Question: In “Introduction to The Study Of Ten Sefirot,” Baal HaSulam writes that a person must strive to understand what he is studying. Does this apply to studying The Zohar?

Asnwer: Of course! After all, in both TES and The Zohar we understand nothing. But to understand means to aspire to know. Know, not understand! Understanding comes later. First, we must know, meaning we must reveal the Upper world and connect with it in the equivalence of form, as it is written: “And Adam knew Hava (Eve).”

In spirituality, mind (the Light of Hochma or Wisdom) comes in the degree of the desire’s corrections, in the Light of Hassadim (Mercy), and not according to the excellent work of the cells of the cerebrum, memory, or electrical impulses passing through the brain. We can attach electrodes or add memory cells to the human brain, but it won’t help to attain knowledge! It is described as: “Not the wise one learns.” It all depends on the correction by the Light of Hassadim since then the Light of Hochma has something to clothe in.

The connection between Hochma and Hassadim is regarded as “And Adam knew Hava, his wife.” Adam is Hassadim, and Hava is Hochma clothed in Hassadim. We can advance only in accordance with this principle.

Hence, no matter what we study, The Zohar or TES, we must think solely about the correction of desire, the place which the Light of Hochma will clothe. Thereby, we will indeed become wise for we will obtain inner wisdom, when the Light of Hochma will clothe in the inner Light of Hassadim.

We see little value in the external wisdom that characterizes “Kabbalists from Jerusalem,” as Baal HaSulam labels them. No matter how well a person has memorized everything written in the books, it will only confuse him.

It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know these texts, but we must aspire to have them revealed as the Light of Hochma in the Light of Hassadim. We shouldn’t strive to fill the mind with information from the book.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/1/10, The Zohar

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