If we don’t correct something inside of us in time, then this “tail” keeps dragging behind us and greatly complicates our lives, like a heavy burden we are carrying. For example, what did a newborn baby do to suddenly receive so many problems and suffering in this world? The matter is that the baby is born into this world with all the “baggage” of the past, all the things he went through and did not correct in the previous lives. All of this becomes revealed to us because we will have to correct it at some point or other. It’s impossible to “skip” anything.

For example, suppose I was a bad student in first grade and I am now starting second grade even though I don’t understand half of the things being taught there because I missed that material in first grade. The teacher tells me, “You have to make up for everything you missed before. Go and fix it quickly now. You have to, since otherwise, you won’t be ready for second grade.” But how can you even tell what you missed in the previous grade?

This is now being revealed to you. But how can you tell what happened to you in the previous lives if you can’t even tell whether the things that happened to you yesterday were good or bad for you? You can’t even judge the present moment correctly. Yet, if you are not attentive enough to the present moment and are unable to discern and correct your attitude to see that “There is None Else Besides Him” and “He is good and does good,” meaning that you are unable to stay in the middle line, which is the line by which one ascends, then you will have to correct this later on.

Don’t think that you will be “pardoned” from Above for everything you didn’t do. You won’t be able to ascend that way since all the levels are connected by a chain of cause and effect. So how can you predict the levels that lie ahead if you didn’t understand what happened on the previous levels?

In our world we simply don’t feel how absolutely interconnected and predetermined the system is. But in the spiritual world there can be no doubt about this because the system was created by the Light that entered the will to enjoy and expanded it, building an entire universe out of one point.

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We have to keep in mind that we are all in one “boat” and part of one common soul. Everyone has to understand that the gathering that will take place at the forthcoming The Zohar Convention 2010 , like all gatherings of a large number of people who aspire to spirituality, is a gift from the heavens.

The Creator has given me an opportunity to take part in this special event where parts of my own soul come closer to me. If I relate to them in this way, with the understanding that I have been placed in an assembly of souls closest to me that are willing to unite with me, and if every individual as well as all of us together think this way, then it won’t be difficult at all.

Everything depends on preparation. During the ten days that are left before the Congress, I have to constantly prepare and attune myself to think, act, and feel precisely this way when I am there. It doesn’t matter when it will happen, today over here, or tomorrow over there. Time and place don’t mean anything. It’s an exercise for me to deliberately think today about what will happen tomorrow; this will help me later on, during the Congress, when all the conditions come together for attaining the required common effort.

This is very important and it determines everything. Later on it will get easier. It’s like preparing for war. If everything is ready and you are willing to do anything for spirituality, then you will see how everything will come together and happen exactly as you had hoped. If you made great efforts from the bottom of your heart, then everything will happen as you wish. There won’t be any unpleasant surprises. Everything will be good.

Imagine how a gang of thieves prepares in the darkness to go on a dangerous operation to rob a bank. Each of them feels that he depends on the rest, and thus he takes care of the rest. There’s a lot for us to learn from this example. The only difference is the goal. If the goal is egoistic and obvious, then it’s very easy and simple to unite. But if the goal is to attain bestowal, which lies above the individual egoistic desires of every person, then it is not easy at all.

Even the examples of our world demonstrate how useful unity can be. The only problem is that nothing can sustain unity besides the Upper Light. Unity can be sustained only by love.

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A question I received: How come problems do not go away even when you understand the cause?

My Answer: This means that you lack the understanding, meaning, the attainment of the cause and the source. Where do these problems come from? They come from my egoism. Why do they come? They come because I am opposite to the Creator. What do I need to do? I need to demand help from the Surrounding Light so I will acquire the quality of bestowal and attain a connection with the Creator; these are my initial goals.

Basically, I need to go through several stages. The ten Sefirot of the Direct Light awaken the ten Sefirot of the Reflected Light within us, causing us to feel pain starting with the first Sefira (Malchut). After the first nine Sefirot, I feel the evil as a stab or a blow when the Light comes from Above and collides with Malchut. And then I must turn this evil into a proper reaction – the nine Sefirot of the Reflected Light.

In other words, I need to understand that this evil did not come from the Creator, but from my egoistic desire, which is opposite to Him. But why am I opposite to Him? Didn’t He create me this way? I need to understand why I was created this way and what I need to do. I have to rise above my egoism, unite with others, and attain the form of Bina. I rise from Malchut to Bina to acquire the quality of bestowal to the full extent, so that Malchut will be included in Bina and the quality of bestowal will influence and fulfill me.

