Close your eyes for a moment and draw a painting of a tree in your mind.
Every detail ? the fruit growing on the tree, the trunk, the branches, the children playing under it ? is an expression of you. Because you are the sole creator of that tree.
It's all united by a single common thread: You.
Open your eyes and what happens to the tree? It's gone. The tree exists only as long as you will it to be. Not only are you its creator, you're its sustainer as well. Without you, there is no tree.
The Sustainer
This helps us understand God's relationship to His creation. God is the sole Creator of the universe. But unlike a carpenter who finishes building a table, God couldn't create the world and then just walk away. God's act of creation is completely different since God is Infinite. Infinite means no boundaries. Therefore nothing can exist independently from God, since anything independent would draw a line between itself and God, rendering God finite.
God couldn't create the world and then just walk away.
By definition, God is continuously creating and sustaining the universe. Just as a shining light is in constant need of electricity, nothing can exist without His constant will generating it. Cut the current, the light immediately ceases.
Every molecule in the universe stems from one single, pervasive, infinite source. Just as every brushstroke of a Picasso has his signature on it, everything in creation is an expression of the higher, infinite dimension.
The Author of Existence
Kurt Vonnegut's novel, "Breakfast of Champions," brings home the startling power of a creator and sustainer. In one scene, the main character, Kilgor Trout, is having a drink in a bar, minding his own business. Suddenly, he feels an awesome presence is about to enter the bar. He begins to sweat.
Who walks in?
Kurt Vonnegut. When the author of the book steps into the novel to visit his character, Kilgor's perception of the world is changed forever. He realizes that he does not exist independently. Rather, every moment of life requires a new stroke of the author's pen. Without the author, he ceases to exist.
Kilgore realizes there is another dimension beyond his own. He grasps that this higher dimension ? the realm of Kurt Vonnegut ? is more real than the world of the novel.
Imagine if Kilgore could reach out of the pages of the book and touch his author? If he could move beyond his lower dimension and enter a higher dimension that is more real than his own?
It would be a mind-blowing, literally transcendental experience.
He would recognize that his entire universe is an expression of Kurt Vonnegut. For that moment, Kilgore would peel back the layer of his fictional universe ? and reveal the root of all reality.
Without a new act of creation every instant, nothing could exist.
The metaphor is clear. Our finite world is all an expression of God's oneness. Without a new act of creation every instant, nothing could exist. The only true, real existence is the Infinite.
Whenever we peel back the outer layer of this world and get a glimpse of the higher Infinite dimension, we have a moment of awe-filled transcendence. We lift beyond our finite limitations and touch eternity. Perfection itself.
Spirituality: A Glimpse of the Infinite
There are moments in everyone's life that burst with the discovery of the Infinite, where we see God's fingerprints on the universe. Even the most common spiritual experiences can be an encounter with an aspect of God's oneness as it intersects the finite world.
Every moment carries the potential to reach beyond this fleeting dimension and to connect with a reservoir of spirituality, the infinite source of existence. Just take a look at your own spiritual experiences and articulate the underlying elements that generate its power.
Within nature we are struck by the quiet harmony of a smoldering sunset. We shiver from the absolute power of Niagara Falls. We gape in awe at a mighty tornado plucking trees, or a raging thunderstorm ripping open the sky. We sense the vastness of eternity when gazing at the endless expanse of stars at night, or viewing the majestic grandeur of the Grand Canyon.
When we cradle a tiny infant in our arms, we encounter the exquisite wonder of creation, the sheer miracle of existence. We transcend time when we touch the ancient stones of the Western Wall. And we feel the unity between people when connecting deeply with others, as we let our boundaries slip away.
Aspects of God
Our moments of spirituality are encounters with:
- Unity
- Perfection
- Eternity
- Oneness
- Absolute Power
- Truth
These are all aspects of God, the Infinite source of creation. When we cut through our finite, transient realm and connect to a higher source, we experience our greatest moments of spiritual pleasure. These moments are powerful because we grasp aspects of the infinite dimension within this world, and transcend.
These awesome moments lift us above the pettiness of the world. For that one moment, the aches and pains of life just don't matter. We're connected to something far greater and far more pleasurable. This puts everything into perspective. And the sensation is humbling.
Children walk around in this constant state of eyes-wide-open wonder. Everything is fresh. A walk around the block with my two-year-old son can be like going on a safari. "Look! A bird!! And check out these ants!"
Have we become jaded to the pervasive wonders of God's world?
To increase the dosage of awe and joy in daily life, transform the mundane into something more spiritual. Open your eyes and see God's ever-present fingerprints.
