When a Person's Consciousness of the Divine is Small

by Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook

When a person’s consciousness of the divine is small, then the image that he has of divinity is also small.

And since it is the divine presence that makes clear to a person his infinite smallness, if his fear of heaven lacks proper awareness, then he becomes an abject scoundrel, to an extent beyond comprehension.

So how can a person attain an estimation of the divine greatness in such a way that the essential form of the glory of his spirit will not be degraded but will broaden?

That comes as a result of broadening the power of his knowledge. It comes as a result of freeing his imagination and giving free flight to his thought. It comes as a result of the knowledge of the world and life. It comes as a result of the wealth of feeling in all creation.

To this end, a person must indeed engage in all of the areas of wisdom in the world, in all teachings of life, in all the paths of the various cultures and forms of ethics and religion of every nation and tongue.

And with the greatness of the spirit, he will know how to purify them all.

Clearly, the entire foundation of his knowledge as a Jew will be built on the foundation of the Torah in its most complete breadth. He will always strive to be sure that his way will not be constricted, that his perspectives will not be suppressed and fragmented—rather, they will proceed with breadth and on a sure road.

He should not subject himself to a multiplicity of fears, which prevent his mind from its work and his spiritual powers from exercising their influence.

Instead, he should be strong. He should know the power, the good and the evil, and the supernal originality from which everything flows in a structured form, and which is in the process of gaining wholeness even as he gains his own wholeness.

Then, corresponding to the greatness of his soul, the divine light will shine upon him and his spirit will be great, and the divine supernal humility, which increases all of a person’s abilities, will fill his entire inner being. A heavenly might will strengthen him constantly, and he will do great secret things for himself and for the entire world.