I remain in it, but that’s not all. After that I’ll need to rise even higher – from Bina to Keter. I rise to Keter in order to attain reception for the sake of bestowal, until I unite with the Creator completely. This is the goal, and the reason why I am now receiving the first blow in Malchut, which I perceive as pain. It’s so that I will be able to attain Keter. The entire process must occur inside me inside Malchut of the Direct Light, or stated differently, inside Keter of the Reflected Light. It must take place within the creature’s initial reaction to the Creator. I need to examine all of this, comprehend it, and solve it, so that as a result, a prayer will emerge inside me where I ask, “Give me the strength to ask”! Because I don’t even have that yet.

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A question I received: Why is the upcoming The Zohar Convention 2010 called “Zohar for the Nation?” It’s kind of a loud name, isn’t it?

My Answer: The Zohar is the greatest Light that comes to us from the system of Arich Anpin. It is the Light that corrects us. “For the Nation” means that we want to unite together. It is written, “I dwell inside my nation,” meaning, the Creator dwells inside those who unite into a single whole. The Creator is Light, Love, and Bestowal, and He is revealed inside this unification.

That is why the Congress is named accordingly. Like disconnected pieces, we are trying to draw closer and come together. The Light will change us and weld us together. Like glue, it will enter between us. Thus, the Light of The Zohar changes the nation and so the Congress is called “Zohar for the Nation.” There is nothing mystical about it.

The matter in question is the correction of man, of society, and of the world. I doubt anyone could put up an argument against this. Kabbalah only reveals the good and useful things for humankind.

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A question I received: If you weighed the big Kabbalistic The Zohar Convention 2010 in February dedicated to The Book of Zohar, how many years of study does it substitute on the spiritual scale?

My Answer: I’ll be able to answer that after the Congress, when I can evaluate it. At this point, I don’t know. Everything depends on you, on how much everyone unites and the strength of our unity. The power of our desire to unite will define everyone’s desire to rise above their egoism. Our correction will depend on this. There are no limitations from Above. All the limitations come from us.

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We mustn’t overly contemplate the stages of development we are on. We think that the better we understand and feel the material, the more we will advance, but this is incorrect.

Some people are sensitive, while others are rational and intelligent. And then there are those who are limited in both respects. This doesn’t matter because we don’t study with the mind. In addition, a sensitive person does not necessarily receive the right impressions for advancement.

Advancement is not at all dependent on how well we feel or understand the material. Success depends only on our efforts, as it is written: “I labored and I found.”

There is no way to test our advancement similar to how we do it with all the other things in our world. We cannot check whether or not we’ve felt the right feelings or completed certain actions successfully or otherwise. None of these criteria exist in spirituality. Forget about all the systems in this world. They mean nothing with respect to the spiritual.

In spirituality, only the effort counts. Are you truly applying yourself to the full extent? That’s what seals the deal. That is the key to success. There is nothing else.

Nothing else is taken into account. No matter how many good or bad states you may have experienced or how many blows you’ve endured – these things mean nothing. At every moment you must think only about your efforts – to what extent can you force yourself to connect with the Creator through the group? That is bestowal in the purest sense.

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A question I received: Ever since we began studying The Zohar, I feel stronger than before. Could it be that The Zohar grants me strength?

My Answer: The Zohar grants you strength, confidence, and the sensation that you are engaged in the right study process. In addition, changes come quickly when you are studying The Zohar.

It gives you a different inner foundation. You begin to feel a connection to something great, exalted, above our world. The Zohar gives you that sensation, and this is the truth of the matter.

Therefore, we must not only try to read The Zohar as much as possible, but also discern the text within ourselves.

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Two questions I received on study of The Zohar:

Question: If I don’t understand some of the words written in The Zohar, should I look them up in the dictionary?

My Answer: Absolutely not! What for? What could the dictionary possibly tell you?

Question: Should I listen to The Zohar in the language I’m used to speaking?

My Answer: Yes, it’s best to listen to The Zohar in a language you understand. This makes it more difficult. If you are hearing a stream of unknown words, it’s no problem at all – you immediately think about the spiritual world. But this requires no effort on your part.

Suppose you read about the Pharaoh passing through a field of cows, meeting with Moses, and then walking together with him. Is it better to understand this story or not?

If you don’t understand it, you will immediately begin to try and delve into its inner meaning – what does it mean in the spiritual sense, which desires, Lights, screens, and Partzufim are being described, what is happening to them, and is it talking about actions of reception or bestowal?

On the other hand, if you understand the story, it confuses you, making you think you’re reading about occurrences in this world, whereas our task is to read about these occurrences and through them to try to see the spiritual picture. Overcoming the gap between these two pictures is the effort that brings us to spirituality.

A baby doesn’t know what his mother is saying or why the world looks the way it does. A baby doesn’t know what is expected of him, but his efforts to understand help him to grow and become an adult.

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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “Tazria (When A Woman Delivers),” Item 96
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“Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 167, Lesson 66
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“Introduction to the Book of Zohar,” Item 40, Lesson 18
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