The four exiles described in The Zohar are our “inner philosophers” who force us to work “within reason,” in the desire to receive pleasure, and to follow all of its commands. To exit them means to rise above the mind, above the desire, with the help of the Light that Reforms.

So, if I feel that I am submerged in my mind and sensations and work only within them, am I in the exile or not? Do I agree with my state? Perhaps I even love my mind and feelings, have faith in them, study, understand, and accumulate more knowledge and sensations every day?

On one hand, it is good. However, if a person does not see that all of this is a means to reach spirituality, it is bad since he does not achieve anything by this. He only obtains the false confidence that some day this approach will bring him to spirituality. But it will never happen since one does not study by his mind. No matter how much you know, you will not become closer to spirituality even by an inch.

Then what should we do? We should make a calculation. This is called “and they cried from this work.” A person sees that by using all his strength during the “seven years of plenty,” by attaining within his mind and feelings, and understanding what was written in all articles, he has not achieved anything. The printed text on paper has become imprinted in his brain cells, but this is all he has now….

Then he makes another calculation: “I only need the Light that Reforms! Whatever I have inside me and I myself, all of it has nothing to do with spirituality.”
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/25/10, The Zohar, Introduction, “Among All the Sages of the Nations Of the World, There Are None Like You”

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