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Sawing The Log Of My Egoism

Dr. Michael LaitmanA person should reach a state in which he feels that is the Creator’s partner: I do half the work and He does the other half. Half for me and half for Him. It is like a saw with two handles that two people hold, each one in his turn pulls to his side: One time the first person and then the other person, and so they saw the log.

A person should also feel that they act alternately: One time he acts and one time the Creator. Of course, I don’t do the work by my own powers. The power comes from Above. The Creator performs the action and the request comes from me, then again an action on His part and a request from me. Thus we complete one another each time.

The best state is when a person feels that he can perform this rotation without stopping. It means that we are actually working “face to face,” and that a “horse and his rider” are working together as one whole to such an extent that a person begins to feel more and more what the power he is about to receive will be, and what exactly he should give on his part.

After all, we raise a prayer, MAN, until the world of Ein Sof (Infinity), until the last coupling before Gmar Tikkun (the end of correction), which is the coupling of “Rav Pealim Mekabtziel” in which all the previous prayers come together. On every step of the spiritual ladder, the prayer becomes more clarified and more accurate, more detailed and clear, because a person understands and feels more. This is all the attainment.

He doesn’t feel any shame because he gives his share and so he is the Creator’s partner, in adhesion. Thus he overcomes the “judges and policemen” that reject him and seduce him, and he makes them his assistants. He already feels their actions as assistance.

We can describe this as if a person and the Creator work together on the desire to receive. A person feels that he is together with the Creator above this desire, or that the desire is between them, that the person is on one side and the Creator is on the other side, and between them is the desire to receive that separates them. A person doesn’t see the desire as his own. The very first thing is to disconnect from the egoistic desire and to receive above it, to be separate from it.

Then we should already see the ego that separates us, that is between the friends and a person and the Creator, as our common obstacle. Therefore we work on it together when we connect with the Creator or the friends in order to work together against the ego that disturbs us, without trying to erase it because we cannot do without it, but I yearn to rise above it.
[70551]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/12, Writings of Rabash

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Holography Of The Spiritual World

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Book of Zohar, Chapter “Beresheet (Genesis),” Item 237: This is why it is written about Moses, “No shrub of the field was yet in the earth,” meaning that the righteous, Moses, has not yet grown, from whom the verse, “Truth springs from the earth,” is written, and of whom it is written in regard to truth, “Cast truth to the ground,” referring to disciples of the wise, who are like grasses that grow in the earth. They do not grow and do not come out of the Divinity in exile until the verse “Truth springs from the earth,” comes true.”

On every level, in every state, all of reality is revealed to us, but to differing extents. It is Ein Sof (Infinity), but each time in a minimized or enlarged manner. Just like a holographic picture where all the details are always there but we see them more or less: Yet it is always a full spiritual vessel.

Therefore, now we should relate to our situation this way, since if even the smallest spiritual degree is revealed, it seems like Ein Sof to us, and there are all the forces including Moses.
[70517]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/12, The Zohar

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Before Spiritual Birth

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: These days before the Arava convention, the friends are experiencing great pressure and fear of the unknown. How can I help them during the lesson to focus this pressure in the right direction?

Answer: A person should reach such a level of fear and pressure like at the foot of Mt. Sinai: “You either connect or here will be your burial place.” It is because a person should bury his desire to receive, not identify with it, and rise above it. This is called the receiving of the Torah. He asks the Light to perform an action that is the opposite of burial. But he must see that this is what he wants to do with his ego in order to connect with others and to reach bestowal.

Of course, at the same time he must feel tension and pressure. There isn’t a more tense situation in all our lives than this passage. It is birth and birth is a most natural process, but at the same time, it is the most dangerous and dramatic event in a person’s life.
[70514]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/12, The Zohar

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The Convention Is For Everyone Who Is Willing To Be Included

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Constitution of the Convention in Arava: Our brother, the physical and spiritual conditions that you must observe are before you. Prior to joining us, check carefully: Are you ready, do you realize and feel the importance of the stage to which you connect; do you understand that the Torah, the Reforming Light, will change you so that you love and serve everyone? Do you want this? You should be clear that you come here not to receive, but to receive the force of bestowal.

