Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 11.04.09

Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson
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“Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 6
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Baal HaSulam article, “The Wisdom of Kabbalah and its Essence,” Lesson #3
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Writings of Baal HaSulam, Letter 30, 1927
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Moments From The Daily Lesson: Media

5 Minutes Of Light From The Daily Lesson: Importance Of The Giver

Who Will You Be: The Donkey Rider Or The Donkey?

bornDesire (Homer) is like a donkey (Hamor) that is controlled by its rider (the intention). In the past donkeys were used for turning millstones to grind grain. A feedsack of grain would be placed on the donkey’s snout, and the donkey would eat the grain while walking around in a circle and turning the wheels.

If it wouldn’t get food, it would not take a single step. Similarly, our egoistic matter is like a donkey: it cannot work unless it receives a reward!

The intention that controls our “donkey” is called “man.” This is the donkey rider that determines where the animal will go.

Desire does not understand intentions, and this enables us to control it. Let your desire enjoy, just add an intention to it. This is why it is written that the higher a person is, the greater is his egoistic desire. However, he knows how to let the egoistic desire enjoy in order to tame it and ride it towards the correct goal.

The Story Of The Guest And The Host Teaches Us About The Spiritual Worlds

the-secret-things-belong-to-the-creatorA question I received: What changes between one spiritual world and another?

My Answer: The change happens in the desire or force that is in control, the value system relative to the Giver and how important He is. This determines everything.

The only thing that exists in the whole universe is the desire to enjoy, which can follow two principles: its personal benefit or the benefit of the Giver. It’s like in the example of the guest and the host, where the guest’s state is called Beria, Atzilut, Yetzira or Assiya depending on the guest’s reaction to the Host. For example:

  • If he is in the World of Assiya, then he consumes the whole meal;
  • If he is in the World of Yetzira, then he has doubts as to whether he should eat and how much should he eat;
  • If he is in the World of Beria, then he makes a calculation and knows that he won’t make a mistake; he will be able to show the Host that he gives Him pleasure;
  • If he is in the World of Atzilut, then he consumes everything like in the World of Assiya, but he is sure that he does this only for the sake of the Host! After all, they have united with one another until there are no differences between them.

And all of this is talking about a person’s inner state.

The Creator’s Revelation Is The Call Of the Times

mutualThe world has reached a state where people will no longer feel well unless they come closer to the Creator by realizing Kabbalah’s method. The Creator has to become revealed; that is the call of the times.

If we come closer to Him, we will feel good. Otherwise, we will feel bad. This is determined by the forces of Nature, or the global law that we have to make ourselves similar to, since we all exist within a single system. And it doesn’t matter whether we call it Nature, the Creator, the global system or the single soul.

A Child Asks: Why Do We Need Egoism?

childA question I received: Why did the Creator give us egoism if we have to unite and get rid of it sooner or later?

My Answer: People learn about the world by comparing opposites, such as hot and cold, black and white, and so on. We feel one thing on the background of the other. If everything were only white or only black, then we wouldn’t feel a thing. We always need contrast, such as the difference between colors, sensations and places. What we actually feel is the gap between things and not each thing on its own.

The Creator is the pure quality of bestowal. However, I cannot feel this quality of bestowal unless I am opposite to it. Then I will have two “inhabitants” living inside me: a monster named the Evil Inclination, and opposite to it – the beautiful Creator, the Good Inclination. The inner opposition between them will enable me to differentiate one from the other.

Before I discover the evil inclination within myself, I can only have a tiny sensation of this world, the smallest possible feeling. But by revealing that inclination, I can also discover the Creator, who stands opposite my egoism.

This is why we need egoism, in order to be our “helper” from the opposite side. Because it is opposite to the Creator, it helps us attain and perceive Him.