It's been 11 years since I've attempted Mt. Whitney. It was only my training hill for Mt. Kilimanjaro, so getting to the summit of Whitney was not the goal. The goal was to see if I got altitude sickness. When I was young, I always got headaches around 12,000 ft, so I was concerned that I might be physically fit enough to climb Kilimanjaro, but not be able to make it beyond 12,000 ft. due to altitude sickness.
During our attempt to climb Mt. Whitney my dad and I got onto the mountaineers trail by accident. Though we made it to High Camp eventually, we missed the climbing window to get to the summit and back, so we couldn't even try to summit Whitney. However, I had dragged an ice ax and crampons all the way up that mountain twice, so I was going to use them. I left my dad engrossed in a conversation with another group and headed up the snow-covered trail above High Camp as far as I could go.
Soon it became obvious that with each step my head was in more and more pain. I was suffering from cerebral edema. With this realization, I about faced and raced down the mountain passed my dad with only the mention, "I've got cerebral edema. I've got to get lower fast!" Dad grabbed our things and caught up to me at 11,000 ft where I was suddenly fine and could stop for a rest.
Due to my Whitney test, I always take Diamox now when climbing high mountains. I was successful in climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Shasta, but I hungered to be successful on Mt. Whitney, the only mountain that I've ever had to turn back on before reaching the summit.
Now I've won the lottery for climbing Mt. Whitney on June 8th. I've got three spots, so my son will be joining me. Unfortunately, my dad's heart is more delicate now, and he won't be joining us. My daughter is trying to graduate from nursing school, get her first nursing job, and plan a July wedding, so she can't take on any more challenges and join us.
Most people in the world don't realize this, but climbing a high mountain with the opposite sex is an aphrodisiac. I fell in love with the man with whom I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. The man who climbed Mt. Shasta with me fell in love with me. My absolute fantasy would be to finally find my husband that G_d has somewhere out there for me and have that man take the third spot and this time have both of us fall in love with each other while climbing Mt. Whitney and get engaged at the top! The only problem is I have to find my husband to be before April 30th when I have to claim my climbing spots!
So, if you have been reading my blog incessantly, have a college degree in science or engineering, love the snow and the beach, don't lie to yourself or others, love learning and adventure, love G_d, are totally in love with me, and want to climb Mt. Whitney with my son and me, please let me know. No guts, no glory!
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Symphony of My Frogs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xEMb7szZ0c&feature=youtu.be
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Sunday, March 15, 2015
The Five Kabbalah Universes in Detail
Today I read a little more in depth about the five universes in Kabbalah: Adam Kadmon (Will), Atzilut (Mind), Beriyah (Thought), and Asiyah (Action). G_d is Ain Sof, the One without end or limit. He was, is, and will always be. G_d's will permeates all creation and without His will nothing would exist. He has no parts. We can't comprehend G_d, so we have nothing to compare in this realm that can properly describe G_d, so when these anthropomorphic descriptions are used (i.e. hand of G_d, voice of G_d, etc.), they merely are an illusion to an action of G_d, but not factual.
So why did G_d decide to make universes? Per Kabbalah it starts with Adam Kadmon which means primordial man. This universe is closest to G_d. Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's "Inner Space": "...Adam Kadmon alludes to the ultimate purpose of creation. The term itself is an anthropomorphism meaning literally "primordial man." The Kabbalists explain this when they tell us that the very first ingredient in creation was the thought of Adam-Humanity. Though man was last in the external order of creation, the thought of man precedes creation. He is the original purpose and intention for which the entire building was constructed. The thought of man is therefore called Kadmon, primordial. The first manifestation of G_d's purpose is thus called Adam Kadmon, the primordial will that preceded all creation and hints to its ultimate goal."
The next down level from G_d is Atzilut. It's light from the Ain Sof has less intensity, since it is farther from the source, G_d, than Adam Kadmon. It is the domain of the Sefirot, the 10 basic modes of G_d's creative power: love, restraint, beauty, dominance, empathy, foundation, kingship, wisdom, understanding, and crown (man's will). The sefirot are undifferentiated in this universe, however. The sefirot are only differentiated in the lower universes. For instance when we see white light, we do not see every color which composes the white light. We can not differentiate the colors unless we convey the white light through a prism. It is then that we can see the color spectrum.
A prism in this instance is a good representation to understand the Tzimtzum---constriction---which creates the lower universes. Just as a prism conducts the light into itself and refracts it out into the color spectrum, so does the Tzimtzum conduct the light from the universe of Atzilut and refracts it into separation and independent existence in the universe of Beriyah, Creation. The Neshamah, the soul of G_d that is connected via an umbilical cord of Ruach to our Nefesh in our body, originates in this universe where we have intimate awareness of the Divine.
