"The Way of G-d"

Part 1: "The Fundamental Principles of Reality"

Ch. 5: "The Spiritual Realm"

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Ramchal points out that while we're aware of the properties and laws of physical phenomena, we're nonetheless not at all aware of the properties and laws of spiritual phenomena. There are a couple of points to made about that.

First, that we in modernity are privileged to know more and more about the properties and laws of the physical realm each and every day-- right down to the genetic nub. Nonetheless it’s imperative for us to realize that we'll *never* be able to examine and portray the properties and laws of the spiritual realm, too. Since matters of the spirit are simply not accessible to the senses or their extensions no matter how subtle, as we said last time. Expecting to be able to examine and portray spiritual phenomena would be like expecting to catch sight of an *idea* under a microscope.

The other point is that there is, nonetheless, a body of data about spiritual phenomena that we *can* cull from-- the data offered from revelation and tradition. For while spiritual phenomena can't be seen, touched, heard, etc. they *can* be "known" and "experienced" on a non-material level by prophets and other holy individuals. And the "data" gathered thereby can then be passed on to others.

So among the things handed down to us is the following phenomenon. Behind each and every entity (single thing) and occurrence (interaction between things) in the world stands a "transcendent force". We mentioned transcendent forces last week and cited them as being one of two classes of spiritual entities in the world (the other being "souls") and left its explanation to now.

As we began to indicate above, transcendent forces are the sublime and ethereal counterparts of every single entity and interaction on earth. They’re thus sort of the non-material germ and kernel of, and concept and notion behind everything we experience in this world.

Thus every entity and occurrence in this world is an "offshoot" of a transcendent force (or a combination of two or more) and is linked on a vital, mystical level to it. And each linking has properties and laws of its own.

We’re also taught that every entity and occurrence is under the charge of an "angel". As we said last time, angels are immaterial, celestial agents of change (rather than the sort of "fairies" or the like they're taken to be). But they also serve as agents of upkeep. Since they have the responsibility of maintaining each and every physical entity and occurrence. Hence, angels play a vital role in the aforementioned "link" between the transcendent forces and the actual physical phenomena that result from them.

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