Refilling the Void
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It all began with an infinite light
that filled all and left no room for a world to be.
Then that light was withheld
so the world might be created in the resulting void.
Then the world was created,
with the purpose of returning to that original state of light
-- yet to remain a world.
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Doc, if it were my thoughts, chuck out whatever you don't like. But with the teachings of the Ari, it's a matter of trying to understand what he meant.
The Ari taught that creation began with the withdrawal of light. Some misunderstood him to mean that G-d withdrew Himself from that space. As Rabbi Schneur Zalman points out, this is nonsensical. Rather, it was only the light--the external presence of G-d--and even then, only at an external level--that was withdrawn. G-d, the source of all light, remains in all places at all times.
This is why I was careful not to capitalize the words "infinite light" in this meditation.
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Great description! Thanks for sharing!
Regards.
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Sorry, but I respectfully differ, as there was no void, and never will be, "for G-d is everywhere, and surrounds everything, and there is no place that He is not." Like the rays of sun, from HIs perspective they are still one with the source, and nothing has changed. It is within Himself that G-d created vessels that contain levels of energy, and worlds upon worlds. There cannot be a void, because that would G-d forbid suggest that there is someplace separate from G-d which cannot be.
In regards to a primordial infinite light, there is no light while the light is within the sun. Before the light, G-d was, is, and has not changed. Things and light only exist from our perspective, for from his perspective all is one, and Him.
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