The Path Of Suffering Is Not The Path

Laitman_633_3Our task is to make an effort, “Like an ox to the burden and a donkey to the load.” (Masechet Avodah Zarah 5b) There is a goal and we must reach it anyway. Either the host will sit on us and give us blows with a whip, and then we act like beasts, or through the environment we ourselves will develop the importance of the goal within us, yearning to be like an Adam (man) who is “similar” (Domeh) to the Creator and reach adhesion with Him. And then we advance on our own, without waiting for blows.

In this way we give the Creator satisfaction. We don’t give the Creator any satisfaction through what we do because of blows. This is the entire difference between the natural path of development “in its time” (Beito) or the path of accelerating time, “I will hasten it” (Achishena), the way of Light.

It is impossible for me to reach my correction by the way of suffering, the way of “in its time.” Each and every blow changes something in me, but it is not considered to be me and is not recorded on my account. For the greatness of the Creator, the importance of the goal and devotion are what is required from me, things that must come from the person, what characterizes the person; whereas, it is through blows that I am just shaken a bit to awaken and push me towards scrutiny, work, and changes in values. So we must understand that it is impossible to advance through blows.

Either we develop the importance of the next state through the environment from the start, which according to our nature is not at all important to us, but through the environment we build its importance and advance, or we receive blows that oblige us to begin this process. But ultimately we will be doing the same work with the environment, the importance of the goal, the importance of the Creator, and the clarification of the inferiority of our ego.

So the “path of suffering” doesn’t exist. The way of “in its time” is not a path. It only helps us to understand that the Creator pushes us towards changes and forces us to wake up through these blows. Then I enter a group for this, which is the right environment that will begin to push me.

Even though for me this is unpleasant, I don’t flee; rather, in spite of it all, I go further inside. We all need to be aware that in a state such as this it is impossible to flee; on the contrary, it is necessary to forge ahead. If I want to enter and I come across opposition, I can back off and leave, and I can also push even more and break in.

Therefore there is no path of suffering. If I will not push myself through the environment by myself, then from above pressure on me will be increased. And then the very effort that I had to give to advance in the path of “I will hasten it” and didn’t give, will take the form of  suffering and blows that compel me to return to the right way.

It is not necessary to wait for the blows and suffering for us to advance. We don’t advance anywhere through suffering. In the best circumstances, we will want to flee from the blows to the right environment, and there we will already begin to clarify how to go on the path of “I will hasten it,” meaning the importance of the environment, the importance of the Creator, the importance of the teacher and all the means that can pull us forward. This must be our first level, and then we accelerate time and our development.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/26/14, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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