This is the most fundamental commandment. It means that there is a single force in the world that is above and beyond everything. This force develops us through the still, vegetative and animate levels of nature, up to the level called “speaking” or “human,” which in Hebrew is “Adam.”
Adam (“human”), which comes from “Adameh le Elyon” (“similar to the most high”), is one who understands and feels connection with the all-encompassing force of nature, the Creator.
Despite humanity’s progress in science, technology and art, the vast majority of humanity exists at the animate level. The animate level, i.e., our animal state, defines our primary consideration of self-benefit over benefiting others and nature. In other words, it is when we are encased in our inborn egoistic nature.
We can exit our egoistic nature, i.e., “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,” and rise to the human level, where we accept the influence of the higher force in reality, the Creator, or as is written in the commandment, “I am the Lord your God.”
Based on the talk “Spiritual States: The Ten Commandments” on December 26, 2019. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.
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