A question I received in response to my post “Abortion – How Does Kabbalah View It?”: What does Kabbalah think of sex that’s not intended for reproduction?

My Answer: Kabbalah treats all expressions of egoism in our world simply as expressions of egoism, and we shouldn’t think about them. Instead, we should think about egoism’s essence – the intention “for one’s own sake.” If this intention was to become corrected and turned into the intention “for the sake of the Creator,” then all of our actions would become spiritual.

Related Material:
* One Law – article by M. Laitman

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A question I received: You once said: “Egoism’s growth doesn’t allow for romance. Today, romance no longer exists and it isn’t going to come back. Instead of a husband, today’s egoism demands the Creator!” Here lies a serious problem. In order to start a serious relationship with a woman, one has to as if, skip something. In the past, a man would meet a gentle and fragile girl who brought out the strength within him, and whom he wanted to take care of. These instincts kicked in automatically. Today, we don’t meet “gentle women.” The women today have turned into aggressive hunters. How does one develop a desire to fulfill a woman?

My Answer: It’s time to shift your attention to the Creator, since as you can see, women no longer need it.

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A question I received: I have a question for you as a scientist. Through studying accessible historical documents, I came to the conclusion that the biblical story of Moses is wrong. It seems to me that Moses was an Egyptian military commander, and he created an army out of former Semite slaves, with the support of Egypt’s rulers and priests.

My Answer: Life itself teaches us to place less trust in our conclusions based on history, as they usually end up being wrong. However, the biblical texts can be confirmed. Even though I’m a doctor of philosophy, I despise this so called “science” where anyone can come up with whatever they want. I believe only in practical facts, according to the premise that you can’t think of what you can’t attain. Kabbalists speak only from their direct attainment, and as such, I believe what they say about the things I haven’t yet attained, because I’m convinced of their truth. One should only rely on practical activity, without adding any inventions or connections of their own.

Related Material:
* Kabbalah Explains the Bible – article in Kabbalah Today
* The Secret Meaning of the Bible – article by M. Laitman

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Excerpts from Rabash’s articles about the society.

We have gathered here to establish a society for all those interested in following the path and method of Baal HaSulam—the way to climb the rungs of man, and not remain as a beast.
–“The Purpose of Society 1”

We have gathered here to establish a society where each can follow the spirit of bestowal upon the Creator. And to bestow upon the Creator, we must first bestow upon man, and this is called “love of man.”

Love of man can only be with self annulment. On the one hand, each of us should feel humbled, and on the other hand, we should be proud that the Creator has given us the opportunity to partake in a society whose members have but one goal: to discover the Creator among us.
–“The Purpose of Society 1”

By being together in a group, like brothers, with love of friends, we can rise to adhesion with the Creator. This ladder is called “the path of bestowal,” and it is against our nature. Therefore, to be able to achieve it, there is but one advice: love of friends. Through it, each can help his friend.
–“Love of Friends”

The advice for achieving bestowal and the rule, “love thy friend,” is love of friends. If each is annulled before his friend and mingles with him, the small parts that want love of man become a single mass, united into a collective force. And each person has such great strength, he can realize the love of man. And then each of them can achieve love of God.
–“According to What Is Explained Concerning Love Your Friend” [Read more →]

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A question I received: Who should you release your personal anger on? Sometimes it’s felt very strongly, and so I wanted to know how it can be used, whether at all.

My Answer: There is no one quality that was created in us without a purpose, and we need to use all of them, including anger. However, how we actually use anger needs to be clarified. When feeling angry, we first need to unite with the One who initiates our existence – the Creator (“There is none else beside Him”) – and our initial conditions for being able to do so are in having a Reshimo and a desire. We then need to determine what depends on us, to which we say “If I am not for me, then who is?” As a result, we should come to hate that which is within us, preventing us from uniting our entire sensation into one whole (“Israel, Torah and the Creator.” Read Baal HaSulam’s letter “Taking the True Path,”* in Pri Chacham, pages 63-64). We should then come to hate external disturbances, treating them as impurities, and neutralize them within ourselves. And because of “the necessity to practice caution with the laws of nature,” one should take after the collective (see Baal HaSulam’s article “The Freedom,” item “Take After the Collective”).

