Preparation to the Lesson
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Writings of Baal HaSulam “Letter 2”
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
The Book of Zohar – Selected Excerpts “Beresheet Bet (Genesis 2),” Lesson 148
| [media 5] | [media 6] |
Talmud Eser Sefirot, Volume 1, Part 3, Chapter 5, Item 1, Lesson 12
| [media 7] | [media 8] |
“Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Lesson 24
| [media 9] | [media 10] |
Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
Download: MP3 Audio
[audio:http://files.kabbalahmedia.info/audio/eng_o_rav_2012-08-04_declamation_blog-rav_full.mp3 title=’4.8.12′]
Question: Baal HaSulam says that if we don’t keep the balance between the forces of receiving and bestowal, nature punishes us. Why should people be punished if they don’t know anything about it?
Answer: It isn’t “punishment” in the usual sense, but rather the way a person is evoked to self-correction. On the levels of the still, vegetative, and animate nature, the “punishment” is the correction itself. On the other hand, on the human level the punishment is the awakening, the push so that a person will hasten his correction in “I shall hasten it” and not in “it’s time.”
In the meantime we develop according to the first three levels—the still, vegetative, and animate—and our development is a natural, instinctive process, which we call “according to schedule,” “in its time,” according to the plan. Kabbalists knew in advance the approximate dates of the different phases, but starting from the 15th century, the wisdom of Kabbalah became part of this as it was meant to speed up the process. Since then, part of humanity continues to receive “ordinary” blows and problems that lead to scientific, technological progress, while another part began to receive special blows, that are intentional and by which people are evoked and turn to the wisdom of Kabbalah. This awakening started from the Baal Shem Tov who actually opened the gates to the internal work for the Jewish people and founded its principles for the future generations. He didn’t write anything, but he disseminated the method to an unprecedented extent. He was an exceptionally practical man, considering the conditions in his time.
It was the Baal Shem Tov who initiated the study of the wisdom of Kabbalah for the masses. He had power that was given to him from Above, of course, to insert the sparks into the devastated nation that had been through troubles such as poverty and pogroms in Eastern Europe. He organized people and built a general network among them. He began to reveal to them the structure of the spiritual reality: the five worlds, Sefirot, Partzufim… then The Book of Zohar became accessible to the masses, which again was an unprecedented event. It was possible for the Hasidim to keep it on their bookshelf since the wisdom of Kabbalah was not forbidden anymore.
The first students of the Baal Shem Tov were great Kabbalists. They founded Hasidic movements and wrote books that the people could accept. These books, which are written in a very emotional, beautiful language made people accustomed to the internal work.
It isn’t by chance that Baal HaSulam thinks very highly of the Baal Shem Tov; after all, he started a true Kabbalistic revolution and opened the door that used to be locked for all those who are interested in it. He himself is still a mystery; we can talk about his actions but not about him.
His students carried on his work, each according to his character, and eventually all the Hasidic movements made a great step towards the fulfillment of the wisdom of Kabbalah among the people. People began to respect the spiritual attainment, the self-annulment and the love of others. Concepts such as “Love thy friend as thyself,” and “Worship the Lord with joy” became part of life. It was a time of very intensive internal work.
Only two hundred years later there was a descent, when the Hasidic movement became a “ritual” and the internality became externality again.
If we come back to the question, we are concealing the facts from ourselves; we don’t want to hear about them, and the moment we forget about the spiritual work, we are immediately back in our corporeal work. Here the ego that controls us operates and it conceals even the slightest connection with the Creator from us; it conceals His actions, His existence. We don’t want to know anything about Him.
It isn’t by chance that this concealment is so great; it builds the space for a person to stabilize himself. On the other hand, he is reminded of what’s important and is evoked and brought to the group. This process will gradually spread all over the world, but first there is the period of darkness, which is the basis upon which a person should build himself in the future.
[84557]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/02/12, “Introduction to the Book of Zohar”
Related Material:
The Era Of the Last Generation
Descent Of Kabbalists
Under The Control Of Concealment
Question: How often will the integral methodology be changing as we begin to work with it?
Answer: This methodology generally is not going to change. Possibly, its first part will be reducing because man will internally start to agree and understand what it is.
That is why, supposing, instead of ten lessons of an introductory course, only half an hour would be enough and maybe even less than that, since all of these facts will already “live” inside of people. They will already be feeling that egoism is evil and we have no way out, we cannot alter this world, it is simply not in our hands.
Meaning that they will come to such a state where they will actually want to hear something serious. And then from their internal disappointment, the feeling of complete hopelessness, they will be able to value what we are teaching them, where all of this comes from, what all of this is coming to, and what is the general picture of the world, integral and discrete simultaneously, consisting of small pieces.