Even while just reading the story of the Torah about the exodus from Egypt, we see that it involved people of all types: elderly, young, children, men, and women. They differed, some with a great desire to receive, others with a great desire aimed at bestowal. All of them, including Moses and Aaron, were still in the receiving desire. However, the Creator was revealed to them; we will discover what revelations they were.

This is why we open the convention in the Arava to all the men. We do not check whether they participate in all our activities. A person may arrive at the convention but he will not be able to take part in it fully if he does not study during the morning lessons, if he does not pay Maaser (tithe), if he does not participate in the meeting of friends, in their connection, and if he is not involved in dissemination. These are the four conditions according to which a person is my student and a member of Bnei Baruch, a friend for everyone.

First of all, we are talking about physical actions that are followed by deeper levels to the extent a person invests one’s heart and really wants to exert in order to reach the goal. So, there are different gradations.

However, it is never too late to start. We see that this month, more and more people study during the daily Kabbalah lessons and many began to pay maaser because they understood that these funds are dedicated to the dissemination of the method of Kabbalah in the world. In essence, this is our correction. We exist for this purpose: to perform the role of Israel for the world, to receive the method from above and pass it down.

Thus, understanding and awakening are growing in our community; finally, people take the straight path. However, we do not need to be great, we just have to realize the opportunities that we are given. This is what is important.

Many kinds of desires came out of Egypt: children, old, young, men, women, slaves, goats, and sheep. There were all levels: still, vegetative, animate and speaking, but each desire wanted to participate in this fully. A child who is completely ready to take part is also included.

Therefore, we open the convention for everyone. A man can say: “I have been watching the lessons on TV for a long time, and I will try to do the rest.” And he too can come. We turn no one away. In spirituality, only a person can check his heart before the Creator, no one can interfere in this.

However, we ask—and it is very important—that people at least try to be with us during the days of the convention with their whole heart and soul. That is why we put material terms and conditions for the inner work that must be followed.

People who enter the grounds of the Arava convention are obliged to observe the Constitution. They are given all the conditions for participation. If they do not take part in the shared effort, they harm everyone, and this will cause them a lot of damage.
[70541]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/12, “Advice for the Arava Convention”

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Guarantors For Each Other

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: If they expel a person from the convention for whom I signed the guarantee, does that mean that they expel me together with him?

Answer: Of course.

I will say only one thing: If we all try, no one will breach the bylaws of the convention. If the force of the group dwells among us, if we really unite with each other, no one will be able to remain on the side. After all, we create the spiritual force that attracts a person like a magnet, and he is not able to think contrary to it.

We are all guarantors for each other, and we generate this general force. A serious approach is required here: silence, not one unnecessary word spoken. And this will maintain us in unity.
[70536]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/2012, Constitution of the Arava Convention

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A Shield Against The Ego

Dr. Michael LaitmanThere are different types of “judges and guards” in the spiritual work. There are those who act until one acquires the first Masach (screen), which is called the “crossing of the Machsom (barrier).” Judges and guards work both directly and in an opposite manner; that is, they increase our desire to enjoy by seemingly giving a person a greater punishment. Then a person has to rise above it and present his “merits” that attest to his desire to escape this ego.

It isn’t just ignoring it, but rather recognizing it, until a person understands that he must pray for help, to raise MAN. After all, one cannot escape from the deep cellar of the egoism by himself, but only to the extent that he prays and understands that he is in prison. Then he begins to ask for help in order to get out.

Afterward, instead of the suffering in this world and feeling the darkness of the cellar, he is given pleasures so that he won’t want to get out of the cellar. He remains in the egoistic cellar that suddenly seems like a palace to him, like the Garden of Eden, and seemingly fills all his needs. He is offered everything he might desire: “If you wish, you can have all the treasures of the next world in this world—everything besides unity with others in order to merge with the Creator.”

This is how a person is tempted, and he should understand that this test comes from judges and guards in order to eventually provide him with the need for a screen that will enable him to come out of the cellar and to create a shield for himself, the screen against his ego and the egoistic pleasures.

What is man: It is a big desire that we draw like a vessel, and above him there is a great pleasure. The question is only whether he has a screen that separates one from the other: a great desire, hunger, cold, darkness, and helplessness in the desire to receive, and above it all the pleasures. How can a person resist them? He may either take them or ask for a screen over them in order to be filled by adhesion with the Creator.

