State of Slumber

The Rashash, based on Rabbi Chayim Vital‘s Sha’arei Kedusha, calls the state of being where we cannot perceive the Ein Sof “slumber.” This is not mere poetic language. “Slumber” describes a consciousness contracted, withdrawn, and unable to perceive the Divine Presence that permeates all reality. The person in slumber walks through a world saturated with holiness yet experiences only emptiness, only the superficial materiality that conceals rather than reveals.

Through the devotional life of kavanot, one can “awaken” the soul and perceive the Ein Sof. This state of wakefulness is one where the individual is attentive to the presence of Ein Sof in all things through their soul. The kavanot focused on external cosmic worlds—the visualizations of partzufim, the yichudim of Holy Names, the meditations on sefirot—these are not abstractions divorced from lived experience. They are the very mechanism of awakening.

The Mechanics of Awakening

The array of emotions are activated by intellectual comprehension. There is no emotional response without intellectual activity first. Z’eir Anpin, the partzuf of the six midot from chesed to yesod, does not move on its own. Imma, the partzuf of binah, shines upon it, activating it. The mentality of Imma comes from Abba, from chochmah, the intense insight that first bursts forth in the mind yet remains to be integrated and developed by binah.

This is the inner reality of the external kavanot. When you focus your mind on the Name יהו”ה, when you visualize the coupling of Abba and Imma, when you intend the descent of mochin through the levels—you are not merely contemplating distant spiritual realities. You are activating your own intellectual and emotional systems in correspondence with these supernal structures. The lights and mentalities of Imma, the abstract ideas diffused to Z’eir Anpin, are the five states of chesed and gevurah. These states constitute the main aspect of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, from which the forces of evil derive sustenance.

Here lies the essential point: these states are propensities to accept or reject the emotional connection to the abstract idea that came from Abba and Imma. This link between the intellect and the emotions is calledda’at, knowing. The external kavanot awaken internal da’at. The work is one.

The Danger of Profanation

After this development, a remnant of the pristine experience of Abba lives through the emotions. The entire intellectual-emotional process must be protected from the evil that seeks to corrupt it by misdirecting it. This can occur if secular mentalities are allowed to interfere with the described process, degrading it. By its very nature, what is secular is profane, and the mixture can blemish all the way up to the original idea in the mind and down to the spawned emotions.

This is the secret of קדשים יהיו לאלהיהם ולא יחללו שם אלהיהם “They shall be holy to their G-d and not profane the name of their G-d” (Vayikra 21:6) with mispar siduri 347, a numerical value equal to the gematria of נער בכה “a youth is crying”. The still very youthful Torah thought is crying because the evil of the profane mentalities is attacking it. The Torah insight at its inception is vulnerable and fragile. It requires protection through purity of intention and separation from that which degrades.

The Tree of Knowledge

The lights and mentalities of Imma diffused to Z’eir Anpin are the five states of chesed and gevurah. These states constitute the main aspect of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, from which the forces of evil derive sustenance. This is so because these states are propensities to accept or reject the emotional connection to the abstract idea that came from Abba and Imma.

These states can become the origin of evil in the sense that if a Torah idea is rejected, this force nourishes the negative side. Evil seeks to divert to itself the spiritual energy from the mental delusions of selfhood that reject Torah, as well as the intellectually diffused emotions—Z’eir Anpin—and subsequent expression and actions—Nukva—not realized in holiness, which is the only mode for the proper coupling of Z’eir Anpin and Nukva.

This state of affairs blocks the desire of some to do teshuva. Their da’at is tainted by a life of thoughts and behaviors misaligned with the Torah. Even as they hear the holy words of Torah, the corruption of their da’at propagates a distorted light to their emotional level, which then rejects these insights, stopping them from performing the rectifying actions of the mitzvot. Thus they leave the shiur, regardless of how they admired it, only to return to their spiritually exiled condition.

The Solution: Breaking the Light

Abba and Imma can only transfer their intellectual mentalities to Z’eir Anpin and Nukva if they themselves properly couple, fruitfully and increasingly so through Torah and mitzvot. However, this depends on a mature emotional intellect that should have been received from Abba and Imma. The self-oriented immature emotions prevent coupling. This is the paradox: maturity requires coupling, but coupling requires maturity.

The solution exists in two primary approaches, though there are others. Nothing compares to the opportunity that Hashem can grant someone through a spirit of teshuva, simply because of His lovingkindness.

