Three Stages of Enlightenment - Daily Dose of Wisdom

There are three ways of life on the ladder of enlightenment:

One is life upon a wild beast. But the inner self is awake, and that innerness is joined by a great light from Above, so that eyes stay on the road, with mind, words and limbs working together to reach their destination. There are many levels to this rung, but all are within the reach of every person.

Then there is a person in whom burns a holy fire of desire for the Oneness of the Infinite Light. With this fire, he overwhelms the fire of earthly passion, until it is diminished to no more than a faint flicker. This again knows many levels, but all within the realm of the tzaddik—something not every person can reach in a single lifetime.

There is also an ultimate point: Where the fire of earthly passion becomes itself a G‑dly force. Then there will not be any more darkness, for we will have revealed how all darkness shines. This is the stage of a time to come, but it will sprout from the seeds of our struggle with darkness in the here and now.

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Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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January 20, 2012

three stages of enlightenment

Wow, thanks for explaining, that puts it all in perspective. Thank you, Nancy from Queens.

Lenny ben Nathan
richmond, va

January 19, 2012

For Lenny

Yes, the two are related, but they are opposite extremes. In the first stage, the animal remains an animal, only that it is under control.
In the final stage, the animal itself is revealed to be a G-dly beast.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman
Thornhill, On

January 19, 2012

3 stages of enlighenment/ todays daily dose

This is good but i am curious in what ways the first stage differs from the third stage?

Lenny ben Nathan
richmond, VA

January 19, 2012

Wow!!

Trully amazing and enlightening. Thanks for this great way to perceive our service of G-d.

Anonymous

January 19, 2012

Paraphrase Three Stages of Enlightenment

1) One inner self is awake and joined by G-d that with natural talent, ability, conviction to achieve the welfare. There are varied levels of outcome but all of us can do this.
2) There is a person whose earthly passion is so diminished to a faint flicker in order for G-d to shine forth. Again there are also varied levels but each still can not totally overtaken by the Holy Light in this life.
3) Ultimately in the Moshiach era all earthly passion is Holy Fire, because no more darkness. We reveal that darkness shines. This is to come. (Our struggle with darkness in the here and now is like the seed that someday we see its sprout).

Nancy Duong
Queens, NY/USA

March 8, 2009

About Three Stages Of Enlightenment

Beautiful text as always.
Thanks Rabbi

Cuauhtémoc Vite
guadalajara, méxico