Subsequently, it is these people, who will become the teachers of humanity.
[84145]
From the Virtual Lesson 7/15/12
Related Material:
To Change A Person
Instructors Of Integral Education: Worth Their Weight In Gold
Against The Wall
We are all connected since one cannot be impressed without the others. Suppose I lack two Sefirot in order to complete the full ten Sefirot, and I am totally closed, feel absolute darkness. If I add the attributes that I need, everything is suddenly revealed and lit up.
It is enough to include one item that is missing in the system and it immediately begins to operate, although it is one of a thousand identical items. If the collective impression reaches the necessary level of connection, it determines our next level, the new height.
At a very high point a large number of desires should connect in greater mutuality, in a great collective impression by the Light. What is this collective impression made of? They are impressed by the connection between them, by their unity and the benefit they receive from this mutual cooperation. Everyone gives life to others: the Light of Ruach.
None of us has this Light; it is created as a result of our connection. It is the Creator (Boreh) that we reveal, this is why we call Him “come and see” (“Bo–reh“).
Life is created by the connection of dead cells. If they connect correctly, they suddenly come to life. There is a certain force from the inside that spurs them to life, but in itself it is invisible. We discover this upper force only if we “come and see” the Creator between us.
I hope that during the workshops you will begin to discover this inner impression in the connection between you. The words themselves are meaningless; the key is the action of the Light that Reforms. The story itself only inspires to connect, to search but not more than that.
We want to attain the impression by the connection. This excitement is called Light that will flow between us in this correct connection, in a circle. Then this circle will turn into a mechanism that generates the Light, life!
The general Light of NRNHY is the Creator, “come and see,” the upper Sefira, Keter. When we attain life, we attain its source within them, the element of life called the Creator. He is revealed in the system, in the right connection between us.
This is what I expect from the workshops and we will reach that gradually. In the meantime, we tend to forget this and discuss different theoretical things. But with the help of the passages that I read, I want to bring you to the emotional impression. Sometimes I ask a theoretical question, but in any case I expect you to connect. This is the only outcome of the workshop—to what extent we managed to connect by the process we have been through.
[84429]
From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/30/12, TES
Related Material:
A New Nature Beyond The Boundaries Of Corporeal Logic
Levels Of Attaining The Creator
Sparks That Are Lighted In A Circle Of Hearts
Question: Should the integral family courses be taught differently to men and women? After all, these are two different forces.
Answer: Here, there is no distinction. For the first time we are coming to equality in the world, when all are equal. In the system of integral upbringing, everyone studies on equal terms: a child, an adult, an elderly person, a husband and a wife, a man or a woman, married or single. The most important thing is to have someone opposite you with whom you can work.
In a family we have such a partner naturally, and thus we have to start this education from the family. It would be good if every family started feeling a great need for this. The problem is to convince people who aren’t capable of it, who don’t want it, aren’t interested, and who think that through this, someone invades their territory or interferes with their private relationships.
Therefore it is necessary to explain from the very beginning that this method doesn’t imply airing their “dirty laundry.” We don’t touch this at all and don’t try to find out what’s happening between them in their family. We don’t persuade them to make concessions to each other, don’t ask about the past, and in general, don’t consider anything that happened until this moment. We teach them how to rise above everything from this point onward and how to never go poking around in that dirty laundry again.
Question: This is interesting because in other, conventional psychological courses, I was told many times that it’s necessary to talk about our problems and to let off steam. And indeed, this brings relief and takes a load off one’s heart.
Answer: But this is only a temporary relief, for some time, like reconciliation after tears. We really don’t need to rummage through our crimes against each other. After all, it is written that “love covers all sins,” and the greater these sins, the higher and greater will the love be when we rise above them. It turns out that these sins are actually helping me build love. And if they aren’t there, love won’t be strong either.
Thus, the sins need to remain. But it doesn’t mean that I must constantly remember about them—they will reveal themselves on their own, don’t you worry about that. However, I don’t stifle them, don’t release tension, but accept everything as is. I have a full wagon laden with my partner’s transgressions, but I cover this entire mountain with my love and come closer to him or her. And then my love becomes enormous, growing above all this heavy load.
[84372]
From a TV Program “A New Life” 7/11/12
Related Material:
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Show Me All Truth
Love That Covers All Transgressions
A Family Is Support And A Model
Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
Download: MP3 Audio
[audio:http://files.kabbalahmedia.info/audio/eng_o_rav_2012-08-03_declamation_blog-rav_full.mp3 title=’3.8.12′]
Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” item 55: This is because he attains the Lights and degrees of his soul, called NRNHY, according to the measure of the purity of his will to receive. And with each degree he attains, the Lights of that degree assist him in his purification. Thus, he rises in degrees until he achieves the amusements of the final aim in the Thought of Creation.
