Question: When can caring about corporeal problems be the best spiritual action? Could it be that a Kabbalist shifts the responsibility for his failures or idleness to the Creator? How can we not be confused here? What guidelines do we have?

Answer: The Creator assigns duties to man and man passes them on to the Creator? That sounds good, but it is not so. We have received our world, our attributes, everything there is in us in order to properly interact with each other and with the Creator.

The corporeal problems were given to us so that we would maintain all the states in our world. No one is forcing you to work 20 hours a day doing hard primitive labor. You can work anywhere else. That is your business.

But Kabbalah says: “You must earn your living.” You have no right to live at the expense of others. You must work even if you have rich parents.

You can choose not to receive money or to give it away, but you must work. Work and salary are not the same thing. Everyone must produce something in the world, and wages have nothing to do with the work itself.

There are people who get paid and do not work. There are those who volunteer and do not get paid. But we must work.

When I began to study with Rabash, I had my own business and I closed it down. I told Rabash that according to my calculations, I can afford not to work for four years. What I have is enough for me and my family.

But he said: “No. That is your calculation with your money, but the calculation with your soul is different. If you want to close down your business, go ahead, but you still have to work at least four to six hours a day.” And I continued to work four hours a day because, in addition, I spent a lot of time with him.

That is, you must give to the world. And as for receiving, that is your business.

Question: How can I know whether what I want is above my bare necessity?

Answer: Each person must determine that for himself.

You must participate in the morning lesson for three hours a day and spend another hour or two in the evening lesson. Six to eight hours go to your professional work. You must also provide for your family, and after that, do whatever you like. Any other calculations are meaningless. But you should know that from the very beginning, you must cut out three hours to study.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 1/5/20

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