|
The
Arts and Sciences
Kabbalah and Psychology |
|
|||||||
|
Four
Dimensions of Faith
Part 1 Emunah: Strength, Faith, Nurturing and Creativity The force of Emunah, "faith" or "belief" plays an essential role in determining one's psychological well-being. In fact, when properly considered, it serves as a background against which all psychic striving can be understood. Just as the physical body returns to the earth from which it was formed, so too does the soul proceed toward ultimately re-uniting with the Divine source from which it was conceived. At any particular time, one's psychological state can be seen as a reflection of how that process is progressing. In the Sefer Hashorashim of the Radak, a classic work on Biblical Hebrew grammar, the root of the word emunah is described as possessing four distinct, yet inter-related, meanings:1. "Strength", as in Isaiah 25:1: 'Hashem, You are my Lord; I will exalt You, I will acknowledge Your Name; for You have wrought wonders - ancient counsels of exceeding strength'. The 'strength' referred to in this verse is meant to express God's steadfast faithfulness in carrying out His promises of old. 2. "Faith", as in Devarim 32:20: ‘children who are unpossessed of faith'. Rashi expounds upon the verse thusly: 'The effort I invested in raising them is not recognizable' - indicating that faith should be a consequence of proper nurturing. 3. "Nurturing", as in Megillat Esther 2:7: 'And behold he (Mordechai) cared for and raised Haddasah'. The role of nurturer is predicated upon the use of one's own faith as a basis for providing consistent and reliable support for another. 4. "Creativity", as in Shir HaShirim 7:2: 'the handiwork of an artist.' The quality of one's creative output can be seen as an indication of one's state of emunah. This implies the usefulness of creative activity as a tool for the rehabilitation of damaged faith.This last dimension of faith, the creative aspect deduced from the verse "the handiwork of an artist" can help us understand the connection between emunah and the achievement of health.
|
|||||||||
Improve
your life
Part 1: 