All our work is through judges and guards. There are many ways we can speak about, but let’s get to know them from real life.
[70544]
From the 1st pat of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/2012, Writings of Rabash

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The Necessary And The Sufficient

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: I am in a virtual group. If a guarantee of two friends is required to attend the convention, who can sign it for me?

Answer: For now, be concerned about that.

Besides men who left Egypt, there were also women, children, and the elderly. Do you understand that you go to the convention as a “woman,” “child,” or an “elderly person”? Do you understand that your mission is to cancel yourself as much as possible? You do not know how to connect with the friends because a woman cannot connect. But you really want this to happen because a woman has to support this unity in every way.

And perhaps you are a “slave,” that is, you obey your egoism but are willing to serve and help in whatever way needed. You are looking for personal gain, want spirituality for yourself, and cannot disconnect from the egoistic concern about your own good future. However, you are aware of this and understand that you are a slave to self-love, and yet you want to join the spiritual attack.

A “slave” is under the external power; Pharaoh or the Creator rule over him, which is the same because Pharaoh is the Creator’s means. And if you still want to participate, then you come to the convention aware of your degree and put all your efforts to be with the friends.

Either way, you are making every effort, and your possibilities do not depend on you—they are categorized by degrees. If you have exerted a little bit, you are a “child,” if more, you are a “slave,” even more, an “an elderly,” more, a “woman,” and even more, a “man.” You are given strength from Above, but you have to apply it completely in order to try to keep up, to become involved. It is not about your level that is important. A person who is trying his best to be with us, similar to a child clinging to adults, does not interfere at all, but only helps. So, wherever you are, come.

Question: Under what conditions does a person go to the convention as a “man?”

Answer: If a person attends all the morning lessons, pays Maaser (tithe), participates in the gatherings of friends, in all the group activities, and is fully involved in mass dissemination, then he follows the advice of Kabbalists. These are the minimum, physical conditions, not related to the spiritual work yet. This is necessary.

And beyond that, does he really in his soul cancel himself before the group in order to feel the need for unity? This need should give rise to his cry for help, to which the upper Light will respond.

Thus, the external conditions say nothing about a spiritual level; they are necessary, but not sufficient. They can be observed regardless of the spiritual states. And besides that, there are sufficient conditions that you must perform internally.
[70376]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/20/2012, Constitution of the Arava Convention

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Mount Sinai In The Midst Of The Arava Desert

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How do we reach the correct plea during the congress in the desert? Various desires are constantly changing inside of me and I am afraid that I won’t be able to arrive at the correct thought.

Answer: A person arrives at Mount Sinai in such a state when inside of him there are Moses, Aaron, the Cohens (priests), Levites, and the nation of Israel—600,000 men, it would seem such a force. Even though it exists, it is not yet clear for a person that it exists inside. Besides this, there are women and children inside of him. There are even Egyptians, completely unrelated to the nation of Israel (Yashar El – straight to the Creator), who fled along with them.

Even the mixed multitude (Erev Rav) is intermingled within them, meaning that there are impure forces (Klipot) concealed inside, which cannot be corrected now, but will only be corrected later after all of the corrections. And all of them are standing and facing Mount Sinai before receiving the Torah.

Who must receive the Torah? Everyone receives it to the extent that he needs it, according to these levels. And so, there are strong men under the leadership of Moses who is standing before everyone (the point in the heart), and there are desires that are simply connected to them. While there are also ones who, as soon as possible, even as soon as tomorrow, will cast the golden calf, and will act against the Creator, against Moses, and in general will want to return to the Pharaoh, to make such a revolution.

Such different desires coexist inside a person, yet he still reaches Mount Sinai. He cannot arrive there otherwise! He carries Egypt inside of himself, even Babylon, the whole of the path he has traveled, all of this is inside a person. While now he reaches the so-called resistance before Mount Sinai, bringing the entire burden with him, as yet, he has never corrected anything in himself! He only occasionally felt these qualities inside of himself, one against the other: Babylon and the land of Canaan, and bad and good deeds.

