reply to post by ThirdEyeofHorus
You asked me earlier about water and my response about not praying to water, and you may not have caught it.
Heres an elaborated response.
If for instance someone hits a homerun, im not going to thank the bat for hitting a homerun. I thank the man who is holding the bat. It was his
strength, precision and timing which hit that ball over the wall. The bat was merely the tool. Now, on an infinitely greater scale, G-d has decreed a
magnificent purpose and meaning behind the creation of water. It is G-d, the unknowable and indivisable source of all which decides to manifest
himself through this water, but the water - the image - is but a body for the infinite. It would be improper to ignore the eternal source, which is
ABOVE And BEYOND the physical, to thank the water, which in effect would be disregarding the infinite.
This question can be thought of theologically which kabbalah does through its explanation of the "chaining down of the worlds" or Seder Hitalsheluth
in Hebrew.
Im not trying to insult you or your beliefs, but just trying to expres my own frustration towards why one would pray towards water, while ignoring the
existence of the eternal - G-d...
When i say G-d, i mean nothing less than the eternal, providential, omnipresent, omniscient creator of all reality.
We know from the big bang theory that the universe had a beginning. Something brought it into being. This was the position of Judaism and the bible
3500 years before science discovered it. The ancients were of the universal opinion, whether in Greece with aristotle or plato, or in Egypt, Babylon,
Persia or India, that the world was eternal.
Now since that position is less tenable now than it was then - since weve discovered through measuring background radiation that the universe was
"created" around 15 billion years back, from absolutely nothing - how can a Hindu or Buddhist continue supposing that their position is still
defendable? How can a leaf, or a dog, be that which we should thank, when they are entirely dependant on G-ds willing them to exist? The reason we
dont thank them, is because they act unconsciously. Leafs may be conscious, but in an unconscious way. There is no "volition" in the leaf. There is
simply the energy which causes it to live. The energy, the "angel", is an emenation from the source. Its energy - the will that keeps it in
existence, is G-d. In the case of a slightly more conscious creation, like a wolf, or a bear, it still doesnt have the ability to choose freely. If it
is in its instinct - its
nature to do something, it will do it. You cannot put a piece of meat in front of the wolf and find the wolf not
wanting it. The wolf cant "choose" to deny its nature. Its nature propels him forward towards taking the meat and eating it. Thus, a wolf too is a
"bat" in the hand of a man. It has more freedom, but still not sufficient to be regarded as worthy of a thankyou - not unless you thank G-d for the
wisdom he put in the wolf. I love animals, btw. I just dont look at them as individuals with any degree of independance.
Humans, on the other hand have complete freedom. You put an attractive woman in front of a man and he could if he wills it, overcome his desire and
not go for the woman. Something an animal could never do, because it simply doesnt have the capacity. This means that a man who CHOOSES to do good,
deserves a thanks. It was his freedom of will that did that kindness for me. Thanking him is encouraging the good that G-d gave man the ability to
choose. This is why on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, man asks man for forgiveness for wrongs committed in the last year. When i wrong G-d, i ask
forgiveness from him. When i wrong my mother, it is not right for me to just say sorry to G-d for wronging her. I have to go to her and apologize and
seek forgiveness. Likewise, if i harm an animal, im not going to apologize to the animal. The animal doesnt recognize any wrong done to it. It is but
a "bat" in the hand of the mover. You apologize to G-d, and seek forgiveness from him for harming his creation. And if you want you can touch and
pet the animal and console it with nice words. But keep in mind that this creature is but a creation, that it has no "i" that recognizes any self.
Only humans have that.
With water then, this point is even more relevant. I dont think any creation is as important as water. It an incredibly amazing thing. I thank G-d for
this wonderous liquid, but not the water itself. There needs to be a subtle distinction between the water, and the force who creates it.
To thank water, is simply idolatry, and a sign of rebellion between the individual and his creator. The creator deserves honor. And man should humble
himself by recognizing him, ignoring whatever base feelings he may have about it.