I've re-read the three chapters. I understand -- at least at a superficial level -- what is being said.

>>...when I get to the question of "so what does that imply?"
>
>Think about it; if everything - everything! - comes into existence every
>moment, and it is all a manifestation of G-dliness, what does that imply?

I end up with more questions than answers. Since everything is a manifestation of G-dliness then anything we think, say or do is likewise. If everything is a manifestation of G-dliness, and we accept that there is no deficiency in G-d, then everything that happens or exists, whether we perceive it as bad or good must be good and perfect. Is that correct?

Yet, if I eat a ham and cheese sandwich, G-d creates it, and me, and my inclination to eat it, and give me the opportunity, etc. etc. It is contrary to Torah, and therefore His Will, and yet since all of it is still in existence, does He cause creation against His Will? If so, is that which is against His Will still good and perfect? Is it more good or perfect when I don't eat the treif sandwich? (but if it is a perfect creation, then "more perfect" is non-sensical) I remember that Tanya describes this as a sort of over-the-shoulder backside creation...

Yet, that did seem to suggest to me that there were degrees of goodness or degrees of G-dly Will involved with Creation, and that is hard to understand in light of other statements on the absolute and simple Unity of G-d.

Tanya discusses the permutations, combinations and numeric equivalents in the process of creation. Yet these too are created by G-d. And is it true that they exist within G-d? But only from our perspective and not from G-d's?

If I say that good is G-d, and evil/bad is a concealment of G-d, then from G-d's perspective everything is necessarily good, because G-d cannot be concealed from Himself. So evil from that perspective can only apply to its concealment from our perspective. If G-d creates evil, it must exist, but only from our perspective is there a contradiction between good and evil.

And this raises a much larger question: What is it exactly that we are revealing when we "reveal G-dliness?"

BTW, This seems to get back to what reality is. You've often challenged me on how I comprehended it, but not, that I've compehended anyway, explained what it is. Is it an appropriate question at this juncture?

Enough to start with?

Thanks,
-Shoshana

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