Has Everything Been Done?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: By what is our covenant held? After all, we don’t notarize it.

Answer: The covenant works very simply. Those who don’t comply with it are bounced from it at the speed of light since it is the Light that gives strength to our union when we have aspiration, agreement, and unity between us.

The union, the covenant of mutual guarantee, doesn’t need to be announced in words; it’s a certain level of interconnection. But, if a person has reached this level and is not establishing a connection, he is bounced off. To sign the “union contract” means for a person to complete the deal on his part. It’s OK if he is not quite ripe yet, but is already willing to restrict his egoism.

Let’s see, now, at the threshold of the upcoming World Kabbalah Convention to what extent everyone is willing to give themselves to this cause and think about only one thing: How do I become part of the collective desire and “lose myself” in it? Is a person participating in the preparation using all his potential? If not, he is deceiving himself and isn’t advancing.

Besides, we will certainly see it in him. The Light will expose everything like an X-ray. That’s when we will check everyone and see, if now, during the final run, he is prepared to enter the union. Everyone must answer for himself and examine himself. Can he do anything else for the common effort?

The time has come to engage the innermost forces of the soul. After all, it is right now when I have to decide whether I will pass through or not. There must not be any more delays; we are already lagging behind.
[24902]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/22/10, “The Matter of the Will to Receive”

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The Gateway Of Intentions

Dr. Michael LaitmanBeit Shaar HaKavanot (The Gateway of Intentions) is a book that more than any other is designed to prepare us to a “prayer,” a request for correction. Therefore, it doesn’t describe the universe in individual details; it doesn’t analyze, but rather, seeks to synthesize, to connect the individual parts together, and to show the entire universe as one, global, integrated system, interrelated and interdependent in all its details.

When a person observes the same forms in terms of both the particular and the general, he sees how everything is interconnected. That means that he is looking from the point of view of the “Igulim” (circles) of the system that belong to the final corrected state where the particular and the general are equal.

The particular can’t contain more or less than the general, and the general can’t contain more or less than any of its parts. Such is the law of perfection. That’s why such an approach to the world as a global, integrated, and coherent system is necessary to achieve prayer.

The reason the book is so important to us is because it constantly directs us at the overall system by demonstrating that we are but tiny parts of it, each of which is just as important as the entire system.
[24947]
From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/26/10, “Beit Shaar HaKavanot”

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Kabbalah For Beginners “Happiness” – 10.28.10

Kabbalah TV Channel 66’s Kabbalah for Beginners, “Happiness”
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Doubts In The Twilight Zone

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Why is the zone of free will, the Klipot (shells), located between the sensation of the Internal Light and the Surrounding Light?

Answer: Internal Light is the light that enters me. The Surrounding Light is the light I am aware of, aware that it exists but don’t clearly feel like a person who can comprehend what is going on. A person feels as if he were in the twilight zone where he cannot recognize a familiar image or distinguish a friend from a stranger. (A friend is the desire attached to you, and a stranger is the desire you can’t work with; yet, specifically from these states, later, we gain the opportunity for correction.)

During the day, nothing needs to be done; everything is already clear. At night, there isn’t much to do either since I can’t see anything. Both of these states have been discerned, but it is the “evening” which gives an opportunity for work, a place where desires can blend (“Erev” – evening derives from the word “Eruv” – blending).

After the breaking, all desires blended with each other, but when some part of these broken desires falls into the state of evening and reaches us, we can discern and attach them to the “day.” In this manner, we gradually study our desires. Therefore, the major discernments occur at the border between the Internal and Surrounding Light.
[24944]
From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/26/10, “Beit Shaar Ha-Kavanot”

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Unity In Everything

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe principle of loving your neighbor as yourself summarizes and includes all the principles. We carry out the principle of fear and the principle of love through unity by annulling ourselves before the group, and through mutual guarantee by receiving the Light that Reforms. The Light brings us the state of fear and then love.