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, "The universe of Beriyah is also called the 'Universe of the Throne.' In general, the concept of a throne, when used with respect to G_d, indicates a sense of lowering. When a person sits down, he lowers his body. Similarly, when G_d sits [remember this is an anthropomorphism], He lowers His essence so as to be concerned with His creation....when the Bible speaks of G_d's Throne, it is speaking of the vehicle through which He expresses such concern. This vehicle is the universe of Beriyah."
The next universe down is Yetzirah, Formation. Per Rabbi Kaplan, "It is the level of Ruach and corresponds to the angelic world of spiritual forces that lies immediately beyond our physical domain. When speaking of creation of the Olamot [universes], G_d says through the prophet Isaiah, 'I form (yotzer) light and create (boreh) darkness' (Isaiah 45:7) Here again, the concept of 'creation' means 'something from nothing,' while 'formation' is 'something from something.' Darkness is a completely novel concept and has no relationship to G_d. It is therefore 'created'---'something from nothing.' Light, on the other hand, emanates from G_d's essence, and is therefore 'something from something.'
"Speech...emanates from thought---'something from something'---and is therefore on the level of Yetsirah---Formation. When Isaiah says that G_d 'forms light,' this is an exact parallel...in Genesis that 'G_d said, let there be light.'
"In no place in the account of creation, however, does it state that 'G_d said' that darkness should be created. Darkness therefore does not involve speech but only thought, which is the level of Beriyah---Creation.... 'And darkness on the face of the deep' (Genesis 1:2)."
The lowest universe is Asiyah, the final action and completion. "I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil" (Isaiah 45:7). Per Rabbi Kaplan, "It is therefore written that G_d 'creates evil,' thus equating 'evil' with 'darkness.' Similar to darkness which is the restraint and constriction of light, the possibility of evil had to be created 'something from nothing.' Before the original Tzimtzum---Constriction, there was nothing but the light of the Infinite Being. G_d's very Infinity, however, precludes the existence of anything which can receive the essence of life that He wishes to give. It was therefore necessary to 'create' something completely different and opposite from Himself. This is the concept of constriction itself, which is here called 'darkness and evil.'
"Darkness (Constriction) allows for the existence of a finite world where G_d's Presence is absolutely undetectable and both good and evil can operate freely. This in turn sets the stage for a creature far removed and opposite from G_d who can resemble Him by freely choosing 'light' over 'darkness,' 'good' over 'evil.' The very existence of evil, in fact, is solely in order to be transformed by man in the act of choosing good. Through his struggle man attains Shalom-Peace and unifies himself and the creation with G_d.
"Another verse in the book of Isaiah refers to all five universes and provides us with a key to the entire Kabbalistic view of the universe. G_d says, 'All was called [into existence] for My Name's sake. For My Glory I have created it, I have formed it and I have also completed it' (Isaiah 43:7). This verse again emphasizes the fact that the process of creation is initiated at the highest level of G_d's Purpose and culminates in the final realization of that Purpose in the physical world." The parallels are: My Name's [Adam Kadmon], My Glory [Atzilut], created [Beriyah], formed [Yetzirah], and completed [Asiyah].
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
So why did G_d decide to make universes? Per Kabbalah it starts with Adam Kadmon which means primordial man. This universe is closest to G_d. Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's "Inner Space": "...Adam Kadmon alludes to the ultimate purpose of creation. The term itself is an anthropomorphism meaning literally "primordial man." The Kabbalists explain this when they tell us that the very first ingredient in creation was the thought of Adam-Humanity. Though man was last in the external order of creation, the thought of man precedes creation. He is the original purpose and intention for which the entire building was constructed. The thought of man is therefore called Kadmon, primordial. The first manifestation of G_d's purpose is thus called Adam Kadmon, the primordial will that preceded all creation and hints to its ultimate goal."
The next down level from G_d is Atzilut. It's light from the Ain Sof has less intensity, since it is farther from the source, G_d, than Adam Kadmon. It is the domain of the Sefirot, the 10 basic modes of G_d's creative power: love, restraint, beauty, dominance, empathy, foundation, kingship, wisdom, understanding, and crown (man's will). The sefirot are undifferentiated in this universe, however. The sefirot are only differentiated in the lower universes. For instance when we see white light, we do not see every color which composes the white light. We can not differentiate the colors unless we convey the white light through a prism. It is then that we can see the color spectrum.
A prism in this instance is a good representation to understand the Tzimtzum---constriction---which creates the lower universes. Just as a prism conducts the light into itself and refracts it out into the color spectrum, so does the Tzimtzum conduct the light from the universe of Atzilut and refracts it into separation and independent existence in the universe of Beriyah, Creation. The Neshamah, the soul of G_d that is connected via an umbilical cord of Ruach to our Nefesh in our body, originates in this universe where we have intimate awareness of the Divine.
