Opening The Zohar – 07.11.10
Posted on July 11th, 2010
The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “The First Commandment“
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “The First Commandment“
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When we read The Zohar, we should imagine that we exist in two systems. One system, created by the Creator, is inalterable, and the only one that exists. It is called “the World of Infinity.”
As Baal HaSulam relates in “The Preface To The Book Of Zohar,” this state is constant. Since the Creator created and formed all of creation instantly in its final state with one thought, we exist there in His plan of creation which is “to please the creatures.” Baal HaSulam also explains in The Study of the Ten Sefirot, Part 1, Chapter “Inner Reflection,” the Plan of creation is enough for the Creator to create it.
The Creator realizes everything through one action. This reality is perfect and invariable, and there are no steps to achieving the desired state. We exist in this perfect state in all our perfection, the way the Creator initially intended us to be.
However, besides this perfect state, we, with respect to ourselves, also exist in another reality. We, as though, lost consciousness, no longer realizing that perfect reality in which the Creator created us.
These two states exist parallel to each other. Through our own efforts, we need to enter the sensation of the true reality. We do this by using the environment: the books, the teacher, and the group.
We need to wake up, to enter consciousness, to return to that true state in which we exist but do not feel with our corrupted senses. The science of Kabbalah is given to us so that while we exist in an unconscious state called “this world,” we can learn about that perfect reality. By trying to become similar to it through our mutual efforts, we can rouse a force from it, which is able to return us there.
This force is the Light that Reforms. This force will heal us and correct our egoism. Gradually, as though from non-existence, we will begin to feel true life. We will discover that we were “like in a dream.”
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/7/10, The Zohar
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We are completely under the authority of nature. We are controlled in all of our actions, those of the body as well as those of the soul. Yet, Kabbalists say that we have freedom of choice. There would have been no point to create this whole creation if the Upper Force unambiguously determined everything that happens to us beforehand.
However, the freedom of will exists only above our present life, only there, in a higher dimension where we wish to rise above our egoistic nature, in the quality of bestowal. Only on that ascent from one degree to another will we able to choose whether to ascend by receiving blows from nature. If we do not use our freedom of will, do not exert our own effort, do not strive to develop ourselves on our own in the same direction, or see a desired goal in this, nature will push us. But if we search for the forces to help us execute this ascent, this is where we find our freedom of will.
Kabbalists explain that freedom of choice exists only in building a correct environment. Moreover, I don’t just choose the environment; I advance under its influence. I can choose my environment and by that hasten my advancement as well as change the nature of this ascent.
Instead of dashing to and fro under the blows of fate like a beaten animal, I can rise by a wonderful path, according to my own desire, full of feelings, understanding, and by my own strength, as befits a human being. I can do this if I examine the goal, wish to near it, and understand that in order to hasten my development I need to draw more Light than I receive through the natural path. This means is given to me; it is called the Torah, the Upper Light; it pulls me out and returns me to the source.
It is written in regard to this work that if we leave it even for one day, if we don’t realize our freedom of choice, then we halt our development for two days, and are not permitted to advance independently. We begin to be influenced by the natural Upper forces.
After all, it is not enough to only lose to the extent of our not exerting effort; we don’t learn much from this. To teach us to stay on the wonderful path, we receive a “punishment” for straying that is slightly greater than what we did so that the next time an even greater obstacle emerges on the path, we would beware not to stumble on it. The spiritual law states, “If you leave Me for a day, I will leave you for two.”
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/9/10, Shamati #108
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A question I received: In a state of a descent, how can I hold onto the goal so firmly that I can turn the descent into an ascent and fall on my own rather than have the Creator hurl me?
My Answer: I need to control this descent and decide on my own that a downfall is necessary. I have to prepare myself for the descent beforehand like one prepares for a surgical procedure. What will help me not to “lose my head” during a descent and fall under the authority of my desires? A connection to the goal will help me feel the descent and rise instead of losing myself. I am unable to guarantee this for myself and therefore, I require the right environment to support me when I lose control as a consequence of the desires that are too big for me to handle.
When the time comes for a spiritual embryo to be born, to transition to the degree of feeding, it loses its current degree completely by turning over “head down.” So how is it able to connect these two states during the birth? How does it secure itself from becoming a miscarried fetus, and instead, adhere to the Creator on a higher degree in order to be born into a new world? For this we are given different Reshimot (spiritual records, genes): de-Aviut and de-Hitlabshut (from desire and from the Light).
