The ARI elaborated on the matter of the first restriction in the first chapters of this book. This is a very serious matter (Baal HaSulam, The Study of the Ten Sefirot, Chapter 1, Inner Observation, Item 9).

The first restriction is the most important matter, since it is about restricting the use of egoism. The entire creation begins with this.

That is, the first restriction is a restriction of intention, a prohibition to receive for one’s own sake, what is called Tzimtzum Aleph.

Question: Are there any physical laws that correspond to this restriction? Is it somehow manifested in our world?

Answer: No, it cannot be manifested in our world. Otherwise, we would see a different world. Our world is built on absolute egoism in its different variations.

Comment: But we have read that there is nothing in our world that does not have a spiritual root.

My Response: The root, but not the equivalence.

Question: Then should there be a branch of this restriction in our world since this law must be manifested somehow?

Answer: This law is manifested, but in such a way that we do not feel it. We are in absolute restriction, but we do not feel that it impedes us or restricts us because we do not feel anything opposite to it. There is only one desire in us—to receive, to use our egoistic intention.

Question: Are we really in restriction? We receive for our own sake for our entire lives.

Answer: Precisely this is life in restriction. We receive for our own sake, but we do not even feel that we are doing it only for ourselves.

That is, the first stage of a person’s spiritual development consists of understanding that he really receives for his own sake and is opposite to the Creator. This is what stops him. He starts thinking, “How can I get out of this limitation?”

Question: What other types of restriction are there?

Answer: A restriction on receiving pleasure. There is nothing else. It is only necessary to understand that I live in pleasure for myself and have to begin to restrict it.
[305137]
From KabTV’s “The Study of the Ten Sefirot (TES)” 10/30/22

Related Material:
State of the First Restriction
Two Types Of Restriction
The Basis For Spiritual Work

Filed under: Spiritual Work, Structure of the Universe | Add Comment →