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, "The universe of Beriyah is also called the 'Universe of the Throne.' In general, the concept of a throne, when used with respect to G_d, indicates a sense of lowering. When a person sits down, he lowers his body. Similarly, when G_d sits [remember this is an anthropomorphism], He lowers His essence so as to be concerned with His creation....when the Bible speaks of G_d's Throne, it is speaking of the vehicle through which He expresses such concern. This vehicle is the universe of Beriyah."
The next universe down is Yetzirah, Formation. Per Rabbi Kaplan, "It is the level of Ruach and corresponds to the angelic world of spiritual forces that lies immediately beyond our physical domain. When speaking of creation of the Olamot [universes], G_d says through the prophet Isaiah, 'I form (yotzer) light and create (boreh) darkness' (Isaiah 45:7) Here again, the concept of 'creation' means 'something from nothing,' while 'formation' is 'something from something.' Darkness is a completely novel concept and has no relationship to G_d. It is therefore 'created'---'something from nothing.' Light, on the other hand, emanates from G_d's essence, and is therefore 'something from something.'
"Speech...emanates from thought---'something from something'---and is therefore on the level of Yetsirah---Formation. When Isaiah says that G_d 'forms light,' this is an exact parallel...in Genesis that 'G_d said, let there be light.'
"In no place in the account of creation, however, does it state that 'G_d said' that darkness should be created. Darkness therefore does not involve speech but only thought, which is the level of Beriyah---Creation.... 'And darkness on the face of the deep' (Genesis 1:2)."
The lowest universe is Asiyah, the final action and completion. "I form light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil" (Isaiah 45:7). Per Rabbi Kaplan, "It is therefore written that G_d 'creates evil,' thus equating 'evil' with 'darkness.' Similar to darkness which is the restraint and constriction of light, the possibility of evil had to be created 'something from nothing.' Before the original Tzimtzum---Constriction, there was nothing but the light of the Infinite Being. G_d's very Infinity, however, precludes the existence of anything which can receive the essence of life that He wishes to give. It was therefore necessary to 'create' something completely different and opposite from Himself. This is the concept of constriction itself, which is here called 'darkness and evil.'
"Darkness (Constriction) allows for the existence of a finite world where G_d's Presence is absolutely undetectable and both good and evil can operate freely. This in turn sets the stage for a creature far removed and opposite from G_d who can resemble Him by freely choosing 'light' over 'darkness,' 'good' over 'evil.' The very existence of evil, in fact, is solely in order to be transformed by man in the act of choosing good. Through his struggle man attains Shalom-Peace and unifies himself and the creation with G_d.
"Another verse in the book of Isaiah refers to all five universes and provides us with a key to the entire Kabbalistic view of the universe. G_d says, 'All was called [into existence] for My Name's sake. For My Glory I have created it, I have formed it and I have also completed it' (Isaiah 43:7). This verse again emphasizes the fact that the process of creation is initiated at the highest level of G_d's Purpose and culminates in the final realization of that Purpose in the physical world." The parallels are: My Name's [Adam Kadmon], My Glory [Atzilut], created [Beriyah], formed [Yetzirah], and completed [Asiyah].
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
The Universes of Kabbalah in Relation to Humans
In Kabbalah there are 5 universes which constitute a descending order of revelation. G_d becomes more concealed at every descending level. The levels are: Adam Kadman (Will), Atzilut (Mind), Beriyah (Thought), Yetzirah (Speech), and Asiyah (Action).
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's "Inner Space": "It is this concealment that allows for the possibility of a finite continuum of distinct and separate worlds to exist. In this sense, all the universes were created as vehicles through which we may draw close to G_d. They act as filters, allowing us to draw near and still not be obliterated by His Infinite Light.
"To illustrate this, imagine an architect planning a large building complex. First he decides what kind of buildings will fit his needs, He draws up a basic blueprint and contemplates how each building will best fulfill its function in relation to all the rest. He then gives orders to his workers and begins construction.
"In this analogy, the level of Adam Kadmon is represented by the decision of the architect who has to know what he wants to build before he starts planning. Atzilut would then parallel the comprehensive plan and design of the project. At this point, a complete idea has taken form which can be represented by drawing abstract technical symbols on paper. The architect is still very far, however, from the finished product. These two stages therefore can be said to take place 'in his office,' before he begins the actual construction. What is needed now is to translate these all-inclusive symbols into the details of physical reality.
"At the building site itself, the architect's job will involve thinking (Beriyah) how to implement the general plan, speech (Yetzirah), where he is transmitting instructions to his workers, and action (Asiyah), where things get done and the architect's entire purpose is finally realized."
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Per Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's "Inner Space": "It is this concealment that allows for the possibility of a finite continuum of distinct and separate worlds to exist. In this sense, all the universes were created as vehicles through which we may draw close to G_d. They act as filters, allowing us to draw near and still not be obliterated by His Infinite Light.
