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Leshem Shevo V'achlama: Consciousness |
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 The 24th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Sholom Elyashiv, author of Leshem Shevo Ve’achlama (1927) Remember well the transcendental level of all reality and the elevated
stature of Adam HaRishon [the First Man] before the Fall. [Similar to human and animal life] vegetation itself as well as the act of eating was of a different nature altogether. All of these matters are completely beyond our present level of conceptualization.
This is especially true regarding the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Even in the present Soul World [also known as the "Lower Garden of Eden"] there is absolutely no physical eating at all. This is true to an even greater degree regarding the exalted and elevated stature of Adam HaRishon and the level of reality that existed at that time.
Now, although these matters recorded in the Torah are written in exact accord with their literal meaning, it is totally beyond our ability to grasp their true nature. This is due to the fact that the level of reality that existed at that time utterly and absolutely transcends our present consciousness to a degree that is inexpressibly awesome.
Yet, from that time of the Fall until now, a devolutionary collapse has taken place in which an exact ratio has been retained. It has proceeded in a completely isomorphic fashion from each subtle plane of existence to its corresponding grosser plane, which then devolved into its corresponding grosser mirror image, almost ad infinitum.
It has gone from soul to body, from body to garment, and from inner garment to outer garment, like a stamp that leaves its imprint on another stamp, which then leaves its imprint on another stamp, and so forth.
Since each level must conform to the particular stage of reality to which it belongs, it is a lower manifestation of the level that precedes it. Nevertheless, it is an exact duplicate of the level that precedes it. It is in this way that the final and most exterior manifestation of these matters [as they are written in the Torah] are literally true. And this is sufficient. (Leshem Shvo Ve'achlamah, Sefer HaDe'ah 2:4:3, p. 79 (40b))
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