In the previous post, we explored the Four Worlds and the principle of “as above, so below” — how Divine light flows from the upper spiritual realms into the lower, physical world, and how our task is to harmonize them through Yichud and Dirah B’tachtonim: making a dwelling for God in the lower world.
Evil, in Kabbalah, can be understood as the breakdown or concealment of this cosmic harmony. It is what happens when the flow of light is blocked, vessels are broken, or sparks remain trapped in darkness.
Evil as the Opposite of “As Above, So Below”
- Blocked Unification: Evil arises when the lower world does not reflect the harmony of the upper worlds.
- Disconnection from Divine Flow: When sparks remain concealed or vessels are weak, the natural alignment between higher and lower realms is disrupted.
- Absence of Light: Kabbalah teaches that evil is essentially the absence of revealed light — not an independent force opposing God, but a reflection of concealment.
“Where the harmony of the upper worlds is not mirrored below, chaos and suffering manifest.”
— paraphrased from Kabbalistic teachings, Zohar, Terumah 161b
In other words, evil is the inverse of Dirah B’tachtonim. Instead of God dwelling in the world, the light is hidden, broken, or misdirected.
The Origin of Evil
- Shevirat ha-Kelim (Shattering of the Vessels):
- When vessels could not contain Divine light, sparks fell into lower, broken realms.
- These hidden sparks create the conditions for apparent darkness, suffering, and “evil” in the world.
- Sitra Achra (“Other Side”):
- Forces of concealment and imbalance, arising from brokenness, are called the Sitra Achra.
- These forces exist not as autonomous evil, but as challenges meant to stimulate repair, awareness, and the elevation of sparks.
Human Role: Repairing the Flow
Kabbalah emphasizes that we are partners in restoring the harmony of “as above, so below.” Our work transforms evil into opportunity:
- Recognize Concealed Light
- What appears as darkness or evil is often a spark trapped in a broken vessel.
- Perform Tikkun
- Strengthen your vessels and elevate sparks through ethical behavior, conscious relationships, and acts of kindness.
- Restore Yichud
- Reconnect the lower realm with the harmony of the upper worlds by repairing and aligning your life with Divine intention.
- Create Dirah B’tachtonim
- Transform apparent evil into a dwelling for God by making the hidden sparks shine in the physical world.
Practical Insight
- Challenges are sacred: Every encounter with injustice, suffering, or limitation is a call to elevate a spark.
- Conscious action matters: Small acts of repair — in relationships, communities, or personal growth — help reverse the concealment of light.
- Evil becomes a teacher: The greater the darkness, the more profound the potential light when elevated.
✨ Closing Thought:
In Kabbalah, evil is not an independent force but the disruption of the flow between upper and lower worlds — the opposite of “as above, so below.” Every challenge, hidden spark, or moment of darkness is an invitation to restore harmony, elevate light, and participate in Dirah B’tachtonim. By transforming concealment into revelation, we help make the world a dwelling for God.
SAHAJA. 
Leave a comment