Offering/Sacrifice
The word Korban (offering/sacrifice) comes from the word Karov (near), as it is written, “As Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord” (Exodus, 14:10). Pharaoh is our biggest force of advancement. In fact, everything we slaughter at the altar, all that we correct, are parts of Pharaoh, that great will to receive from which we cut slices and sacrifice. By that, we become corrected and draw closer until the image of the Creator emerges in us from the image of Pharaoh.
Sin
Sin is the complete disclosure of our nature, how absorbed we are in self-love instead of love of others.
Mistake
The corruption of the force of Bina in us is called “mistake.” The corruption of the force of Malchut in us is called “sin” (deliberate faulty act). In our world, the sins are far greater than the mistakes. Take for example a person who wants to steal; the mistake is that he is jealous of another and seemingly does him no harm by that.
The correction of the mistake is when a person transcends one’s will to receive and does not want to use it whatsoever. At that time a person becomes detached from the mistake, and later inverts the entire ego, the entire will to receive into having the aim to bestow upon others. This is how we correct the sins.
From The Zohar: If His Offering Is a Burnt Offering
The burnt offering rises [“rises” is spelt the same as offering in Hebrew] over the heart, meaning on the thought, which is above the heart. It is known that the one who stands over the heart is the thought, since the thought, which is Hochma [wisdom], is regarded as male and the heart as female, Bina [understanding]—the heart understands—for she receives from Hochma. This is why a burnt offering rises up and they are all males, and this is why the writing begins with a burnt offering more than all other offerings, since the thought is the beginning of everything.
Zohar for All, VaYikrah (The Lord Called), item 73
It turns out that everything happens in our minds. We need not work physically. The entire world is a spiritual world, a world of forces. We see by technology how we are advancing to a state where big factories and machines that produce metals are becoming redundant. When we act by thought, the world becomes much more “ethereal,” spiritual. Through our thoughts, we will rise toward the correct scrutiny, sacrifice offerings, and by them approach the good life.
