Question: In the Torah the commandments and the judgments are described. What is the difference between them?

Answer: The laws (Mishpatim) come from the side of the restrictions, and the commandments come from the side of the desire and readiness to carry them out. But in principle both of them talk about one thing: in what way a man needs to become similar to the Creator.

We are not talking about the level of this world. In the Torah, all the laws and commandments are discerned in relation to our ego and how to change it to something that is opposite, resembling the Creator, the property of complete bestowal and love, connection with everyone, where within this connection a huge property of bestowal is discovered, the force of creation called the Creator.

In the revelation of this force there are Taryag (613) egoistic attributes, desires. This is how they are called, “Taryag uncorrected desires.” We need to correct them from the egoistic intention for reception for myself, pleasure for myself, even causing damage to others (this is how we feel self-benefit), for use in order to bestow, meaning, for the benefit of others, and through this, to connect, to adhere, and to resemble the Creator.

There are limits in these actions when I rise above the ego (above my desire to receive) and stop working with it. Afterwards, I change it into a form that I can execute, above it, acts for the sake of bestowal. And afterwards, I myself add this ego to my intention for the sake of bestowal and act together with it for the sake of others, for bestowal.

For example, the thief stops stealing. This is the first commandment. The second commandment is that he gives all his stealing abilities to the benefit of man.

For example, like in the O.Henry story where the thief opens the safe in which a child had locked himself inside.

In this way, there are all the phases: restriction, rising above the ego, and transforming it into the act of bestowal. First is the restriction; I don’t steal. Second, rising above the ego: what isn’t done, that some egoistic reward that isn’t offered to us, which in any case we won’t use and renew actions that cause damage to others. Third, I use the speed of the response, the ability and possibility, to bestow and to give, in a way that is directed only to love.

Thus, the commandments and laws are divided. But in their expression are the restrictions of the right and left lines and the middle line in relation to you, society, and the Creator, with many kinds of subtleties.
[111526]
From the KabTV’s “The Secrets of the Eternal Book” 3/11/13

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Question: In my opinion, it is very important that we clarify that the true “self” is specifically within the group, for there are many times that we may try to clarify our true desires alone by ourselves, and we deceive ourselves. We discover tomorrow that we already want something different than what we wanted yesterday.

Answer: It is impossible to clarify this alone. Only a shared discussion can supply us with the correct, advanced values.

Question: Then, what? Will there be a single standard for everyone?

Answer: Each one will find one’s own standard, for there are no two people who feel the same world. It is as if we see one world; but each one comprehends it differently.

Question: How can I preserve my individuality if I work within the group and hear the desires of all the rest?

Answer: Other people show me the stages through which I must advance in order to discover my nature, discover my true space. Specifically, thanks to all that, I hear from others. I ultimately clarify what my space is.

Now, we want to build a relationship with a partner, but afterward, our couple will need to work on wider relationships with couples, with all of humanity. The group is a model of all of humanity and helps me to discover my inner space. This space requires not only connection with a partner, but, ultimately, it also requires development and connection with all of humanity as one family, transforming us into a single person.

Without the group, it is impossible to get along since the external Kli, vessel, the external force, must help me to open the internal Kli, my inner system of connection with someone. There must be an additional, higher level with whose help I can clarify my level, as a father and mother do for a child.

The entire group speaks of and clarifies the inner need of the person to be in contact with others. Contact with the others begins with those people who are naturally closest to us, like a partner, but we cannot build true connection between spouses if we are not found within a society. The society helps us to discover this deficiency in the right way—if I want to look at my partner correctly, to see her from the inside, and she wants to see me so that we both really will connect with each other.

If we want to peel all of the Klipot from ourselves and truly be connected this way where I fulfill her and she fulfills me, we need an environment that supports us and will help us to find all the spaces and clarify how to fill them. All this is possible only with the help of the environment.

The friends in a group help me to see what I want. They reveal this in me so that I begin to see this, but they don’t see this. I feel myself; no one can feel another person.
[111929]
From a Talk on Integral Upbringing 6/20/13

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Preparation to the Lesson

The Book of Zohar — Introduction

Talmud Eser Sefirot, Vol. 1, Part 1

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “The Peace”

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Zohar - No Comments →