We Ruin Our Own Lives

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the Upper World there is only love and unity, but by the time it reaches our world it flips over because our world is opposite to the spiritual one. Absolute love descends to us from above, from the Creator, but here with our eyes, we see the worst of all worlds! Holy actions of bestowal in the upper world influence our egoistic desire here in this world, evoking opposite reactions in it. But the forces themselves were wonderful!

It’s as if I came to you with love and gifts from the bottom of my heart wishing to share all of my treasure with you, but seeing how I love you, you are happy because you can use this and suck everything I have out of me. You think, “How wonderful it is that he’s so kind because now I can rob him to the bone and destroy him.”

Love and a kind attitude come from me, but you perceive it and use it in the completely opposite way. That’s how the Creator gives us all of the opportunities and the goodness, but we use His good attitude by turning on our egoism. We activate it full force and do everything the opposite way!

The Creator is good, perfect, and unchanging. This is the only force that governs the whole universe. But inside of us, this good becomes revealed through actions and the form in which we are able to perceive His goodness. That is why in our world we see people killing each other and that we live in a world that cannot get any worse!

However, if I change my vision, then I will see the perfect world of Infinity, the upper Light filling the entire universe, the holy Shechina. But in reality, nothing has changed. I simply bought new glasses.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/9/11, “The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah”

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Was I Here Already?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Why does Rabash reiterate the same points in his articles so frequently, as if walking around in circles?

Answer: He never reiterates or repeats himself. The same words sound from different states, different levels of Aviut (coarseness of desire). He repeats the sentence at another, deeper level. After completing the first “circle” and discerning whatever was said for yourself, you move a degree deeper and then start the analysis seemingly from the same sentence, but closer to the truth, to the root.

We undergo the four stages of development, reach the speaking (human) degree, and on it, go through the four stages again, until we reach the degree of “human within human.” All of it comes from Above, from the Direct Light (Ohr Yashar). And only the last degree, the fourth within the fourth, can respond with the Reflected Light (Ohr Hozer). It itself does not realize what it is responding to because on the way back, the development it goes through remains unclear yet again, until it reaches the root.

Only at the end do we understand the beginning and the entire path. We exist in an integral system, and until a person clarifies all the details, all the interconnections between the souls, and all the ways that affect them, he is constantly forced to balance himself. For this reason, one is constantly subject to changes.

The understanding comes only at the end of correction when the entire system becomes balanced for you. It is said about it: “Everyone will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest.”
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/9/2011, Writings of Rabash

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When The Heart Is Heavy

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How can one accept the heaviness, which distances him from the group and the goal, with joy?

Answer: It is actually approaching, not distancing. In Hebrew “offering” means “closeness” (קרבן – קרוב). It is yet another layer of the uncorrected desire hidden in me, which I wasn’t aware of and couldn’t work with. And now it has manifested.

What is revealed as darkness, as heaviness of the heart is the part instilled in me that now has come to light. I can receive additional Light into it, a new understanding and sensation. This is why we rejoice in it.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/9/2011, Writings of Rabash

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Soaring On The Wings Of Bestowal

Dr. Michael LaitmanThere are no machines, planes, electricity, bread, or water—I created all these forms out of my desire to enjoy, and this is how they appear to me. There are only the force of reception, the force of bestowal, the screen, and the Reflected Light, according to the way they can clothe into each other.

Natural forms that exist in nature come from the Direct Light, whereas those created by man come from Reflected Light. Everything we produce in this world by our work is but the forms of our will to receive created by our effort, the Reflected Light.

I take my desire and start modeling a car from it, as from plasticine or clay. It is my realization, my form, whereas the substance, the will to enjoy, is given from Above. The entire picture changes only on our screen. Similarly to how today a person is so used to a computer screen that he doesn’t even want to look around. For him, a computer screen has turned into a true reality. If we always existed inside this screen, we would have no idea that there is something else beside it.

The one and only mechanism based on the Direct and Reflected Lights operates all the time and at all levels. However, the picture will begin to change when we develop a desire to become similar to the inner force which governs this entire reality. It won’t surface for us to exist inside this reality; we will want to unite with the force that drives it from inside. We will search for it, wishing to be together with it!

