Equanimity Behold, after a person is worthy of the
secret of deveikut (bonding with G d) one may become worthy of the secret of hishtavut
(equanimity). If a person is worthy of attaining equanimity, one may become worthy
of attaining hitbodidut (meditation). After a person is worthy of reaching the
level of meditation, one may become worthy of Divine inspiration, and then one
may become worthy of prophecy… In explanation of the secret of equanimity,
Rabbi Avner told me the following: A rabbi once came to one of the meditative
Kabbalists and requested of him to be accepted as an initiate. The Master said
to him, "Blessed are you my son to G d, for your intention is a good one.
However, tell me whether you have attained equanimity or not?" The rabbi
said to him, "Master, explain your words." The Master replied, "If
there are two persons-one of them honors you and the second insults you-are they
equal in your eyes or not?" The rabbi said to the Master, "No my master.
For I feel pleasure and satisfaction from the person who honors me, and pain from
the one who insults me. But I do not take revenge nor bear a grudge."
The Master said to the rabbi, "My son, go to peace. For until such time that
you have attained equanimity, until your soul does not feel the honor of the one
who honors you and the embarrassment of the one who insults you, your consciousness
is not ready to be attached to the supernal realm, which is a prerequisite to
meditation. So go and surrender your heart even more, a true surrendering, until
you have attained equanimity. Then you will be able to meditate."
And equanimity comes by attaching one's consciousness to G d, i.e., devekut (bonding).
For it is the attachment of a person's consciousness to G d that enables a person
to ignore the honor or the insults… |
