| Since this world is the corridor to
the next, and our experience in the next world is dependent on
our spiritual growth in this world, then it's clear that the purpose
of life is only achieved through meaningful personal change. If
we hide from, shirk, ignore, or pass by the challenges that life
offers, we are doing ourselves the most serious disservice of
all. We need growth. The mystically inclined are more attuned
to the reality of the next world and, therefore, our purpose here.
The effect of this has been that they have traditionally taken
a keener interest in personal reflection, contemplation, and change.
You can affect your own changes. If a person will do the work
on him/herself, there is less need for challenges to be brought
on a person from above.
An example of this is the beginning of the book of Job. God indicates
to the prosecuting angel that Job is a very righteous person.
The angel replies that his righteousness is due to the many blessings
God has bestowed upon him. Give him pain and suffering and his
righteousness will cease. The angel is pointing out that Job's
personality has not been challenged with suffering. Therefore
he is tested in order for him to have the chance to reach a higher
level of righteousness. Had Job challenged himself and worked
on raising his connection with God above and beyond appreciation
for his blessings, he wouldn't have needed to be tested. We can
attempt to elevate ourselves, or we can have circumstances thrust
upon us from the spiritual realm that elevate us through challenge.
Either way is for our benefit.
Not all challenges are the pain and suffering of Job, of course.
They can be any moral dilemma, minor annoyance, or crossroads
you face. Most of the points of growth we have are all in the
same range of moral choices and therefore do not affect us in
a significant way. Once in a while we face a major dilemma that
causes us to tap into a much deeper part of ourselves. At that
time you may feel like the movie caricature with a devil on one
shoulder and an angel on the other each trying to convince you
which way to go. It is that type of experience that changes the
direction of your life and brings about a very different set of
consequences from the spiritual realm. The spiritual responds
to the physical and sets up new and different challenges and lessons
based on your decision. (Lessons are sent to us to indicate the
direction we need to grow in.) Somewhat separate from all the
many challenges we face is a specific challenge that is our main
test in life. This major test affects us and humanity in a defined
way, which was constructed by God. This is known as a "tikkun."
Litaken in Hebrew means "to fix." Your tikkun is that
one spiritual blemish that you are created with, that represents
your particular contribution to the tikkun of all mankind. We
are not necessarily meant to know what that tikkun is. You may,
however, be in touch with yourself enough to get a general idea.
They say the prophets could tell you what your individual tikkun
was. A famous kabbalist from the seventeenth century called the
Ari HaKodesh was known to have been able to do this. There may
even be kabbalists alive today who claim to have this ability.
There's a reason why God does or does not let us know our personal
test.
The most important thing to realize is the following. With the
idea of a major challenge or tikkun in mind, it's easier to see
how what may appear to you as the biggest problem of your life,
may in fact be your greatest spiritual benefit. It may be affecting
and fulfilling your most important tikkun. The calmness that this
perspective will give you will also give you a much greater chance
of passing that test.
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