An axiom present in Kabbalistic thought is that every physical entity is a result of a spiritual entity. I.E. A table is physical, you can touch it with your hands, see it with your eyes. A tables function is to hold things which sit upon it. That concept of being a receptacle for items to sit upon it is a spiritual concept. It cant be touched, it isn't limited to a certain space or even a certain manifestation. That concept expresses itself in a cup, your brain and so on and so forth. This article is an attempt to explain the spiritual DNA of the birth of twitter.
Isolation breeds arrogance, connectedness breeds humility. When we live in our own little bubble, oblivious to all that occurs around us, we develop a perception that all that occurs in our own little space is all that matters. Conversely when we open ourselves up to the world, connecting with people around us, we develop a realization that we are merely but a piece of the larger puzzle. In our own little bubble we view ourselves as the puzzle, we are it and there is nothing else. Outside of our little bubble we realize we are merely a pixel of a much larger picture.
A scientist in Zimbabwe is a well respected member in his community. A productive individual, advancing academia in a country devoid of it. Isolated from the scientific community at large will breed arrogance in this Zimbabwian scientist. Were he to connect with contemporaries in other places in the world he would realize that he is only but a small piece, a tiny and perhaps insignificant piece in the world of science. Were he to visit the hallowed halls of institutions such as MIT, Technion, etc... he would realize that he has a long way to go. Isolated, his arrogance will grow. Connected, his humility.
The world is, by its very nature and creation, isolated. Geographical distances, languages, and cultural difference all act as barriers separating people from each other, events, and places. These barriers are built into the very world which we live in. The world appears to be a bunch of disparate pieces unconnected to each other. There seems to be no way out -- or is there? We seemed destined for this fragmented reality -- or not?
Kabbalah explains that there are two ways of perceiving the world. Our perspective and G-ds perspective. We perceive the world as a true reality, whilst G-dliness is an abstract reality. G-d perceives G-dliness as the true reality, whilst the world is an abstract reality. (This needs to be reworded) We perceive the world as it is severed from its source. G-d perceives the world as it is merely an extension from its source. Our perception of the world breeds fragmentation and isolation. G-ds perspective of the world breeds harmony and unity.
There are two ways of perceiving a janitors role in an international, billion dollar company. The janitors perspective and the CEO's perspective. The janitor perceives taking out the trash, washing the dishes, cleaning the toilets as the true reality, whilst the companies global vision and mission is an abstract reality. The CEO perceives the companies' global vision as the true reality and the janitors job as a cog in the wheel of the companies' goals. The janitor views his job as it is an isolated fragment of the company. The CEO understands how important the janitors job is to the company. The janitors perspective breeds fragmentation and isolation. The CEO's perspective breeds harmony and unity. The CEO sees and understand how each role in the company complements and fill an important role in accomplishing the goals of the company.
The purpose of creation is to create harmony in the world. To create a world where each and every creation sings in tandem with the next. Where each creation realizes the purpose for which it was created and sees how the next creation adds that which it cant. Where each instrument plays its own song whilst being respectful and cognizant of the instruments around it allowing them to play theirs.
Harmony is able to occur when each person/thing is able to reach beyond themselves and peer into a larger vision, a global picture. When we rise above the constraints of our own ego and tune into something greater than ourselves. As long as we are engrossed in our own little world we are incapable of giving space for someone/thing else. When we tap into G-ds vision than can we be at peace with ourselves and our surroundings. When we tap into the CEO's vision we can understand our role and the roles of those arround us.
Kabbalah explains that during the times of Moshiach we will all be in tune with our global mission. We wont see ourselves as isolated beings, but rather as one organism. All of creation working side by side, hand in hand, complementing each others vices and accentuating each others virtues. It will be a time when each of us will be able to peer beyond our self absorbed egos. We will be in sync, drumming to the same beat.
Disclaimer: The following is my own opinion, feel free to disagree.
I believe that as we are getting closer to the times of Moshiach, the technology developed is in sync with the very ideas which the era of Moshiach will usher in. Technology enables us to bridge the barriers which naturally divide us. Although technologies such as the radio, TV, airplanes shrunk the barriers which naturally divide us, they still were a buffer between what really occurs and those listening and watching events. The people are still isolated from each other, in the dark as per what is really happening. (Thats why I get questions from people asking me how I could live in such a crime ridden place as South Africa. They aren't really in sync with what is happening. They only get the news broadcasts. The news broadcasts news that sells.)
Twitter changes everything. Twitter shatters all of the remaining barriers. No longer is there a buffer, no longer is there a static signal which shades and 'pollutes' the news that gets transmitted. Twitter brings people together, it unites people. Whilst following the tragedy in Mumbai I wasnt in South Africa, I was in Mumbai. I was connected to a place 4294 miles away from my own physical location. I was connected, not isolated. Twitter connects. Twitter breaks down any possibility of isolation. We are now connected. Twitter is real time, real place, and real people.
Twitter is here because Moshiach is near.
I thank you for reading this long piece. I await and appreciate your thoughts and comments. They mean a lot to me.
Yours truly,
R' Aron Grinshtein
