Dear Friends, please ask questions about these passages from the great Kabbalists. The commentaries in brackets are mine.

Egoism Is Embedded in the Nature of Every Person

While man’s very essence is only to receive for oneself. By nature, we are unable to do even the smallest thing to benefit others. Instead, when we give to others, we are compelled to expect that in the end, we will receive a worthwhile reward [otherwise, we are incapable of performing that act].
– Baal HaSulam, “A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar”

The equal side in all the people of the world is that each of us stands ready to abuse and exploit all the people for his own private benefit with every means possible, without taking into any consideration that he is going to build himself on the ruin of his friend [or doing it consciously, by ruining his friend, which makes his own fulfillment look and feel even greater].
– Baal HaSulam, “Peace in the World”
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