First Approach: The Teacher’s Mouth

The Ari”zal speaks on the verse יש מפזר ונוסף עוד “There is one who gives generously and yet ends with more” (on Mishlei 11:24). The tzaddik, which is yesod, is the one giving generously. The literal meaning of the word מפזר mefazer is “spreading”, implying that it crumbles the supernal states of chesed into small crumbs, which scatter from the pulverizing blows. This is in order to give these crumbs to Nukva, and the crumbs spread throughout Nukva similar to how the coins of tzedakah a person distributes spread salvation throughout the world.

You should not think that these states of chesed are diminished by passing through Z’eir Anpin nor that they lack anything by being given to tzedek. On the contrary, the result of this process is not a lack but ונוסף עוד “ends with more” (ibid. Mishlei). For these pulverizing blows magnify all the states of chesed, and their light increases infinitely. Z’eir Anpin grows through this process.

The essence of these words is the breaking of light into small pieces so it can be assimilated by the emotions and generate the proper actions. This descent of the light into objective reality then rebounds—ohr hozer—as a greater ability to achieve abstraction that the listener was lacking. From this the emotional system matures. And maturity means that the person ends with more. He may begin understanding holy things and desire to do teshuva.

The light of chesed broken and diffused in pieces are the words of Torah issued from the mouth of a true and generous teacher who knows how to break the abstractions of the Torah into reasonable and easily assimilated ideas for the students. When this is successful, this dynamic activity is considered fruitful and increasingly so, for it can promote the listener’s coupling of the new Torah-infused emotions with the needed Torah-aligned actions. The person suddenly feels the emotions of holiness and a new desire overcomes him to connect to Hashem.

The gematria of שיעור shiur is 586, which is the gematria of the blessing ויאמר להם אלהים פרו ורבו “And said to them, G-d, Be fruitful, and multiply” (Bereshit 1:22).

Second Approach: The Brit of the Tongue

As it is written, רוח יהו”ה דבר-בי ומלתו על-לשוני “G-d’s spirit speaks in me, and His milah is on my tongue” (Shmuel II 23:2), where the alternative meaning of milah—”circumcision”—is “word”. This alludes to the מילת הלשון, the circumcision of the tongue, referring to rectified speech. Again, a dynamic activity fruitful and increasingly so, for it can promote the coupling of the Torah-infused emotions with Torah-aligned actions.

Through the covenant of circumcision, Hashem gave Avraham and his descendants power over the transcendental plane. Through the rectified power of speech epitomized in tefilah “prayer”, the person speaks to G-d. The two covenants enable the proper focus of spiritual energy between the upper body and the lower one, heaven and earth, Z’eir Anpin and Nukva.

The aspiring ba’al teshuva—any Jew seeking spiritual growth—can gradually rectify his speech simply by sitting in a שול shul. לשון Lashon, tongue or speech, is a permutation of the word שול shul plus the letter נ, hinting at the nefilat, the falling—the supplicatory prayer asking of Hashem‘s mercies and forgiveness. In time, the kedusha of the shul, the tefilah, and the complete avoidance of speaking what is not rectified, sweetens the states of gevurah in Nukva—one’s reality—helping mature Z’eir Anpin, at last causing the development of a Divine consciousness as the product of teshuva and the growth in Torah and mitzvot.

The Ari”zal concludes: “Now that chesed has been revealed in the malchut of Imma, because Avraham circumcised himself, the שכינה Shechinah appeared to him in order to receive these states of chesed” (the Ari”zal, Sefer HaLikutim, Vayeira.). And the gematria of לשון equals 386, that being the same gematria of שכינה with the kolel.

The Unity Revealed

We return now to the initial statement: all of our prayers are to the Ein Sof according to the measured amount of clarification that one clarifies and raises up from partzuf to partzuf until the highest heights where they are fixed and return to be drawn down as mochin. Then the ohr Ein Sof encased within, the spark and intermediary, is present and descends into every partzuf, from level to level to the end of all levels. Then relative to us, we are justified in using Names to address the Ein Sof directly.

The work of kavanot focused on external cosmic worlds gives way to an experience of connection and divine service because they are one and the same. When you focus your consciousness on the coupling of Abba and Imma, you are not merely contemplating a distant spiritual reality. You are activating within yourself the very process of intellectual insight giving birth to emotional response. When you intend the descent of mochin through the levels, you are not merely visualizing abstract structures. You are opening your own da’at, your own knowing, to receive the influx of Divine consciousness that transforms thought into feeling into action.

The external is the internal. The cosmic is the personal. The kavanot are not allegories for psychological states. Rather, the psychological states are localized manifestations of the cosmic structures. You are a partzuf. Your intellect is Abba and Imma. Your emotions are Z’eir Anpin. Your lived reality is Nukva. The birur you perform in prayer—raising sparks through your focus and intention—is the actual mechanism by which the ohr Ein Sof descends through the levels into your consciousness.

