The Barriers of G_d

    Today I was savoring the end of a great book, "Inner Space" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan.  It is a great book for understanding the prophets and what levels of prophecy they attained and what levels of prophecy exist.  When one seeks to be more prophetic via meditation or prayer or just a natural ability to immediately be connected to G_d while carrying on everyday life, one discovers more and more about G_d.  Many, however, give up on G_d, because they have no evidence of Him.  G_d's barrier leaves no indication of Him to them.  No matter how much a person who is spiritually connected to G_d shares, these people remain blind to Him, because each person has to find his own way to G_d in G_d's time.

    Here is an excerpt from "Inner Space" that explains the purpose of this blindness:

"We know that no outside force can hold G_d back.  Thus, if a barrier does exist that can restrain G_d, it is something that He Himself created for a purpose.  We know that G_d wants us to have a separate identity and the free choice that goes along with it.  Therefore, in order to allow us to exist, He has to create barriers and hold Himself back.  It is only once we are separated from G_d  that our returning to Him can be the source of the greatest possible pleasure.  G_d wanted man to discover Him and come close to Him.  This is the real purpose of creation.  When a person discovers G_d behind all the barriers and achieves this by his own efforts, there can be no greater pleasure."

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