Question: Is the level of “to receive in order to bestow” meant for every soul?
Answer: Yes and no. It can also be attained indirectly by incorporation, since we are talking about an analog system that is perfect and integral in which everyone is connected to everyone else and the general pattern is in everyone like in a holographic picture.
The whole point is what my role in this picture is: Am I part of the “leg,” of the “head,” the “heart,” or another organ in the general “body”? I will definitely attain everything, but I attain my part in the system actively by operating independently.
I have my own deficiency and also the deficiency I acquire from everyone else. There is myself that stems from my element and there is everyone else. So our attainment is not identical. Everyone attains the whole system as a whole and is in Ein Sof (Infinity), but at the same time everyone “envies” the others since everyone has a different starting point. This also requires work and correction.
Then we rise to such a level, which in the meantime, we know nothing about. The development continues and disappears somewhere. The vessels will have to grow and turn into something that we don’t know…
Question: Why does a person have to attain the thought of creation?
Answer: Because this is the desire of the upper, of the Creator, since the thought of creation is the Creator.
Our words are inaccurate, but we have to use them. It says that there is an unattainable reality called the Creator. He is unattainable, but there is the thought of creation, which means His attitude towards us.
As a result of His thought about us, something was done. He created a desire to receive and did different things with it. But the point is not that we should stay in this desire to receive. The desire and the Light are the only two attributes—receiving and bestowal, which He has chosen in order to eventually raise us above both of them.
This means that we rise not only above receiving, but also above bestowal, because one will not be able to exist without the other. We have to understand His thought of creation and rise even higher to what we cannot speak about today because we don’t know what it is.
This is the way of attainment that leads us to an unknown end. In our desires we cannot even attain anything higher then them, while here we speak about something that is beyond Gmar Tikkun (the end of correction). Still we have to understand that this is where the goals that truly match the Creator are. By clarifying the process we go through, we have to say that His attitude towards us is not below the level He is on and about which we know nothing, since even the roots our branches stem from are not derived from it.
So by knowing this we should also understand where we are today.
[84455]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/01/12, “Introduction to the Book of Zohar”
Related Material:
An Endless Road
Steps Along A Great Road
The Purpose Of Creation, In Brief
Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Book of Zohar,” p. 57: If the worshipers of the Creator had at least engaged in the internality of the Torah and extended a complete Light from Ein Sof, the whole generation would have followed them. And everyone would be certain of their way that they would not fall. But if even the servants of the Creator have distanced themselves from this wisdom, it is no wonder the whole generation is failing because of them. And because of my great sorrow, I cannot elaborate on that!
If the masses studying the Torah understood what the true teaching is… That is how they call the wisdom of Kabbalah, but they do not want to learn it. And yet, if they had taken up this science, of course, we could have made great corrections, both quantitative and qualitative. And then our situation today would be different.
Who is more aware of this gap between the desired and reality than Baal HaSulam, when instead of internality we are preoccupied with externality? The end of the 19th century, when the return to the land of Israel was allowed, was the latest milestone. In general this period lasts from the time of the Ari, the Messiah, son of Joseph.
Rabbi Abraham Ben Mordechai Azulai writes in the “Introduction to the book, Ohr HaChama [Light of the Sun]” 81:
The prohibition from Above to refrain from open study of the wisdom of truth was for a limited period, until the end of 1490. Thereafter is considered the last generation, in which the prohibition was lifted and permission has been granted to engage in The Book of Zohar. And since the year 1540, it has been a great Mitzva (precept) for the masses to study, old and young. And since the Messiah is bound to come as a result, and for no other reason, it is inappropriate to be negligent.
From here, we can understand at least a bit how much we lose because we still neglect the science of Kabbalah, and what harm it carried to the people then and to this day. In essence, we make a great offense.
Question: Baal HaSulam writes that: “The entire generation would have followed us.” Does this mean that everyone should learn the wisdom of Kabbalah?
Answer: It is not accustomed to speak in the subjunctive mood, and yet: If the religious people in those generations had studied Kabbalah and added the hidden part—the writings of the Ari and the teaching of Baal Shem Tov—to the explicit part, then over time, we would have corrected ourselves. First of all, we would have felt reality correctly. People would not have abandoned the religion; the time of the “Haskalah” (the Age of Enlightenment), caused by separation from the right direction in human development, would not have arrived.
After completing a period of spiritual exile, in the 15th century, the Jewish people would have continued towards salvation and ascent.
It was from that time that “the era of the last generation” has begun. Even then we had to become engaged in Kabbalah, that is, the method of correction that carries the Light that Reforms everyone, and all of us together. Then the nations of the world would have received illumination through us, which would have changed their attitude.
