The Root Of The Soul

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhen a Kabbalist attains a spiritual degree, he “dresses” into the same form that is called “Abraham” or “Moses,” for example, and he “hears” what they say to each other. In The Zohar there are stories of people talking to each other even though they lived in different centuries, and you would think: How is that possible? It is because it is talking only about the spiritual world, not about people; it is describing desires and qualities that are called by these names.

Your name is also present there because you also have a root of the soul! However, for now it is not called by your current name. When you ascend there and correct this state, you will receive this name. You will reveal it. That is what you have to do: Reveal the root of your soul.

When you attain this point or your main, inherent spiritual quality, then from that point you will become included in the entire rest of the Kli of the World of Infinity. This will mean that you have revealed the soul of Adam HaRishon and it became yours, coming from your point.

Your spiritual vessel with the Light inside it is called by your name. You just don’t know it for now because you are not familiar with your spiritual gene that acts inside of you, the spark, the point in the heart. You don’t know where it comes from. It pulls you toward your root, but you don’t know what that root is, where it is located on the ladder of the degrees, and in what state it exists. You have to reveal it and discover that this is, in fact, you.

This does not mean that you are limited by that root; on the contrary, you will rise even higher! However, you will attain everything from that point. Therefore, every soul is obligated to attain its root and every person has his own root.

There are “forefathers” who are called “the heads of the degrees” or of the “generations.” They are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These aren’t roots of particular souls, but fundamental qualities. They are names of the Creator’s qualities.

On the other hand, each of us has his own root point that he must attain and in which he must correct himself. From there one corrects his connection with all the other souls. This is the meaning of the full, individual correction which every person must perform.

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/27/10, “600,000 Souls”

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Unity Of Hearts

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: At the Convention how can we combine the inner attack with care for the newcomers and for the whole world?

Answer: First of all, I am not focusing on the whole world, but on the participants of the Convention. Every person who is there and whose heart is there participates in it together with us.

The Convention is the assembly of all the hearts that are ready to unite in order to attain equivalence of form with the Creator. We are creating and connecting desires in order to become similar to the Creator, to reveal Him.

All of our desires aim to unite into one in order to reach mutual bestowal. In that bestowal, we will reveal the Upper Light, the Creator, according to the law of equivalence of form.

I am thinking only of the people who are taking part in this. Even if someone participates only slightly, like a child, he is nevertheless a part of it. Meanwhile, the entire rest of the world remains outside of my field of vision.

Of course, we will disseminate information through the mass media, but I only feel those who want to be a part of this mission. The Convention is an act of inner dissemination among us. It is our interconnection, our covenant, our mutual guarantee, the reception of the Torah. We aren’t holding it in order to say something to the world. Our actions are directed inwards and we don’t dissipate by paying attention to the externality.

At the Convention we are facing our common task just as if we were standing around Mount Sinai. That task is unity. A “tribe of slaves” comes out of Egypt and they run away in the darkness, not knowing or understanding anything. They don’t even know where to run. Instead of honor, there’s an escape; instead of confidence, there’s fear and helplessness. Yet this sensation is correct and good.

After that they come to Mount Sinai, the revelation of hatred, and make a decision to attack, to step out against it because they don’t have any other way to go. Every person has no way out; he has to decide here and now, and desire for it to happen. Every person has to want it with everything he has. How will it come true? That’s not my problem. The Creator will complete what I started, but I have to demand it.

Even if I don’t agree to it at the bottom of my heart, even if I am scared, I still scream like a child as if I really can’t survive without the mutual guarantee.
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From the lesson on 10/22/10, Writings of Rabash

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Kabbalists About The Concealed Torah And The Revealed Torah, Part 9

Dr. Michael LaitmanDear Friends, please ask questions about these passages from the great Kabbalists. The commentaries in brackets are mine.

Studying the Concealed Torah Is Preferable to the Revealed Torah

Indeed, if we examine his [Rav Chaim Vital’s] words they will clarify before us as pure heavenly stars. The text, “he is better off leaving his hand off it [off the Talmud], once he has tested his luck in this [revealed] wisdom,” does not refer to luck of wit and erudition [knowledge for the sake of knowledge]. Rather, it is as we have explained above in the explanation, “I have created the evil inclination; I have created for it the spice of Torah.”

It means that one has delved and exerted in the revealed Torah [not for the sake of getting knowledge, but rather for correcting the evil inclination, egoism], and still the evil inclination is in power and has not melted at all. This is because he is still not saved from thoughts of transgression [understanding that he studies not to correct evil, but rather for the sake of getting a reward], as Rashi writes above in the explanation, “I have created for it the spice of Torah.”

Hence, he advises him to leave his hands off it [off Talmud] and engage in the wisdom of truth [Kabbalah], for it is easier to draw the light in the Torah while practicing and laboring in the wisdom of truth than in laboring in the literal Torah.
– Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 22
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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 10.27.10

Rabash, Shlavei HaSulam, “Make Yourself A Rav, Buy Yourself A Friend
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “BeShalach (When Pharaoh Sent),” Item 163
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “Beit Shaar HaKavanot,” Lesson 9
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Baal HaSulam, “600,000 Souls,” Lesson 3
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Rising Above Problems On The Beam Of Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Can a person who just got introduced to Kabbalah and arrives at the convention for the first time connect to it?