(17) Anonymous, November 1, 2016 9:52 PM
Really a very beautiful and truthful article.
(16) Fay, October 6, 2016 1:57 AM
On the list of Aspects of God: Unity, Perfection, Eternity, Oneness, Absolute Power, Truth. I wonder why "Love" isn't on the list? Doesn't it belong there?
(15) Oli, December 28, 2007 9:10 PM
Very inspiring article
I feel refreshed and happy. Sometimes just words about God rejuvenate us. I was looking for the topic on the aspects of God in our existance - and have found more than I expected. Thank you for joy of reading your inspiring article.
(14) Lera Miller, July 6, 2007 9:52 AM
receive a blessing,with love.
I enjoyed reading this and am blessed, as I am with most of you articles.thank you.
(13) edward frostick, April 28, 2007 8:24 AM
well worth reading
this is the sort of writing that can change someone.
(12) AKUBUEZE, April 20, 2007 6:30 AM
I love this article
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
(11) Virgil, April 16, 2007 10:02 PM
"Creation' is amazing undere Heaven.
Every time I read about spirituality I sigh and feel thirsty for more dews from heaven.It's amazing to hear and read how G-d's creation expres His awesome Power,Wisdom and Love. Sometimes I say in my heart "Who can know G-D!`G-d speaks to His creation and sometimes we cannot translate His powerful words and keep silent.Keep up the good work.
(10) Yocheved, April 16, 2007 5:17 PM
awesome
this was truly an awsome article i really enjoyed it! thank you so much!
(9) Andy, April 16, 2007 10:40 AM
To Dale and others interested in Vonnegut and Judaism
Dale is I believe correct in stating that Vonnegut's view is in contrast to Orthodox Judaism's. While many Jews, Christians and Moslems do not take it literally I believe that according to the Torah, Koran and Christian bible God did reveal himself at Sinai."stopped by the bar and had a drink with us" Aish and other Orthodox outreach groups attempt to bring conclusive evidence confirming that this did indeed occur.
(8) dale, April 16, 2007 3:33 AM
guess old kurt is finding out if god has a sense of humor...
this article is particularly timely since vonnegut died last week. and it is very beautifully written and pretty convincing.
but i think it totally misses vonnegut's point. ole kurt seemed to be saying that if god really existed and wanted you to believe in him, he'd drop by the bar and have a drink with you. after all, he'd be infinite and timeless, so he'd have the space and time, and he'd be pretty convincing in person. it's having to take him on faith that always hangs me up.
i guess if there is a god, kurt would be finding out if he has a sense of humor about now.
so it goes.
that's what vonnegut used to write whenever he wanted to make a point about the absurdity of it all, and just how unlikely it is that there is an author to this novel we call life.
but of course, that's just my opinion.
(7) Rahel, April 15, 2007 11:32 AM
So beautiful... thank you. The introduction is powerful. i'm going to share the article. I always feel I have encounters w/ Gd when I am surrounded by His chracter traits...rachum v'chanun, etc
(6) Ruth Housman, April 15, 2007 8:24 AM
transcendance
I found this so beautiful I am going to print this out and put this in my Diary next to a letter to a good friend about the spiritual significance of the Hebrew letter, Hay.
The perception of awe and that it is all God is so deep and so beautifully and sensitively expressed by Rabbi Coopersmith there is nothing to add.
Poetry is prayer (Thomas More)
and prays is to praise.
To grasp this is to grasp eternity and to realize that this symphony has a conductor.
Thank You
Ruth
(5) allen herbert kurtz, March 16, 2007 10:03 AM
the oneness of everything ties everything together as one
I was basically brought up Jewish. Had the Bar Mitzvah. I've practised the religion before in the past, but work interferes now. I was very excited to have found this article. I now know there are others who think the same way. Thanks very much.
(4) Joseph, December 30, 2002 12:00 AM
Shalom and todaravah !
very nice.
all the best.
(3) Jessica Cohen, July 2, 2000 12:00 AM
I think this was so interesting, I always wonder about different things about G-d, but this really made me think about what they said, and how much sense it makes! And it's pretty deep for a 15 year old, but thats ok
(2) Glen Priddy, April 24, 2000 12:00 AM
Fantistic.
Rabbi, Your essay has within it the power to raise one to that higher plane that makes life worth while. I am not only thankful but grateful for such thoughts.
(1) Nelly Pablovsky, March 22, 2000 12:00 AM
Excellent!
Would you please expand on transcendence? I need it as my USA surroundings are extremely materialistic. Thank you so much!