The Entire Universe Is On A Single Axis

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Spirituality is based on bestowal. On what basis do we build our work while we are in “the period of preparation” for entry into the spiritual world?

Answer: There is an instruction: “Hear, O Israel!” That is, a person should direct himself at “The Creator is the only force above us, the Creator is One” (“the Lord is our God, the Lord is One”— the words of the prayer).

Suppose, I tell myself: “Hear, the Creator is the upper force above you, He is one.” This determines my direction that will take me to the Source, to revelation, adhesion, and unity. This is the foundation upon which our work is built, the axis along which I have to move. Now, I need to attach to this axis all the available means that I have to realize this principle.

The Creator and I are at the opposite ends of one line. And I get closer to Him by the means available to me: connecting “Israel, the Torah, and the Creator” into one whole.

The Torah is all that you can imagine; all that exists except the initial desire of the creature, as it is said: “I created the evil inclination, and I created the Torah as a spice.” And I have to connect all this in one direction.

I lack closeness to the Creator; my goal is adhesion with Him. I do not know exactly what it means in terms of desires, thoughts, decisions, and the conclusion of this entire path. But I, the goal, and the means for achieving it exist, and I have to organize and use all that correctly. As to the destination, the result, it is one! Everything is included in this concept of the single One.

Along the path, we obtain different forms of the mind, thought, decision making, and action—absolutely everything is changed within a person. The Light makes a revolution in him or her and creates a new human being.

Now we cannot imagine what it is. But in each state, at each stage, you should strive to do what you are able to and must do now, at this level. And then it will turn out that everything acts in one direction. This includes your search and especially your struggle with the obstacles, when you try hard to discern them and see that your egoism works here, knocking you off your path, from the thought that “There is none else besides Him.”

You have to check all the time with special attention: Whether I am in peace and agreement with the one upper force in everything I do? Is the entire universe divided now in my thoughts and feelings in two or even three parts, as if there are the Creator, the rest of creation along with various reasons, and me?

Somebody annoys me, puts all sorts of obstacles, and causes problems—this means that I do not connect this whole world with the Creator and I recognize idols, “other gods.” Indeed, how could there be any other reasons for my states if there is one force acting in the universe?

I need to verify how I react to all these reasons, to each person, enemy or friend, and to each problem: Do I perceive them as existing separately or do I combine all of them and see behind them the Creator who performs all this farce, so that by connecting all this together and attributing all to Him, I reach the principle of  “there is none else besides Him”?

This is a serious work, and if a person is sensitive and analyzes his states carefully, he advances correctly and rapidly.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/7/2011, Shamati #15

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Kabbalists On The Nature Of Man And The Nature Of The Creator, Part 19

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

Remoteness from the Creator is the Reason for All Suffering

When all human beings agree to free themselves of their will to receive and have no other desire but to bestow upon their friends, all worries and jeopardy in the world would cease to exist. And we would all be assured of a whole and wholesome life since each of us would have a whole world caring for us, ready to fulfill our needs.

Yet, while each of us is only in egoism, it is the source of all the worries, suffering, wars, maladies, and pain.
– Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Item 19
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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 07.11.11

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Letter 25”
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The Book of Zohar – Selected, Chapter “Truma (Donation),” “You Shall Make A Table,” Item 485, Lesson 20
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Talmud Eser Sefirot Part 1 Table of Answers for Topics,” Item 55, Lesson 36
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Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah, Item 20, Lesson 15
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Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah),” Item 16, Lesson 11
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