It turns out that I will always be able to connect to two degrees simultaneously! This is what helps me to be born.
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/7/10, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “VaYetze (And Jacob Went Out),” Item 386
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot,” Item 14, Lesson 12
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Creation is an empty desire, while the Creator is the Light. How can the two opposites – the void and the Light – connect? If they don’t, the creature whose nature is a vacant desire, will remain empty forever. How can these two opposites be reconciled? After all, according to the law of equivalence of form that governs nature, they cannot draw together and merge just as the north and south poles cannot.
Hence, it appears necessary to mix the desire to receive and the desires to bestow. In the “head” (Rosh), an intention to receive in order to bestow arises, while in the “body” (Guf), there appears an egoistic force to receive not for the sake of bestowal, but for the sake of self. This is how the breaking between the “head” and the “body” occurs. There is a loss of connection between them along with the ability to think and act in unison. There is one thought in the “head,” but a completely different desire in the “body.” The heart and the mind are not one.
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/7/10, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”
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What device can help me connect to the carrier wave that comes from the Creator? Should I sensitize my “antenna” to His transmitter?
Connecting to the Creator’s frequency can be done only through the group. Without the group, I will have no contact with His wavelength of bestowal. I have to place myself within the correct range of frequencies. This can only be found among friends in the group where this carrier wave is transmitted. As soon as I step out of the range of the group, I stop receiving any waves; the same occurs in the corporeal world when I step out of the zone of my cell phone’s signal reception.
What is the Creator transmitting to me at this frequency? He sends me fulfillment of my soul. There is a main carrier wave (the frequency of bestowal) which is necessary solely for me to attain similarity to the Creator. Attached to the main wave length is a minor wave which carries the fulfillment of my soul; it is a signal that brings me intelligence and perception, an understanding of His plan, as well as the skill and the strength to carry out His intention.
I need two frequencies in order to attain bestowal followed by fulfillment, a pipe within a pipe, both the Light of Hassadim and the Light of Hochma. If only one Light came in, it would annul my will to receive. But if I yearn solely for bestowal, the Creator can fill me without limitation. Only under this condition can a spiritual vessel open for infinite reception of Light.
The carrier wave is the Light of Hassadim; the accompanying wave (the “valid signal”) is the Light of Hochma. The transmission range is provided by the group. If I step out of it, I will stop receiving spiritual frequencies because I alone cannot tune into bestowal, try as I might. I must enter the place where such bestowal resides.
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/8/10, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”
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A question I received: Why did you say that at first we notice only that which differs in its qualities from us; that is, we would not notice someone who is equal to us, but only one who is either above or below us? And then you said that equivalence of qualities is a necessary condition to catch the spiritual wave with your “receiver.”
My Answer: Our egoism does not notice ones that are equal to it. And if we want to perceive equality, we need to rise above our ego.
I need the group in order to reach equivalence with the Creator in the quality of bestowal. By attuning myself to equivalence with the friends, I thereby align myself with the Creator. Otherwise, I will not be able to be equal to Him. Instead, I will bend down before Him expecting a profit or wishing to adhere to Him like a child in order to have Him govern over me. In other words, I will place Him above or below me, but not equal to me.
I can become equal only through the group. The group is that transformer. Only with the help of the group can I achieve equivalence and similarity of qualities to the Giver. The group actually exists only in my imagination in order for me to reach equivalence with the Creator, the kind of equivalence that does not exist in nature!
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/8/10, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”
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In order to attune myself to the Creator’s wavelength, I need to adjust my “diapason” (the compass of my instrument) – the degree of bestowal (screen). I attune my desire to enjoy to bestowal, and depending upon this desire, I catch different “radio stations” from the Creator.
I change the frequency of the wavelength, and switch from one level (Aviut) of the desire to another, and based upon this I perceive different influences of the Creator. How can I know that I attuned myself correctly? I know this by the reaction. If I “caught” a wave from Him and received something, this means that I attuned myself to bestowal.
If only I could see in which direction to turn the knob on the radio’s tuner in order to draw closer to and more clearly tune in to one of His channels. If only it were marked like on a radio. But there are no such labels in the spiritual world. Although, if we reach a state where we are able to adjust our tuning, then the soul begins to teach us.
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/8/10, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”
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