Can Shame Serve a Positive Purpose in Spiritual Growth?

In the wisdom of Kabbalah, we learn that the Creator, the upper force of love and bestowal that created and sustains reality, specifically placed shame into the system of creation because it propels people toward correction. “Correction” means a shift from our inborn egoism—the desire to enjoy for self-benefit alone—to becoming like the altruistic quality of the Creator—desiring to direct benefit outwardly to others, and ultimately, to the Creator. If we never felt shame, we would never seek such change.

When we approach spiritual advancement, then shame becomes the sharpest feeling that turns us toward the Creator most directly. When shame arises, a prayer for correction emerges. We then no longer ask for material things or personal gain, but rather for inner transformation of our very nature, so that we will no longer be ashamed of our nature.

Shame is thus not meant to break us. On the contrary, it is meant to rebuild us. It is a necessary stage of our spiritual progress that lets us spiritually ascend, directing us to bestowal and away from egoism. When we recognize that our nature is opposite to the Creator’s, we can finally begin the correction process that spiritually grows us.

The method of Kabbalah teaches us how to optimally navigate this spiritual feeling of shame, to not suppress it or escape it, but to use it in order to urge our spiritual transformation. When we no longer feel shame for our egoistic nature, we stop spiritually progressing. However, when we feel shame and reach a genuine request to correct our egoistic nature and acquire an altruistic nature like the Creator’s, then the door to an expansive, beautiful, eternal, and perfect reality opens up to us.

Based on the video “Shame – Spiritual States with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.” Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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