This is why we are justified in using Names. The Names are not limiting the Ein Sof. They are revealing the Ein Sof at each level of Its descent into manifestation. At the level of your consciousness, the Name you pronounce with kavanah is the actual presence of the Ein Sof operating through that particular configuration of light. The Name is the intermediary, the spark encased within, that allows the Infinite to touch the finite without annihilating it.

Awakening from Slumber

The Rashash speaks of awakening from slumber through kavanot. Now the mechanism is clear. Slumber is the state where da’at is asleep, where intellect and emotion are disconnected, where the cosmic and the personal appear as separate realities. The person in slumber may know intellectually about the partzufim, may be able to recite the structures of Atzilut, yet experience none of it as real, as present, as operative in his own being.

The devotional life of kavanot awakens the soul. Through consistent practice, through focused intention on the cosmic structures while simultaneously becoming aware of the corresponding movements within one’s own consciousness, the unity begins to reveal itself. The abstract becomes concrete. The external becomes internal. The person realizes: I am not separate from the machinery of creation. My thoughts coupling with my emotions to produce my actions are the local manifestation of Abba and Imma coupling to produce Z’eir Anpin and Nukva.

At that moment, he is awake. He perceives the Ein Sof in all things through his soul. Not as a belief, not as a philosophy, but as direct perception. The world reveals itself as spirituality congealed. The physical body reveals itself as the vessel made physical. And prayer reveals itself as the actual circulation of Divine energy through the cosmos, with oneself as a conscious, participating node in that circulation.

This is the state of wakefulness where the individual is attentive to the presence of Ein Sof in all things through their soul. And this is the meaning of the righteous individual being the vessel made physical, of humanity as the partzuf attempting to reconstitute itself through the descent of the cosmic into the physical.

The work of kavanot, focused on external cosmic worlds, gives way to an experience of connection and divine service because they are one and the same. There is no separation. There never was. The awakening is simply the recognition of what has always been true.

Rabbi Avraham

on Shevat 8, 5786

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WHY ON PARASHAT MIKETZ IT IS WRITTEN THAT “YOSEF HAD TWO SONS ‘BEFORE’ THE FAMINE” (BER. 41:50)?

According to the Sefer Yetzirah (Mishna 1:5), the space continuum consists of three dimensions and the continuum of time, of two directions (past and future). As such, the Universe is constituted by four dimensions. Moreover, the Sefer Yetzirah explains that there is a fifth dimension, to wit, the moral dimension (spiritual, or soul), which possesses two directions: good and evil. This moral dimension underlines all other dimensions from the space-time continuum. The spiritual trajectory towards good or evil depends on the actions that man impresses upon the dimensions of the Universe, which reverberate in all of the olamot (spiritual worlds and this one, physical). For instance, we see this occurring in the procreative act. As it is known, “if the person sanctifies himself [and has the appropriate kavanot], he will bring a holy garment for the neshama of his child [which will be conceived through the act], and in this way, he will enable him to serve Hashem promptly. Regardless of the greatness that this soul may attain, it is nevertheless important that the father [and the mother] be sanctified during the act. But the neshama itself, apart from its ‘garments’ [i.e., the power of thought, speech, and action which clothe the neshama in its particular spiritual root and degree, which is solely decided by Hashem], is not affected by the sanctification [and kavanot] from the parents; in fact it happens at times that, the soul of a person infinitely elevated comes down and becomes the child of an ignorant and lowly person” (Tanya, Likkutei Amarim 2). However, the ‘spiritual replies’ to the actions of man on the physical level are also bound (and thus dependent) by time and its cycles, which albeit intimately connected to the physical continuum, do transcend it. This is the spiritual law of סוף מעשה במחשבה תחלה Sof ma’aseh, b’machshava tehilah “last to be created, first to be conceived”, alluding to the Bnei Israel, which establishes the precedence of time over space, regardless of its dimensional connection. Hence, certain positive actions, even when appropriate but fulfilled on ‘inappropriate times’ can be without any effect or worse yet, with the contrary effect, chaz v’shalom. For example, Kabbalah Ma’asit teaches that kameyot/kosher amulets for different purposes (e.g., protection for pregnancy, see Ta’amei Ha’Minhagim; Toldot Adam; R’ Menashe Ben Israel, Nishmat Chayim 3:25; Midrash Talpiyot 1, Efod s.v. V’HaEven; Deguel Machane Efraim, Vayicra, et. al.) need necessarily be written not only by someone with extraordinary knowledge and purity, but in precise times, that is, on specific months, days, and even hours of the day! The writing of the kameyot, which disrespects the correct times, loses its positive value, which comes from its alignment with the intermediary angelical forces that govern the five dimensions, thus rendering it incomplete (i.e., without the influence on the angelical entity) and even dangerous (i.e., by calling the attention of negative entities, G-d forbid).

