Kabbalah Moments – The Choice

Preparation For Receiving The Torah: The Light Of Correction

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Torah is the force of correction, and it changes us to equivalence with the Creator. When we become similar to the Creator, we are called “Adam,” and each of us is called “Ben-Adam” (human being) on his part. Adam means “similar” (in Hebrew – Edame) to the Creator. Thus, a “human being” isn’t one of the billions that exist in our world, but one who achieves equivalence to the Creator.

However, in order to elevate oneself to the level of the Creator, in order to implement the Torah, a sufficient desire is necessary. We are consumed with earthly concerns, so how can we be concerned with the aspiration to spirituality, with elevating ourselves to the next dimension? This is part of the preparation for receiving the Torah. It’s written that the Creator gives us the Torah every day. This means it is always ready for use and it depends only on our desire.

Therefore, first of all, I need to cultivate the desire to rise from my animal degree to the entrance into a new world, which is the spiritual world. However, if I don’t have this desire, I’ll live like an animal and I won’t notice this means since I don’t experience any need for it; I don’t want or understand anything that goes beyond the realms of this world. Otherwise, I could already be advancing to the spiritual world. So far, I don’t have a sufficient desire in order to use this means to enter the Upper dimension. Thus, I need to prepare myself for the reception of the Torah.

Only if I reveal the evil inclination in me and clarify what it is that I need to correct in order to reach the Creator (love and bestowal), do I prepare myself for receiving this means called the Torah. Engaging in the Torah means extracting the Light that Reforms from it. I need to aspire to it and desire it to correct me. I need to open a book as though I receive medicine from it, without which I am doomed to die. Are there many people who study the Torah this way in our world?

From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/17/10, “What is the Preparation for Receiving the Torah?”

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At The End Of The Last Exile

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, Chapter “VaYikra (The Lord Called),” Item 80: When he reached her, he saw that she was lying in the dust. Who saw the glory of the queen at that time, and the king’s requests of her? Finally, the king held her in his arms, raised her, and brought her to his palace. And he swore to her that he would never part from her again and will never be far from her.

Every time the breaking is greater and the exiles are more real. The last exile can not even be compared to the one before. This is because the difference between them is in the revelation of evil in the thickness of the egoistic desire (Aviut) on the level of Aleph (Ego-1), Bet (Ego-2), Gimel (Ego-3), and Dalet (Ego-4).

Ego-4 was revealed during the last exile while all the previous exiles were merely preparation for this one. After all, it is Ego-4 that needs to be corrected. All the other exiles (as well as all the other levels of the ego) do not exist on their own, just like the still, vegetative, and animate levels have to exist for the sole purpose of engendering the human kind, Ego-4.

Similarly, the fourth level of the development of desire, Malchut, cannot become revealed without the levels 0, 1, 2, and 3. But it is specifically Malchut on level 4 which is the goal; all the corrections happen in it.

This is why this last exile is special, it corresponds to the “human” level within the desire to receive pleasure. It is precisely in it that the needs, aspirations, desires, and the Creator’s goals regarding all the creatures (including levels 0,1,2 and 3), what He desires of them, become revealed.

Likewise, this fourth and last exile in its turn is divided into subcategories: still, vegetative, animate, and human. It began almost 2,000 years ago, but it is only now that we are entering the fourth, human level of the fourth exile. Now is when we reveal the lack of fulfillment on the human level. We witness depression, breakdown of the family unit, crisis in education, and all that relates to the “human” level. Hunger (animate level) is no longer the main problem. Now the main issue is the inner problems of the human level which did not exist in previous states.

This is why the King sent the queen into a long exile somewhere far away. On the other hand, He needs to give her the opportunity to come out of this descent, to ensure that this exit is towards a connection with Him, on a human level. Thus, He must gradually unveil this broken state and reveal Himself in it. The queen lies in dust, while the King must reveal Himself to her in this precise state.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/16/10, The Zohar

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Can One Study Spanish Like The Zohar?

Dr. Michael LaitmanA question I received: In Kabbalah, advancement depends on the intention and desire to learn the material. Is it possible to study a new language by building the right intention? Suppose I want to learn Spanish. I don’t understand it, but I want a textbook to influence me. I apply effort and maintain my desire to gain knowledge of it. Will I learn Spanish this way? Or does this method apply solely to Kabbalistic books, such as The Zohar?

My Answer: The Zohar doesn’t need your understanding, meaning that you don’t have to comprehend it to become a Kabbalist. You won’t really understand anything until you actually become a Kabbalist; whatever The Zohar describes will be concealed from you.

You read The Zohar only to attract the Upper Light. When the Upper Light begins influencing you and raises you to a new level, then you will obtain a vision of what you read. Only then will you understand it. Until the Upper Light elevates you, The Zohar will remain a mystery for you.

Question cont’d: So I won’t learn Spanish without understanding it? In other words, I can’t put a Spanish textbook in front of me and wait until it influences me. It won’t happen.

My Answer: No, a Spanish textbook won’t influence you, but The Zohar will. When it comes to The Zohar, it doesn’t depend on knowledge, but solely on the impact of the Upper Light on you.

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A Woman’s Influence

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the News (from Psychological Science.org): A woman’s touch is all it takes for men to throw all caution to the wind. That’s the conclusion of a new study published online in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Participants were tested to see if they would take risks, such as invest money or gamble. In the experiment conducted by scientists at Columbia University, “volunteers who had received a light pat on the shoulder from a female researcher while getting instructions for a financial decision-making task were more likely to select risky investments than were the volunteers who did not receive a touch on the shoulder, those who received a pat on the shoulder from a male researcher, or those who received a handshake. Subtle physical contact by a female increased participants’ sense of security, which may have led to a greater willingness to take risks.”

The results suggest that a woman’s touch works the same on adults as it does on infants, making them feel more secure, and more willing to take risks.

My Comment: Kabbalah divides the spiritual work into two parts. The female part (Malchut) helps, inspires, directs, and provides the desire. The male part (the Screen and the Reflected Light), being directed by the female part toward the goal, goes out and "hunts," takes risks, and rises above their nature. Without the women’s participation, both men and women are unable to achieve the goal.

In the experiment, both men and women were willing to take bigger risks in hopes of receiving a bigger reward. Women are also capable of inspiring each other, cultivating bigger desires within their circle. This is the reason why we need to create a Kabbalah organization for women, instead of individual women influencing their own men. Proper cooperation between both the male and female parts will certainly secure a bright future for us all.

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 05.18.10

Preparation to the Lesson, “Igrot 11 (Letters),” Pg 53, 1925
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The Book of Zohar – Selections for Shavuot
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag “Preface to Sulam Commentary,” Item 8, Lesson 3
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Article  “Arvut (The Bond)
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