All of it together is called “carrying out the 613 commandments.” This is talking about the correction of desires. Every desire neutralizes its egoism and acquires a screen, the intention of bestowal.

I don’t see the steps of the ladder ahead of time. I build them myself through self-renunciation, which enables me to hold on to the group more and more strongly. That is how a single Kli forms inside me, aimed at the single Creator. This requires the principle called “single corresponds to single.”

All of our efforts and corrections are aimed at building this unity. A person discerns it by aspiring toward it and suppressing everything else. Who does he unite with? With the group, which he evaluates using just one criterion: the goal. He joins just this point of the goal which is present in the group, and not anything else inside those around him. He bows down before unity, focusing on it.

Then he is single and he unites with the single group, discarding everything else in his desire in order to reveal the single Creator who is Good and Does Good: the quality of bestowal. Thus, through love for others, a person acquires love for the Creator.
[25156]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/28/10, “According to What is Explained Concerning Love Thy Friend as Thyself”

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Who Leads Us Across The Machsom?

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Zohar, Chapter “BeShalach (When Pharaoh Sent),” Item 180: For the crossing of Yam Suf [the Red Sea] and the drowning of the Egyptians, their high root in holiness, in AA, had to be cancelled first. This was not possible except by the great light of Atik, which is the root of everything.

The Upper Governance comes to us from Partzuf Arich Anpin (AA) where everything is ordered according to Tzimtzum Bet, the three lines and Bina which has come out of the bounds of Rosh of AA. That is why we are governed in such a way that we have to go by faith above reason, along three lines, acquiring the screens of Bina under the Second Restriction (Tzimtzum Bet).

Partzuf Atik is already the First Restriction (Tzimtzum Aleph) and therefore it is called Atik, which comes from the word “Neetak” – separated and detached from the World of Atzilut and all the lower worlds. Atik really is infinity. Therefore the action it performs is above the system we are in. The Light of Atik does not submit to our laws; it is above them and above our nature.

We are under Tzimtzum Bet and are a result of the World of Nekudim, the breaking and the corrections in the Worlds of Atzilut and BYA (Beria, Yetzira, Assiya). We submit to many restrictions, but they are all organized so we must first of all be on the level of Bina and only then slightly attach the receiving desires (Kelim), thereby evoking the glow of Hochma inside of the bestowing Kelim.

That is why we don’t understand how it is possible for such a tremendous correction to happen that will enable us to separate from the “Egyptians,” to come out of the will to enjoy and rise above it. We perceive only very weak Lights that come from Above gradually, step by step, as “drops of luck” (Mazalot).

That’s why our entire passage across the Machsom seems impossible until the great Light GAR de Hochma comes, which is above all of our qualities and the laws of Tzimtzum Bet. This is called the crossing of the Red Sea (Kriyat Yam Suf), the action of the Light GAR de Hochma.

Therefore, the state we will have to go through is called Egyptian darkness. When GAR de Hochma shines inside desires that aren’t yet ready, it brings them darkness so great, we cannot even fathom it. The Light standing across an uncorrected desire evokes these phenomena in it.

However, the glow of the Light GAR de Hochma that comes to us from Atik opens up this difference or this “iron wall” called “the Red Sea.” There is no Red Sea, there is no end. Rather, it is canceled by the Light that comes and then we can go through it.
[25060]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/27/10, The Zohar

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Take The Creator’s Hand

Dr. Michael LaitmanWhen a person realizes how important the group is for his correction, he opens himself up like the hood of a car and lets his friends “do maintenance” inside. In the same manner, a patient gladly stretches himself on the surgical table with the expectation that the doctors will save his life. A person feels that he depends one hundred percent on the good will of the friends and that only with their help will he change, get corrected, and recover from a deadly ailment.