And this is exactly how it was for Yosef. He knew the secrets of the illumination from kedusha/holiness called the time of “seasons, for days and years” (Bereshit 1:14) of plenitude. But he also knew well the secrets “illumination” from tumah/impurity, called the time of time of ‘seasons, for days and years’ of famine. For to know the secrets of kedusha is to know the secrets of tumah. And what is this secret of tumah? “The secret of not procreating [when the sitra achra is ‘illuminated’, to wit] on the ‘seasons, for days and years’ of famine… When the time of famine reigns, it behooves man to sexually restrict and not to allow that the sitra achra be ‘multiplied’ [through the strange souls that in this time of famine descent to the children to be] in the world, G-d forbid” (Zohar 204a, Miketz). In fact, the Ramak (R’ Moshe Cordovero) explains that, “The husband’s marital union with his wife should occur only when the Shechinah is in Its place, which means, between the ‘two arms’ [Chesed and Gevurah]. Now, when the Community is in danger [of famine] and the Shechinah is not between the two arms, these unions are prohibited” (Sefer Tomer Devorah, Perek Tet, citing the Tikkunei HaZohar from parashat Bereshit, Tikkun 69). It is for this reason that Yosef HaTzaddik made sure to procreate ‘before’ this bitter time, thus avoiding any admixture in his acts – through the use of the holy and creative power of his brit kodesh – with the sitra achra. In this manner, he truly prevented the increase of the domain of profanity that would have benefited otherwise, chaz v’shalom, from the kedusha.

(Note: it is equally not a proper time to have marital unions on a night preceding a tzom/fast save exceptions).

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HOW CAN THE ACTIONS AND KAVANOT DURING MARITAL UNION INFLUENCE THE CHILD BEING CONCEIVED?

The Talmud explains (see Nedarim 20a-b) that, ‘different actions’ during the marital intercourse determine important physical and spiritual aspects from the soul that will, G-d willing, descent for the child’s body. The Tanna Rabi Yohanan ben Dahabai – who mystically explains having received knowledge on these subjects through the agency of angels – says in this tractate that, in accordance of “certain” sexual acts, children may be born “dumb, deaf, or blind”! Moreover, there are also effects caused strictly through the ‘time’ when the union occurs. Thus, Kabbalah affirms that: “Truly, there is that which is a ‘proper time’ for marital intercourse… and no other time is appropriate for this junction to be performed with all joy without any ‘extraneous admixture’ [i.e., the chitzonim] save that night [i.e., Shabbat. See Talmud, Ketubot 62b] – when the souls are distributed to the wise, the righteous, and the pious” (Zohar 204b, Vaya’khel). We see then that actions and distinct times in the fulfillment of the mitzvah (of marital union) can afect the soul that is to come. Moreover, through kavanot, the parents may spiritually elevate themselves to infinite heights and greatly impact this soul!

Regarding the subject that the ‘the parents may spiritually elevate themselves etc.’, as it is known, the ‘sexual energy’ (the physical form of the spiritual energy) is an extremely pure energy and must be care for and not wasted due to its fundamental role. As it has been explained, it allows – in accordance to the degree of purity it is used – great ascensions or great falls, chaz v’shalom. As it is written: Vehineh sulam mutsav artsah verosho magia hashamaymah vehineh mal’achei Elokim olim veyoredim bo, “Behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of G-d ascending and descending on it” (Bereshit 28:12). On this pasuk, Kabbalah explains (see Zohar 149b, Vayetze) that, “The ladder signifies the spiritual attribute of Yesod [connected to sexual subjects]. To Ya’acov avinu, it was shown that this attribute exists on earth – it literally belongs to ‘mundane subjects’, however, the ‘top of it reached to heaven’ – to wit, when the person heeds to the Divine will and raises this attribute to its origin, then he truly reaches heaven… and ‘this is alluded in thesecret of the pasuk, Mi ya’aleh lanu hashamaymah, Who shall go up for us to heaven [Devarim 30:12]. The initial letters, the Reshei Tevot of this, spell out the word milah [circumcision], and the final letters, the Sofei Tevot, spell out Havaya’ [Tikkunei Zohar 2a] – this means that the person can ascend on high if he purifies this attribute” (the Slonnimer Rebbe, Netivot Shalom).