"To illustrate this, imagine an architect planning a large building complex. First he decides what kind of buildings will fit his needs, He draws up a basic blueprint and contemplates how each building will best fulfill its function in relation to all the rest. He then gives orders to his workers and begins construction.
"In this analogy, the level of Adam Kadmon is represented by the decision of the architect who has to know what he wants to build before he starts planning. Atzilut would then parallel the comprehensive plan and design of the project. At this point, a complete idea has taken form which can be represented by drawing abstract technical symbols on paper. The architect is still very far, however, from the finished product. These two stages therefore can be said to take place 'in his office,' before he begins the actual construction. What is needed now is to translate these all-inclusive symbols into the details of physical reality.
"At the building site itself, the architect's job will involve thinking (Beriyah) how to implement the general plan, speech (Yetzirah), where he is transmitting instructions to his workers, and action (Asiyah), where things get done and the architect's entire purpose is finally realized."
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
When You Have Too Much To Do
Because the world needs laughs I'm going to share what I told my daughter about letting some less important things go when you have too much to do and have to reduce the stress. I told her to definitely let the routine cleaning go, "You know when it's time to clean your house. When I saw a glob of black cat hair hopping across my kitchen floor, because a frog was stuck in it, I decided that it was time to clean the house!" lol I did rescue the poor frog, pet it, and put it outside with all its friends minus the cat hair.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Earning and Receiving Good
This week I started back at the beginning of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan's, "Inner Space." This is a very difficult book to comprehend, so I'm reading it again. What struck me this week was a section about free will:
"There are therefore two basic concepts which comprise human existence. First, man must earn the good that G_d has prepared. Secondly, he must receive this good.
"There is, however, a basic difference in environment required to actualize these two concepts.
"For earning his own perfection and closeness to the Divine, the maximum possible challenge is required. This in turn will result in the greatest possible pleasure of accomplishment. Such an environment must therefore be one where neither G_d Himself nor the divine nature of our deeds is obvious. It must be a world where G_d is hidden, and where good can only be accomplished with great difficulty.
"The place where man receives good, on the other hand, must be the exact opposite. In order for man to enjoy the maximum possible pleasure from the good he has done, the true nature of his deeds must be as obvious as possible. The existence of G_d must also be as apparent as possible in such a world. It must be an environment where man realizes the goodness of his deeds and their relationship to G_d.
"It is for this reason that G_d created two levels of existence. First there is this world----Olam HaZeh---a place of accomplishment and maximum challenge. Secondly there is the World to Come----Olam HaBa---the world of ultimate reward, where both G_d's existence and the nature of one's deeds are totally apparent."
So if you've ever wondered why the closer that you get to G_d, the more struggles and difficult choices you have to make, it's for a reason. Your innate goodness is being honed to focus on the goodness and not the evil that resides in all of us. Have you ever done something that you knew to be G_d's work here for others and felt G_d's presence and the total joy of that? Now the goal is to use your free will to choose the right action and thought with every challenge. The more honed at making good choices and taking good actions, the more good we will receive in Olam HaBa.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
"There are therefore two basic concepts which comprise human existence. First, man must earn the good that G_d has prepared. Secondly, he must receive this good.
"There is, however, a basic difference in environment required to actualize these two concepts.
"For earning his own perfection and closeness to the Divine, the maximum possible challenge is required. This in turn will result in the greatest possible pleasure of accomplishment. Such an environment must therefore be one where neither G_d Himself nor the divine nature of our deeds is obvious. It must be a world where G_d is hidden, and where good can only be accomplished with great difficulty.
"The place where man receives good, on the other hand, must be the exact opposite. In order for man to enjoy the maximum possible pleasure from the good he has done, the true nature of his deeds must be as obvious as possible. The existence of G_d must also be as apparent as possible in such a world. It must be an environment where man realizes the goodness of his deeds and their relationship to G_d.
"It is for this reason that G_d created two levels of existence. First there is this world----Olam HaZeh---a place of accomplishment and maximum challenge. Secondly there is the World to Come----Olam HaBa---the world of ultimate reward, where both G_d's existence and the nature of one's deeds are totally apparent."
So if you've ever wondered why the closer that you get to G_d, the more struggles and difficult choices you have to make, it's for a reason. Your innate goodness is being honed to focus on the goodness and not the evil that resides in all of us. Have you ever done something that you knew to be G_d's work here for others and felt G_d's presence and the total joy of that? Now the goal is to use your free will to choose the right action and thought with every challenge. The more honed at making good choices and taking good actions, the more good we will receive in Olam HaBa.
P.S. To my blog readers: If you want to support a struggling math/engineering teacher and author, please buy my first book, "The Romance of Kilimanjaro," soon to be followed by my second book at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613464960 Thank You!
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