And then we will perceive reality simply as matter and not as our inseparable part. Now we live inside this matter governed from Above. Yet, I wish to penetrate into molecules and atoms so as to reveal the spiritual force there, the higher mind and plan, and live in it. We will rule over matter together with Him! That is, I will elevate myself above matter, above the still, vegetative, and animate degrees.

But what about a person who today is polishing his favorite car? How can he agree that this whole world is a bluff? No insurance will pay for his car left in the Reflected Light, so what will he gain in return?

He shouldn’t worry; he will feel that he can fly even without his car. To move, he won’t need any auxiliary means of the still, vegetative, or animate levels: neither a camel, nor a carriage, nor a plane. He will soar by his own forces, the forces of man! Mother Bina will lend him her wings!
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/8/2011, “The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah”

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Now Is The Time For Independent Work

Dr. Michael LaitmanEverything is comprised of two triangles: the upper one with the Direct Light and the lower one with the Returning, Reflected Light. The triangle with the Upper Light is diminishing due to the descent of the worlds from Above downward so as to supply the creature with the place for existence in which it can realize its bestowal, raise the Reflected Light.

Now Is The Time For Independent Work
We can make a cut at each level and see these triangles: Depending on the strength of the Direct Light, the creature is capable of raising the Reflected Light. The higher we rise, the greater the Direct and the Reflected Lights are.

It seems to us that we live in some kind of world, but in reality, there is nothing beside desire and the Light, and we always carry out the work of the Creator whether we want to or not, realize it or not, are aware of it or not, or agree with it or not. We always work for the Creator, the only difference being our willingness or not.

The still, vegetative, and animate levels of nature operate without awareness, by natural instinct. But at the speaking degree, we have to comprehend, attain the root, agree with it, and only then act correctly.

Hence, while we were developing as “primitive people” having remained so over thousands of years until very recently (with the exception of Kabbalists who revealed the upper world, starting with the first “man,” Adam HaRishon), we advanced under the pressure of our egoistic desire that pushed us to evolve.

We applied a lot of effort throughout history. We worked hard to harvest the land, produced various things and products, fought, invented machines and new technologies, built houses to only destroy them later, carried out revolutions in all areas and levels of life. In short, we exerted effort to exist, to receive the Direct Light. These efforts were our “Reflected Light” in the spiritual worlds.

This is the essence of our material development. It is material because it took place inside the egoistic desire.

In our perception of reality, it seemed to us that we produced concrete and fixtures, relationships in the society, crops, but essentially, we produced the Reflected Light and inside it, received the Direct Light. Meanwhile, it seemed to us that we worked in the material world, surrounded by our machines, factories, houses, fields, and products.

This is how it seemed to our egoistic desire, whereas in reality, the desires (Kelim) with the screen and the Lights at the still, vegetative, and animate degrees were at work. And we all behaved like obedient children, carrying out everything that the Creator wanted. Nobody could escape this since that’s how the will to enjoy and the Light that acts upon it work.

And when we reach the speaking degree, considerations become completely different. This is why we no longer have the strength… The Creator tells us: “Do it yourself, alone!” And I’m at a loss: “Do it myself, while nobody is forcing me…?”

The Creator awakens me only occasionally and awaits the Reflected Light from me. Now, He wants me to do it by myself. This is the work we have to complete.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/8/2011, “The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah”

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The Light In Your Home

Dr. Michael Laitman“Introduction of The Book of Zohar,” Article “Rabbi Shimon’s Exit from the Cave,” Item 186: And that light stands from the heaven to the earth and illuminates the entire world until Atik Yomin, meaning Keter, arrives and properly sits on the throne, meaning until the end of correction. And that light is entirely included in your home, meaning in his daughter, since the daughter of Rabbi Pinhas was the wife of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, and from the light that was included in your home, a small and thin light comes out, which is Rabbi Elazar, his daughter’s son. He comes out and illuminates the entire world, happy are you.

There is a system called “the worlds.” The souls are hanging on it like fruit on the tree. There is a connection between the worlds (”tree”) and the souls (“fruit”), between the fruit themselves, meaning the souls, and between the parts of the tree, meaning Sefirot. They are all connected together, and all of them are merely Kelim (desires) and the Lights.

