We talk about having the power of choice but the more basic choice in life is whether we allow ourselves to be enticed by illusion or choose consciousness
According to the book Pirkei Kinyan Da’at (Chapters on the Acquisition of Consciousness), consciousness will eradicate evil in the world. How can such a claim be made?
Evil has no real substance to it. Of course it’s very real when we see its effects but it doesn’t give us anything. It only draws us in. Our job is to recognize that it’s negative energy, nothing more.All the work we do in this world is getting out of the clutches of illusion, of pretending reality is something it’s not.
Consciousness eradicates evil because it’s the antithesis of evil. While evil has no substance, consciousness makes everything real.
The power of consciousness binds everything we acquire to us so that it belongs to it and becomes part of who we are. Similarly consciousness bonds all aspects of life: body and spirit, mind and emotion, beliefs and actions and even concrete objects to their owner.
When giving a gift to another person there is a requirement in Jewish law to inform the recipient that you are giving him the gift. (Shabbat 10b) Rashi explains that a) by openly telling him about it you will be able to soothe his possible embarrassment and b) if he knows you are giving it to him he’ll have loving feelings towards you.
From the standpoint of consciousness both these reasons make sense. a) Why must you appease his embarrassment? His embarrassment over receiving a gift makes him to some extent not want the gift and if he doesn’t fully want it then it won’t be his. b) When you give a gift it’s always more than the gift. In essence you’re giving your love. If the will to receive is absent then the love is not being received, no love is generated in return and the gift is not so much of a gift.
“Human beings were created in the image of God. It was with abundant love that human beings were told that they were created in God’s image…” (Avot 3:18) Once you know that you have this spiritual advantage over animals – this divine image within you – then you well understand the ban against killing another human being.
Knowing about an advantage or strength or skill makes a difference. If you have a strength but don’t know you have it, it’s as if you don’t have it.
Illusion entices to evil and in the end there’s no substance to it. Consciousness implants leadership and true riches.
Throughout these chapters of the book Pirkei Kinyan Da’at it is becoming increasingly clear that consciousness is not an attribute of the mind but an all-pervasive way of being that causes a person to become whole and not fragmented. To be enticed or to be real: That is the question.
(from Pirkei Kinyan Da’at, “Purity through Consciousness”)