Spiritual Guidance and Direction in Kabbalah

Instructing Students Is Not ManipulationA question I received: Did you ever have an experience when young students would express a nice attitude to you in order to please you, but later they would begin perceiving everything that happens to them as your manipulation?

My Answer: You’re right. We are under the constant influence of external factors, but we have no awareness of it. Gradually, during the process of study (which I guide), a student begins to realize how he is being controlled from above (by the Creator), and how he can become freed from such control, have his own say, freely choosing and deciding how to act. Those who don’t study Kabbalah, however, remain controlled in every way.

We are like children in our spiritual development. The difference is that with a child, Nature (the Creator) evokes the aspiration to imitate adults. However, in one’s spiritual development, the person himself needs to develop the desire to become an adult, i.e. become similar to the Creator.

He can receive this aspiration only through upbringing and direction (call it “manipulation” if you will) from the teacher and the group. The student and the group are practically always directed by the teacher. Otherwise, how could they understand how and what they should develop to on their own?

The spiritual world, after all, is hidden from them until they acquire, under the teacher’s direction, the qualities similar to that world. Then, to the degree they are similar to the Upper World, they will feel it and be able to continue progressing on their own. As a result of being guided, the students become independent! This is the difference between spiritual (Kabbalistic) development and any other kind of development.

You have to read Baal HaSulam’s article “The Freedom” and then everything will become clear.

Lessons on Baal HaSulam’s Article “The Freedom”:
This series of lessons was given by Rav Michael Laitman, PhD as part of the Revealing the Upper Worlds TV and Internet broadcasts. (55 min each)
Lesson 1 Video | Lesson 1 Audio | Lesson 1 Transcript
Lesson 2 Video | Lesson 2 Audio | Lesson 2 Transcript
Lesson 3 Video | Lesson 3 Audio | Lesson 3 Transcript
Lesson 4 Video | Lesson 4 Audio | Lesson 4 Transcript
Lesson 5 Video | Lesson 5 Audio | Lesson 5 Transcript
Lesson 6 Video | Lesson 6 Audio
Lesson 7 Video | Lesson 7 Audio
Lesson 8 Video | Lesson 8 Audio
Lesson 9 Video | Lesson 9 Audio
Lesson 10 Video | Lesson 10 Audio | Lesson 10 Transcript
Lesson 11 Video | Lesson 11 Audio
Lesson 12 Video | Lesson 12 Audio
Lesson 13 Video | Lesson 13 Audio | Lesson 13 Transcript
Lesson 14 Video | Lesson 14 Audio | Lesson 14 Transcript

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