The Beast Within

Right after the plague of lice–the practically invisible parasites that attached themselves to each of us–comes the plague of the wild beasts. There is no need to explain how terrifying the idea is of huge, carnivorous animals bearing down on humans incapable of defending themselves or fighting back to such unbridled strength.

On the surface, this plague is about brute force. But there is more. If it wants to devour another animal it will do whatever it takes to reach that end goal. It uses its speed, its weight, its claws or jaws to capture, trap and ultimately consume. Yet in the process of reaching that animal, everything in the way falls victim as well.

Jewish tradition teaches us that we are comprised of both a Divine Soul and an Animal Soul. The goal of this world is to elevate our surroundings through the use of the Divine Soul which imbues a holy purpose even to the seemingly mundane. It does not act out of selfish needs but always has a focused meaning for every action. Something necessary like eating is elevated through choosing kosher food and then reciting a blessing both before and after eating. With such mindfulness to a natural process, we recognize that as much as we need that food for fuel, we simultaneously need to express gratitude for having that food available to us and the ability to digest it and use it for good. It is all about consciousness and awareness.

Yet all too often we allow our animal soul to lead the way. It does what it wants, when it wants and how it wants. The focus is the end goal, regardless of who is in its path or who will be affected along the way. When we lose our temper and say something we shouldn’t have, we leave a permanent mark on the other’s heart. When we act in anger for temporary release we can create permanent damage to that relationship. The animal  just acts with no thought or feeling that motivates or precedes it. And so, when we allow ourselves to be animal-like, we risk destroying all those around us and ourselves as well. Does a divorce not effect the children as much, if not more, than it does the man and woman involved? What about the in-laws and sister and brother in laws….

But the plague of the animals was unique. Generally if a group of animals is let loose they will attack one another. In this case, however, the animals were able to work together as a collective whole for the purpose of wreaking havoc and destruction upon the land. Yet what unified them was their desire to ruin and that negativity was a fuel that could not be contained. So even though they started together, eventually they not only killed what they encountered but killed one another as well. Their stampede carried within itself the seeds of its own demise.

The lesson to us is that when we are driven by anger, hatred, cruelty or the desire to hurt and destroy, we are blinded by those negative emotions. It becomes impossible for us to then distinguish who is our friend and who is our foe so we unintentionally or even intentionally hurt those that are supposed to be on our side. The animal ultimately is self-serving and survives by his ability to attack. So too when our reason for doing something is coming from an unhealthy place we can only see our immediate needs thus concealing our ability to be focused on others and driven by purpose and holiness.

The plague of the wild beasts reminds us that when we lead our lives like the animal we ultimately hurt everyone and everything along the way. The human kingdom should rule over the animal kingdom. Endowed with a level of intelligence and communication, we were created to not just act but to think things through and understand the power of our behavior and decisions. But when we lose site of that or give up our human—our Divine—abilities in favor or our animalistic ones, then we turn the tables. And once those tables have turned, we unleash a power and strength that is hard to contain and causes untold damage.

http://www.interinclusion.org/inspirations/plagues-of-the-heart-and-mind-part-6/

http://www.interinclusion.org/inspirations/plagues-of-the-heart-and-mind-part-4/

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