* Note: Baal HaSulam’s letter “Taking the True Path” is not yet available in English, however, below is an English translation of a lesson on this letter with M. Laitman.

Lesson on Pri Chacham Letter on p. 63 – “Taking the True Path”

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A question I received: Dear Rav, the path of Kabbalah has become my salvation, it’s something to live for, every day I immerse myself deeper into Kabbalah and this makes me happy, I receive the answers to all of the questions that just wouldn’t let me be throughout my entire life, I see the light and the way to rid myself of my egoism. I’ve just read about people that don’t hear things, that “fall asleep,” so what should my attitude be towards the fact that we fall asleep during the web class?

My Answer: Sometimes I would fall asleep during Rabash’s lessons. It happens and there are many reasons why. However, one needs to continue studying and do everything that’s in one’s power, like going to the lesson even when knowing that he might end up falling asleep. It’s because we don’t want knowledge, but the entrance to spirituality. Spirituality is awarded according to a person’s effort, and not according to one’s knowledge of the material.

Related Material:
* Spiritual Work – a chapter from the book Attaining the Worlds Beyond [Free PDF Download | Purchase]

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A question I received: The question of lack of time seriously bothers me. I don’t have the opportunity to watch lessons; the only connection I have is to a daily mailing list with lesson excerpts. I don’t have enough strength. The desire keeps increasing, and opportunities keep decreasing.

My Answer: Effort is all that’s required, and not the amount of time or knowledge. “Lefi Tsaara – Agra,” “The reward is according to the labor.” Spirituality is true and just, and as such, even if you only have one hour a day, but you dedicate that hour to your spiritual growth, it counts as if you’ve dedicated your entire day to it.

Related Material:
* The Beginning of a Kabbalist’s Way – section from the chapter “Proper Study” in the book The Path of Kabbalah: Revealing the Hidden Wisdom (Free PDF Download | Purchase)

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A question I received: Why did the Creator create earthly love between a man and a woman? What does it teach us? What are we supposed to do with it?

My Answer: It’s is a result of a relationship in the Upper root, ZA (Zeir Anpin) and Malchut of Atzilut, which we need to attain. In reality, we are all wives in relation to the Creator, or in other words, we all desire to receive pleasure from Him.

Related Material:
* On Love and Marriage – discussion between M. Laitman and Kabbalah Academy instructors Michael Sanilevich and Eugene Litvar.

* Relationships – by M. Laitman, Kabbalah on the purpose of creation, man and woman, a woman’s nature, family, upbringing, drugs and love.

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A question I received from P.T. Thompkins in the Ask a Question section: How does one function in business when one has to set goals for profit? Profit is certainly an egoistic function but I get so perplexed because I want my desires to be altruistic. I’m confused because I want to change my ways to please the Creator, but how do I do so while still doing what needs to be done for my business?

My Answer: You need to be an honest businessman according to society’s laws.

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A letter I received: I’m ashamed of my desires, and I’d be ashamed if you knew what they are. More and more, I feel that I want it all: all the women, all the power, money, and honor. I feel so envious of others that I don’t know where so much envy can come from! My body refuses to do anything, and I feel like a bottomless glass. I also feel that absolutely nothing is up to me, that I’m like play dough, or a feather in the wind.

Yesterday I had the desire to become president, but today I can’t even get out of bed – I have no motivation or desire. I want to roll up into a ball or burst into pieces.

Yet, I try to connect all that’s happening to the Creator, and I’m thankful that I can at least think about Him. At other times I try to fall into oblivion and forget about everything. I have faith, but with a hint of reproach.

I always remember that you and the group are there, and other people who are searching. Whether I am suffering, trying to run away from the suffering (to forget about it all), trying to find the meaning of my life (if you can even call it a life) and of all life in general – I believe that only the Creator can help me, no one but Him.

My Response: This is life – your first realization of it. Later on, you will understand the changes you’re going through, and right now, you’re learning about yourself, your nature, and your egoism. You’ll later come to hate your egoism and decide to separate from it – and that will be your return from exile.

All of these states are wonderful, because you’re delving into nature, and the Creator is teaching you who you are. After all, you’re not forgetting about Kabbalah and about Him. Read “There Is None Else Beside Him” and other articles from Shamati (I Heard).

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