Likewise, all the characters described in The Book of Zohar: Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Pinhas, Elazar, and the daughter of Rabbi Pinhas are the illuminations within the Kelim, tied together by certain connections. This is why The Zohar calls them by names of familial relationships, such as “grandfather,” “father,” “son,” “daughter,” or “wife” depending on who it is talking about.

However, all of this is related only to Kelim or the Lights. The Lights are most important. The illumination which emanates from one place to another is called “Rabbi Shimon,” “Rabbi Elazar,” or “Rabbi Pinhas.”
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/8/2011, “Introduction of The Book of Zohar”

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Bring Your Hatred To The Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How can I accelerate the revelation of the broken desire between myself and the friends?

Answer: We go through states where we are always sent an awakening of evil. The question is: How do I accept that evil? Do I perceive it as a disturbance? Why do I discover that I hate others? Why do conflicts between us keep surfacing?

If you give in to the hatred and don’t want to see one another, then go home, stop uniting, and don’t set your sights on spiritual work. However, this work lies precisely in revealing the evil, the hatred (Sinah), all the way until Mount Sinai. We have to know that this is the path: We are revealing destruction, the breaking.

And no matter how big the extent to which it is revealed, we do not correct it artificially. We do not hold fraternity parties with rowdy toasts following a hearty meal, and we do not “make up” like kids in kindergarten. Rather, we want to correct the evil by means of studying, by means of the Light that Reforms. With the understanding that on the external level there is hatred and repulsion between us, we do not cover it or try to smooth it out. We want the Light to come and change this hatred and repulsion, to turn it into connection, all the way until love.

No matter how much hatred becomes revealed, we do not touch it. We do not strengthen or weaken it; do not suppress it or correct it. We do not do anything to it, but only wish to bring it like a valued treasure to the Light that Reforms.

“Finally I revealed a little bit of hatred! This is the Upper World, but in the reverse. It is the opposite side of the spiritual Kli. When it turns to connection and love, it will become a full-fledged vessel for the Light!”

We have to treat this hatred with great care, making it special, and then bringing it to the Light. Yet, what we do instead is cross it out as if everything is already OK, or we go our separate ways, or split up the group. True, sometimes there are hopeless situations because the people are still weak and cannot act or understand otherwise. Then a division is suitable as a temporary solution. But in essence the real work is done precisely on the background of hatred. So let’s not forget that this is our path: We are working on ourselves.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/8/11, Writings of Rabash

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Reunion In Malchut

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: If Malchut is the desire to receive pleasure, how can she gather all the souls under her wing?

Answer: Malchut is the will to enjoy. It used to include all the desire to receive created by the Creator. Later, it was broken in order to give this desire a capacity to know itself and the Creator, and based on that knowledge, to perform autonomous actions. In other words, it broke into multiple, fragmented parts that feel hateful and disconnected.

Malchut is the point where all the broken parts used to reside. Now, by their own free will and effort, these fragmented parts are gradually coming into oneness in the same Malchut, in their root.

It could be described in other words: The created being, in its experience and perception, is divided into multiple parts which seem alien to one another. These parts must keep uniting together until they feel bonded. An example of such oneness is the upper one, Zeir Anpin, which manifests according to their effort.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/6/2011, Writings of Rabash

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The Greater The Ego, The Greater The Correction

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What can we learn from the current internal state? What is the correct attitude toward them?

Answer: The correct approach is not to focus on any of them. The key is to keep going forward. A person cannot evaluate an internal state that he or she is in. Until we arrive at the end of correction, we won’t know whether we have achieved anything whatsoever.

In fact, you are undergoing a process of correction non-stop. Moreover, the farther you advance, the more corrupted you feel. Having repaired yourself and absorbed the upper properties to a certain degree, with their help, you get to see how far you are from the other levels to which you are yet to ascend.

The final degree, Yesod, includes it all. You must absorb all there is and reach the final correction of Yesod. Only then will you receive the illumination of the Sabbath and start sensing that you are standing at the threshold of the end of correction.

Therefore, we are expected only to continue on the path without focusing on the fact that it is becoming much harder. The most difficult stages are regarded as “signs of Messiah” since that is where our Aviut (coarseness of desire) increases.

This is why compared to our forefathers, our states are heavier, but thanks to it, we are willing, able, and merit drawing greater Lights. Even though they clothe in the forefathers, it is we who evoke them nevertheless.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/6/2011, Writings of Rabash

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