He was imprisoned, confined to a pit by the Pharaoh, and he was also the young Moses who sat on Pharaoh’s knee and grew up in his home. He escaped from Pharaoh’s palace, slew the Egyptian, and suffered from his nation Israel. Everything that is written in the Torah is contained inside of this person who is now standing in the desert of Arava: All of this happened to him.

Therefore, it is important for us to prepare ourselves for unity as best as possible. If you want to be in the mutual guarantee, then you will receive the Reforming Light. You may not receive the correction yet. The giving of the Torah is only the beginning. You are now given the methodology of correction, and from here, you begin to realize the corrections according to this methodology.

This is the receiving of an instruction book that explains how to correct yourself! This is precisely what we should be ready for. There is no need for something more. I must know that I am going to receive the force for such a correct connection with the group, inside of which I will reveal the Creator, the spiritual world, the higher system, the higher dimension.

It is not demanded of us to be righteous people and real friends, feeling love for each other already. I only need to be ready for it, to have the willingness to do so, the need for me to make this calculation and cry from the bottom of the heart that I want to change. That’s all.

I have desires of all levels inside of me, starting from Moses and ending with the mixed multitude; all of them are with me. And the difference between Babylon and the land of Canaan, Egypt and the Mount Sinai is only in the clarifications. All of this is the same desire, only ever more clarifying itself, and that is why, instead of Babylon, it starts to be called the land of Canaan, instead of the land of Canaan, it starts to be called Egypt, instead of Egypt, the Red Sea, Mount Sinai, and so forth.

But all of this is the same desire, just passing through different states bearing such names.
[69496]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/11/12, Writings of Rabash

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Returning To The Truth

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Creator is one, unique, and unified force. As it says: “There is none else besides Him,” “I have not changed my HaVaYaH,” or “the Light is at absolute rest.” It is all about one essence.

All of our reality can exist only if we separate from the One and exist outside Him. But actually there is nothing but that One. The question always comes up: “If there is none else besides Him, then who are we?” But actually we don’t exist. All of our reality is in our imagination until we return to the One: one desire and one Light, as it says, “He and His name are one.”

Then everything but that One disappears. The whole process we seem to go through outside that One exists only in our corrupt imagination, detached from the true reality, in concealment, in a distorted perception. This is what we have to correct: From our delusive vision in which there are two, we should switch to the truth in which there is only One.

This One is the only thing that exists and rules. We must understand that the world we see in which there are many different creatures is like a dream, an optical illusion. It is as if we cannot focus our vision and find the right thought or feeling. We as if are lost in the fog, confused, and hence feel the world this way.

So how can we return to the truth spoken about in the wisdom of Kabbalah, called “the wisdom of truth,” meaning the method that leads us to the truth? How can we return to the true, full, and correct awareness? What is the reason that there are so many of us and that we are all in this false, confused state and then return to the truth—to the One?

Kabbalists write that in order to reach that One, we have to go from imperfection to perfection. Due to this, the One is revealed and a different unity appears.

Now it is impossible to recognize the final goal and how high it is. But we try to somehow imagine the difference between everyone’s private desire and thought and the desire and the thought that connect and adhere to the concept of “One.”

The unity we reach thanks to our connection is not a simple combination of the forces of many people that come together. It is a force that grows not just in quantity and not even just in quality. The law of equivalence of form is in effect here. If we connect because we want to reach bestowal, to rise above our present nature, then according to the law of equivalence of form, we reach the concept of “One” that resembles the Creator.

If we simply connect, we become an ordinary group, like a group of football fans or soldiers in the army, which receives the general sum of forces of all its members. But here it isn’t just about the sum of individual forces. After all, everyone doesn’t come here with his force, ego, mind, and desire in order to connect all the attributes, desires,  forces, and brains together.

Rather, everyone rises above his mind and feeling, and so they connect their desires in order to be above reason, above themselves. Then they are incorporated in the concept  of “One” called “the Creator” and acquire one mind and one feeling. This one mind and desire begins to rule over them.

Therefore, all the sages and Kabbalists have one desire and one thought, although it seems that they express different opinions and even argue (like the House of Hillel and the House of Shamai). But they debate only to better clarify the concept of “One,” to see how every individual feels it from his point of view, after he rises above it and discovers this One.
[70394]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/20/2012, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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