However, we did not engage into the internal part of the Torah, the science of Kabbalah, and thus, we did not have connection with the Light. It affected us in its own way, according to the new epoch, and this made our path more difficult. Instead of the Light, the world grew dark because we were not able to accept It. Darkness is the same Light that we cannot discern in our corrupted desires. If we had corrected ourselves, we would have felt Its approach as something desirable. However, everything went to the contrary; we don’t want the Light, and It turns into darkness for us, terrible suffering.
That’s the problem: So far, people were engaged in the Torah only externally, in the studies. “Externally” means not in order to correct the soul. The exile in which we are was caused by the fact that we don’t correct ourselves, but study without advancement. Once, we had to act that way, but chronologically this period ended in the 15th century. We are 500 years behind.
Question: Today, it turns out that the secular part of the population is closer to the Kabbalah.
Answer: Right. Let’s hope that situation will change. In the meantime, the religious part is going through the stage of the awareness of evil in themselves and in the contemporary events. Little by little, in different forms, it begins to realize that. And this will happen in a couple of years.
In any case, we are not going to correct anyone but ourselves. Anyone who wants to join the process of correction is welcome. In the total system, we are all interconnected; so let’s hope that this will affect everyone.
If the religious audience had begun to study Kabbalah, of course, we would have quickly come to general correction. However, such are the conditions, such are the properties inherent in the receiving desire.
In addition, we must understand that what we face is a consequence of the breaking and exile. This part of the people should behave in this way. Indeed, we are all driven by nature, and nothing is beyond its scope. During the exile, a person is in the nature of the desire to receive; he does not feel his connection with the Creator. The upper Light and the Creator are not revealed to him and there is no connection. On the other hand, he is content by studying the Torah and the Commandments in their current form. And that is why, tied by the left line, he just cannot get out of this state.
This is the result of the path we have traversed, and we cannot accuse anyone of anything. We look at these social events as researchers, objectively, remembering that there is none else besides Him. So it had to happen.
As for the practical corrections, we need to understand that now everything depends on us. We demand nothing from anyone but ourselves. This is our approach to every part of human society and to everyone: We must give him the best explanation, and then it is his free choice.
[84452]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/01/12, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”
Related Material:
Religious Resistance To Kabbalah
Accelerate The Time Of Liberation
Why Was There A Prohibition On Kabbalah Before?
We only receive the recognition of evil from the Creator; in fact, He created only the desire to receive. The Light, the means that will help us correct our state, we must find within the environment.
The point is that the action from the side of the Creator is to give us the recognition of evil, and the action from the side of the creature is, after reaching the recognition of evil, to ask for correction. This is the work.
I don’t need anything from the Creator, only that He will disclose to me that I exist within evil. But it is only in the real evil, “the quality,” that I need to understand that I am lacking the attribute of bestowal and to feel bad because of that. All the rest will move by itself: Of course I will run to find help, I will cry, ask, and demand, until I force Him to correct me.
Thus, the task of the Creator is to reveal the evil, and my task is to demand from Him to transform the evil into good.
Question: How is it possible to increase the intensity of my request to the Creator?
Answer: The intensity depends on how bad you feel in your egoistic attributes. Everything moves only after the feeling; the intellect is useless here. Thus, I need to translate the situation to feeling: I feel bad that I exist in the desire to receive.
For example, I feel shame when people around me look at me with open disregard. I simply can only think: “How can I go on? Indeed, tomorrow, I will need to see them again.” So when I feel bad, I look for a way out.
But if you felt good and didn’t feel any shame, then you wouldn’t be able to approach correction. The ego is certainly provided for and someone’s talking out there doesn’t concern me. Words in themselves are powerless. I need to transfer them to that inner level where they will cause a response that I will really feel bad about the way they relate to me. The influence of the environment needs to control my own power of self-persuasion. In short, I need to feel shame. It brings me to “restriction,” to a request, to everything that will come later.
Question: How can one amplify this shame?
Answer: Through the power of thought.
Question: How can one amplify the thought?
Answer: By the power of persistence, by using perseverance.
Question: How can one increase the persistence?
Answer: Ask the friends to help you remember to think about it and the awareness of the importance.
Question: What if I forget to ask this from them?
Answer: Write them an email in advance so that they will support you.
Question: What if I forget to write the email?
Answer: It just cannot be that a person isn’t given an opportunity and isn’t given the end of the thread. He’s always able and needs to begin his path from something.
[84266]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/30/12, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”
Related Material:
A Live Thread
An Unbearable Distinction From The Creator
Turning Good To Evil
Daily Audio Version-MP3
Get the Weekly eNewsletter
Follow on Twitter