Answer: It doesn’t matter at what level a person is; he enters the collective field and feels that it is good. He will feel that it brings warmth, confidence, and protection. He will probably get an answer to some of life’s questions, and it will help him to solve problems within himself and at home.

The Upper Light gets revealed in the connection of people, it fills all cavities and flaws. Hence, everyone can feel that it is worthwhile to participate in unification. In the measure of one’s participation, the person will be able to connect to the Light, the wisdom of Kabbalah, and improve his life.

The wisdom of Kabbalah, contrary to religions, doesn’t claim that a person has to suffer. On the contrary, one should connect to the right environment (and he doesn’t even need to exert much effort to do so), and then he will start ascending on the beam of light.

All problems are solely from the lack of the Light in our life! And if we draw it to ourselves, we won’t feel any lack or serious problems: troubles, misfortunes, pain, and wars. Everything depends solely on the impact of the Light on our world.

It takes only a few minutes for a person to feel what a special place he has entered. Suppose he comes to the gathering, a cultural program: People sing, dance, and he may want to participate. If not, he could simply watch. He will feel warmth and lack of any personal pressure. So I don’t think that someone wouldn’t enjoy it.

People like this kind of atmosphere, even if they walked in accidentally, without seeking spirituality. After all, life usually doesn’t spoil us with such good moments, and people truly miss that.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/18/10, “The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence”

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Powerful Weaknesses

Dr. Michael LaitmanOn the spiritual path, there are two extremely serious obstacles or two questions raised by the Pharaoh himself:

1. “Who is this Creator that I should listen to Him?” In other words, what is so important which is hidden in the property of bestowal for me to bow to it?

In fact, this rebellion of our nature helps us because by overcoming it, we can keep exalting the importance of bestowal over reception in our eyes. The growing egoism continuously denies the importance of bestowal, and we have to keep strengthening our connection with the group so that under its influence, we start aspiring to the realization of the properties of bestowal within ourselves again.

2. "What is there for you in this work?” Egoism shows us that we are weak and incapable of achieving what we desire. “What do you have to do with it? Your goal may be beautiful, but who are you to reach it?”

When we are overtaken by these two weaknesses, it should be understood that a person can’t break free from imprisonment by himself. The only chance to do so is for the friends to come and save him. I will find strength to advance only in the group, in the connection between us. There, I reveal my nature and realize that it lacks bestowal.

Then, I experience distress between the two poles: On one side, there is the importance of bestowal and on the other, my pettiness. And I acquire both these factors thanks to the environment.

Now everything is organized correctly: I am low, the goal is exalted and profound, and I have the means to reach it. At this point, there comes a feeling of certainty that we call the Arvut (mutual guarantee). After all, I know that through the group, I will receive all the necessary strength.

How do I know this? In fact, the correct environment is a structure created by the Creator and infused with His attribute. Therefore, if we draw closer to each other through the bonds of love, then bestowal begins to rule among us.

It turns out that in reality, I am not using the power of the group, but the property of bestowal that is hidden in our interconnection. It doesn’t belong to any one individually for it is the force of the Creator, which becomes revealed between us. This particular force is the one that does all the work.

Hence, the Pharaoh’s heart lies in the hands of the Creator. The Pharaoh is the force of reception created by the Creator for us to build the form of bestowal exactly above it.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/19/20, “He Who Strengthens His Heart”

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Unifying Two Worlds Within You

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe further we advance, the more confusing and unpredictable the world becomes. We see the presence of a process, but we do not understand where it is leading.

Studies show that our reality is situated in one quality: the desire to receive or to enjoy. All the calculations on all levels are conducted only on the basis of personal gain. Even bestowal is used with the goal of receiving. We lack the energy for an action that is not directed at our own benefit. So what should we do?

Kabbalists tell us that there is another, opposite reality which is governed by an all-encompassing force of creation. We can call it Nature or the Creator; it is the same thing. We are talking about an absolute, universal quality of bestowal. We can rise from the degree of reception to the degree of bestowal only with the help of this global all-inclusive force which created all of reality. We can evoke an influence on us through our actions so that this force would change our nature.

These actions are simple: We try to unite, to imagine ourselves in mutual bestowal, and along with this, we study the laws of the reality that is altogether concealed from us. Due to our efforts and the studies, we seemingly draw ourselves closer to the quality of bestowal or, on the contrary, attract it to us so that it influences and changes us.

Thereby, we evoke the joining of qualities while swaying on the waves of altering sensations. Sometimes, we feel good from achieving nearness to bestowal and see that we are moving forward. At other times, to the contrary, we feel poorly from this.

This is how we walk: sometimes with the right foot, sometimes with the left, sometimes with the growth of bestowal, and other times, with the growth of reception. If we don’t leave the method, the reception is revealed in us to the point of hatred, and love is revealed above it more and more until all the evil that is instilled in us and all the goodness that we can attract from the quality of bestowal are revealed.

Then, we create the right combination of these qualities: the middle line. We unify two worlds within us and exist in them both, constantly elevating the force of bestowal over the force of reception. This is called “receiving for the sake of mutual bestowal.”
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/19/10, “He Who Strengthens His Heart”

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