Introductory Lecture: “The Teaching Of The Kabbalah And Its Essence” – 05.25.10

Kabbalah for the Nation Introductory Lecture Series, “The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence
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Kabbalah Moments: Seek Your Brothers

Upbringing In The Spiritual World

Dr. Michael LaitmanA question I received: How does the Upper bring the lower one up the steps of the spiritual ladder?

My Answer: The Upper degree switches into his lesser state (Katnut) and descends to the lower presenting himself to the lower as smaller. We do the same thing when playing with children. We want the children to have success, so we lower ourselves and let them win the game. We lower ourselves to establish a connection with them.

This is like a mentor, who acts among children just as if he is like them; then gradually he begins to change, to model more desirable behavior, so that the children could see him as an example of a corrected child. First, the mentor displays an example as a child, not as an adult, so that the children can relate to him. We know that children learn more readily from other children than from adults.

This is because the environment impacts people only if the people in it are equal. Friends must be on equal terms; then they can serve as an example to each other. If I feel that a friend is greater than I am, he is not my friend anymore. I learn from the same level I am on.

It is the same way in the spiritual world. The Upper descends to the lower and becomes identical to the lower in everything, and by doing so, he unites with the lower. The lower doesn’t annul himself before the higher one since they are seemingly equal; hence, they unite on equal terms. After this, the Upper one can ascend and bring the lower one up with him.

In order to ascend with the Upper one, the lower one must annul his receiving desires (AHP), but remain united with the Upper one as an equal, in the bestowing desires (Galgalta ve-Eynaim). Thus, when the Upper one descends to me, I will not perceive him as higher because he has become the same as me. If a 7 foot tall adult plays with a child while matching the child’s emotions and behaviors, the child won’t perceive him as a tall adult. The child thinks that the adult is just like him. Without this similarity from the child’s perspective, there wouldn’t be any contact between them!

The truth is that I cannot unite with anyone if he isn’t on the same step with me, at the same level, in the same qualities, no more, no less. Then there can be a connection between us, but not before!

This is like in high frequency waves, if you step slightly beyond the limits of the frequency, the connection disappears. It is the same for the spiritual connection: We have to attain absolutely precise congruence, not more, not less, at the same level. Otherwise, there will be no contact; one will not penetrate the other.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/25/10, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary”

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7 Billion Citizens Of The Spiritual Worlds

Dr. Michael LaitmanA question I received: How do I check whether I did really ascend on the spiritual ladder and am not deceiving myself to please my egoism?

My Answer: From the World of Infinity to our world and back up to the World of Infinity, there leads a ladder of spiritual steps that differ in the thickness or coarseness of desire (will to receive) and its screen which transforms it to bestowing. All differences are only in the screens.

As I am ascending the steps, the measure of my bestowal increases to equivalence with the one existing on the next higher level, yet my character, the original attributes, remains the same. Therefore, each of us ascending the same step bestows in a different way, in one’s personal style.

In our world, which in reference to the spiritual world appears as only one step, there are 7 billion people, all of whom are different. Similarly, at any one of the 125 steps of the spiritual worlds, there are 7 billion, and all of them are different, but they exist in one common form. In the spiritual world all exist for the sake of bestowal; but each step differs in the type of bestowal.

It seems to us that the only difference is in the quantity: greater or lesser bestowal. However, the 125 steps do not differ in the quantity of bestowal, but rather each of them is an absolutely different relationship with the Creator, another type of connection. This is why they are separated from each other.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/25/10, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary”

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The Light In The Dark

Dr. Michael LaitmanSince we are created from the will to receive pleasure, all our spiritual work is done at night. Without feeling pleasure (in the dark of night), we can test ourselves: Are we able to do something moved by some other “fuel” so that it isn’t the reward that defines how much work we do, but rather the work itself does? Can we work without attainment of the Creator, but just with our faith that we will bring Him delight?

To work for the sake of delighting Him and not ourselves can only be done during the night, in the states where we don’t feel pleasure. Therefore, layers of uncorrected desires that demand filling with rewards for ourselves are purposefully and continuously awakened in our will to receive pleasure.

This gives us the opportunity to work on this uncorrected will to receive for ourselves. The struggle to work in the will to receive appears so that we can work not for the sake of a reward, but in order to delight the Creator; not to work for the reward of attaining the Creator, but just to be working for Him. Success results from our ability to acknowledge the greatness of the Creator.

When a person discovers that he is not able to do this, he demands assistance from Above. The strength from Above comes to him through the group since a person doesn’t have a connection with Above. As he starts seeking this “Above,” after numerous failed attempts to grasp something, he reaches a point of desperation and begins to understand that “Above” means “through the group.”

At this point, if he enters the group, then through it, he will be able to receive the very force that will change his nature from receiving to giving. Then he will be able to work during the nights while blessing the Creator. Then, a person works not for the sake of fulfilling his demanding egoistic desires; with the aid of the night he ascends to bestowal.

We don’t demand for the night to go away since “day” consists of working for the sake of bestowal. When we don’t feel “light” in our desires and we work above this, not for the sake of filling our desires, then we perceive day. Therefore, in the perception of our receiving desires, we exist in the night, but in the perception of our bestowing desires, the “light” shines.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/24/10, The Zohar

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Attaining the Worlds Beyond: “A Plea for Help”

Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 05.25.10

The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYikra (The Lord Called),” Item 248
The benefit from studying The Book of Zohar depends on one’s efforts and one’s connection with the group, and not on his understanding.
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary,” Item 20
Our desire will never independently wish to bestow. This is why in order to correct ourselves we elevate to the upper and connect to Him.
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot, Item 5
All we need is to reveal the Creator.  Our suffering should only be over the fact that we haven’t obtained bestowal.
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Rav Baruch Ashlag “They Helped Everyone His Friend” 
We must uncover our natural spiritual connection which is much greater than any connection in this world.
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