Regarding the subject of ‘greatly impact this soul’, beyond of has been already considered, it is important to comprehend something of the kavanot during the sexual union. It is very important that these unions be fulfilled in complete joy and happiness. Every mitzvah must be done with great joy, but this one, even more so. It is also important that the married couple, “both should have the same kavanah” (Zohar 81a, Kedoshim; see ibid. 83b for the contrary): to bring down to this level a noble soul, with yirat shamayim (fear of Heaven), a soul that will illuminate the world, to wit, a tzaddik. Hence, it is good to bring to mind a tzaddik on the moment of procreation (see Ramban, Iggeret HaKodesh; R’ Eliyahu de Vidas, Reshit Chochmah, Sha’ar HaKedusha 16). Furthermore, “it is necessary to know that, a child born from the predominant desire from the husband [to have a child, as have been described], receives an ‘extra’ vitality from the father, for this desire means the father’s wish ‘to connect to the Etz Chayim’” (Zohar 209a, Vayigash) in the secret of “She is a Etz Chayim to those who lay hold on her; and happy is every one who holds her fast” (Mishlei 3:18). It is also known that, “‘If the woman emits her semen first she bears a male child; if the man emits his semen first she bears a female child’ [Talmud, Niddah 31a]… Now, he who emits seed last is the one who prevails [i.e., something of his strength]… so the man [who wishes to have a male child] becomes cold, so as to not become heated [during the act], and in this manner the woman is heated [giving seed] before. Afterwards, he is the last to emit seed [thus ensuring that child’s vitality, as explained]. However, many who have followed this did not succed, for all is [baruch Hashem, and thus,] in the Divine will” (Rabi Yehudah Fatiyah, Minchat Yehudah, Parashat Shmuel I, Siman Bet, Ayin Tet, pg. 118). In any case, the person must sanctify himself at the time of marital relations, for all comes from merit. And let him pray throughout the first 40 days of conception: Yehi ra’avah mi’maarei alma shenizke lebanim yierim ushlemim va’chareidim lidvar Hashem venire’eh bachem kedushat tanaim ve’amoraim amen, “May it be the will of the Master of the Universe that we merit G-d fearing and flawless sons who tremble at the word of Hashem. And may we observe in them the sanctity of the Sages of the Mishnah and Talmud. Amen” (Rabi Tzvi Hirsch Kaidenover, Kav HaYashar, Perek Yud Zayin).

 

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HOW DOES THE KOSHER SEXUAL ACT HELP RECTIFY THE WORLD (TIKKUN HAOLAM)?

It is important to understand the basic spiritual law that, ‘actions establish connection between the spiritual and the physical domains’. This is very pertinent insofar as (kosher) sexual acts are concerned. First, due to the act’s intrinsic ‘creative force’; next to it’s active spiritual component, and finally, in the Torah’s great emphasis on sexual purity as a true path to kedusha. When properly united in the sexual act – in accordance to the halachot, and thus using the physical energies correctly for they are the physical form of the ‘spiritual energies’ – the married couple realizes its potential for great spiritual connection and ascension. Through the couple’s holy union with the kavanah (intention) of connecting to Hashem (dvekut) in a manner of ‘altruistically returning joy to Him’ in their fulfillment of the mitzvah of union and procreation, then an answer of ‘light above’ in the celestial levels is truly elicited. In Kabbalah, this is a metaphor for subject of Ohr Hozer (Returning Light) – something of great importance in the celestial dynamics of the diffusion of the Ohr Ayin Sof (Hashem’s light) throughout the Olamot (worlds), in particular as it relates to the Malchut of Olam HaAsiyah (our physical universe). Basically, the sefirot lights are diffused from above to below, and return from below to above. All of this “spiritual system” of illumination converges onto our physical world. The (positive) cycle of illumination depends on the actions and intentions of man. Without the union of the appropriate actions (the mitzvot) with correct intentions (the kavanot), the “reverberation” of spiritual energy, the part of this cycle that emanates from the Creation towards theHashem is damaged and hindered chaz v’shalom. As the Tikkun HaOlam actually depends on this “spiritual process”, it is then essential for man to ‘correct his behaviors and intentions’ in order to do his part in returning light to G-d, as this causes tikkunim to occur, elevating thus the physical and spiritual olamot. In this manner, a “partnership” is established between G-d and man, helping with the purpose of Creation: to sanctify and reveal Hashem’s glory in the inferior world, where He is naturally negated. Truly, without these desires for the “returning spiritual light” and the spiritual ascensions of the world, humanity is destined to moral degeneration and an unilluminated existence.