points on the curve

 Re: POST Re: POST
here's a concept i've been working with and I feel the easiest way to explain it is via martial arts analogy: 

In martial arts they teach you excersizes called katas, and you practice these katas until you are reasonably profficient at one, and then they teach you the next kata. Ultimately the goal is not that you necesarily memorize the katas themselves, the goal is that your mind/body will at some point integrate the various katas into an overall scheme of motion, a fundamental understanding of physical interaction, a new awareness of your body. When you reach these plateaus, this is the actual martial art which you are accquiring.. 

Basically, the katas are points that your teacher draws for you. When you start to see enough of the points at the same time, you can begin to get a sense of the curve. When you intimately understand the curve(which contains all these points and an infinite number of additional points), you can flow along it, never having to make use of any specific move you practiced or that you were taught. you can invent new moves that fit along the curve without having to think about them. you 'understand' or even moreso, you 'know' the curve, the martial art.

Now, this metaphor is true for all forms of learning. One cannot teach the curve, one can only teach the points, the teacher can only hope that the student will be able to put the points together and glimpse the curve. This is undoubtedly Torah as well. 

This is what is meant in part by the fact that there is some Torah which you are not permitted to teach even to a single student. It is not only that it is not permitted, but rather that any points you might try to offer a student regarding these highly complicated curves would only throw the student off the track.

Now beyond Kabbalah, and beyond less esoteric levels of Torah, there is a singular, supernal curve. A level of enlightenment in which one perceives the will of HaShem and the flow of events. An overall image or knowledge of how and why things are as they are. Every level of Torah and every exclamation of Torah serve as points along this singular curve, and so all elements and levels of Torah are addressing the very same concepts and points. 

Now, exactly what levels of such a perception are attainable and what are beyond our means is a very pertinent question but it has been addressed repeatedly, even by Moshe in direct discussion with HaShem. It is clear that one can never see this curve or know this curve with perfect clarity.. the question is, can we teach ourselves to see some of it at least..? can we see how every part of torah is related to every other part? 

this is the part or aspect of Torah that captures my attention, and occupies my time.

Sun Dec 31, 2000 9:18 am