Then, the environment begins working on him. The more he sticks to the friends, the more clearly he is shown how hard it is to turn to them, how appalled he is by it. On one hand, a person understands that he simply must turn to the friends because all his life depends on it, but on the other, egoism and stubbornness don’t allow him to do so. These two qualities are called “hate,” “impure side,” and “filth.”

For example, sometimes we have to apologize to someone and can’t force ourselves to do it. In this situation, I discover two opposite forces: I must do it in order to save myself, yet I can’t. However, I later recognize that my incapacity is caused by a foreign force and, as a result, I gain strength.

This happens at every new degree. I begin to realize that the Creator has arranged everything so that I would hold His hand like a little child who clings to a grown-up. Then, with His help, I will be able to go to the Pharaoh.

This is how we advance until the very end of correction: I recognize the evil of my nature, separate from it, and see that is the Pharaoh, my rival. Then, I desire to get rid of it and ask the Upper Light to do it.
[24607]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/18/10, “Come to Pharaoh”

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While The Light Is Working On Us

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: With the help of The Book of Zohar, we wish to feel our interdependence in attaining spirituality as much as possible. How can we increase our internal demand during the remaining days before the convention? What else can be done?

Answer: We cannot remain in a constant, intense demand during an entire 24 hours. It is understandable. This is instilled in nature since all corrections occur due to the entering and exiting of the Light, as it is written, “For out of Zion shall go forth the law.”

Therefore, on one hand, the question is correct, “How can we feel, each minute, that we are ascending?” However, it also written that “The Creator’s angels ascend and descend.” During ascents as well as descents, we should realize that this is how advancement occurs. Hence, the process is correct.

If a person sees that for most of the day he does not cling to the goal, unity with the group, that he is not wholeheartedly striving to finally unify with the friends, to step “out of himself,” out of his ego, and to attain love of the created beings and the Creator, then this is how it has to be. After all, leaps forward, ascents, and contacts with the Upper One must, later, start working in the lower one and modifying multiple systems within him. Hence, this is how the work occurs.

Only if we ourselves begin to participate in the actions of the Upper One within us, does it mean that we are no longer in a state of an embryo (Ibur) or even nurturing (Yenika), but that we have reached a mature state (Gadlut) where we identify ourselves with the Upper One and act as partners, together. Then, I can say that both in descents and ascents or in any other states, the actions of the Upper One are not concealed from me anymore, and I work with them in the appropriate manner together with Him, dividing the work between us.

However, in the meantime, the Light is working on me, and I don’t know why I stopped feeling it and no longer know what is happening with me. Suddenly, for a few hours, I fall into an unconscious state and then wake up again. All these states should be viewed as correct.

When we become truly able to participate in this work, we will come to it. But torment, the desire to remain in this state forever, always pushes us toward advancement.
[24138]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/18/10, The Zohar

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Gifts From The Convention

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Why did you say that participation in the convention gives a person spiritual advancement equal to that of a minimum of a half year’s work?

Answer: The convention is a place where we all fall under the concentrated impact of an exalted spiritual force. Clearly, it affects us greatly. The Light resides there “clothed in the society,” and if I annul myself before this society, I receive their desires (spiritual vessels), enthusiasm, and aspiration to bestow.

Hence, the Light starts affecting me through them, through their vessels. It turns out that I advance by receiving their vessels and the Light.

Let’s hope that everyone will experience this; I am looking forward to it myself! Everyone benefits from it, whether they are a beginner or a Kabbalist with attainment since the Upper Light knows no limits. “The Creator dwells among His people,” and if such a huge mass of people gets together and desires to reveal spirituality, then thanks to their great quantity and despite their small desire, everyone can gain the force of life!
[24144]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/18/10, “The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence”

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 10.28.10

Rabash, Shlavei HaSulam, “According to What is Explained Concerning Love Thy Friend as Thyself
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “BeShalach (When Pharaoh Sent),” Item 193
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Baal HaSulam, “Beit Shaar HaKavanot,” Lesson 10
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “The Acting Mind,”
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