Audio Version Of The Blog – 11/22/24
Posted on November 22nd, 2024
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Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 4
Why Is an Attitude to the Creator Called Prayer?
All feelings that we feel in our heart originate from the Creator, and thus the feeling in the heart is not called “prayer.” Prayer is our appeal to the Creator. The Hebrew word for “prayer” (“Lehitpalel“) comes from the word, “to judge” (“Lehaflil“), i.e., it is self-judgment, an evaluation of the connection that we have with the source of our feelings—the Creator.
Since the source of our feelings is good and benevolent, our prayer expresses the difference between our feelings and such goodness and benevolence. We discover the extent of the flaw in our heart. Prayer is the feeling of the difference between a person and the Creator.
In other words, if we were to measure the difference between what the Creator fills our heart with and what our heart feels and how we respond, we would see the extent of our flaw. Likewise, if we were fully corrected, we would feel fully good and benevolent. The more opposite our sensation, the greater the indication of our flaw.
Not only does it indicate the level of our flaw, but also our spiritual location. Since the Creator gives a force of goodness and benevolence through all 620 channels, we can know the channels we feel more or less, where we feel good or bad.
If we have a complete picture of the soul, we perceive and sense everything, we know where we are at every level, and we possess a clear picture of our corrected state compared to our current state. All aspects by which we evaluate our attitude to the Creator are collectively called “prayer.”
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Question: How is the Creator revealed in a group when its members annul themselves before each other?
Answer: The Creator is revealed gradually according to our ability to rise above our egoism and connect with our friends solely through bestowal and love. It is within this collective desire that He is attained.
Question: Can we still build the Creator if not all the friends are working toward bestowal?
Answer: Yes, you can. Even if only half the group is working toward bestowal, you can still build an image of the Creator to depict Him before you and yourselves before Him correctly. Then, everything will be in order.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/3/24, for Graduates of MAK (the International Academy of Kabbalah in Russian), “We have gathered here”
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Question: Why does Rabash consider a group essential for spiritual growth?
Answer: This is not only Rabash’s view but the view of all Kabbalists since the first revelation of the Creator in our world.
As soon as people in our world began to attain Him, the wisdom of Kabbalah emerged among them, and they established the principle that the most important thing for those studying Kabbalah is to strive toward the Creator.
Question: Kabbalists say that all of humanity must come to correction. However, people, in general, are far from spirituality. Can we expect a radical correction of humanity through the methodology of Kabbalah in the foreseeable future? Or is the main focus our individual path?
Answer: We need to study the wisdom of Kabbalah with the aim of connecting with each other in our tens, within which we can reveal the Creator. From there, we will feel how tens can come together to form a larger group. That is our path.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/3/24, for Graduates of MAK (the International Academy of Kabbalah in Russian), “We have gathered here”
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Question: How is it that we as a ten come to a single opinion and all our spiritual accumulations become one accumulation?
Answer: Although our efforts in the ten are felt and appear differently, they all ultimately unite into one effort: attainment of the Creator.
Question: What does it mean “to be ready to die for the ten” in a spiritual sense?
Answer: “To die for the ten” means to completely renounce one’s egoistic goals for the sake of the ten.
Question: In what way should the feeling of the greatness of the Creator expressed so we can carry out the principles of bestowal?
Answer: All of this is expressed within a person. A person should feel how the Creator has revealed Himself to him and wishes to assist in his spiritual advancement.
Question: How does one attain the force of the Creator to work for the sake of bestowal within the ten?
Answer: You must show each other that you are working in this way, and then you will inspire in each other the same desire.
Question: What is the temple of the human soul and where is it located? Why do we not have a connection to it?
Answer: The temple of the human soul is in the Creator. When we strive toward the Creator, we simultaneously reach toward this temple.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/4/24, Writings of Rabash, Assorted Notes 344, “Go Forth”
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Question: Everything comes from the Creator. The points in the heart, our thoughts, everything that happens all originate from Him. Does anything depend on me? What is my role, my responsibility?
Answer: Your role and responsibility are revealed specifically within the collective group where you are to bring all the friends, including yourself, to the united state in which you are all completely similar to the Creator.
Our goal is to achieve elevation to the highest level of creation. No one will leave you halfway uncertain about where to go next. Therefore, we must unite to the point of fully attaining the Creator and the entire system of creation. So be prepared for this.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/3/24, for Graduates of MAK – the International Academy of Kabbalah in Russian, “We have gathered here”
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By studying the upper world, we gradually begin to realize that it is based on bestowal and not on reception like in our world. That is why we learn to bestow.
Although our wisdom is called the wisdom of receiving (Hochmat haKabbalah), in its essence, it is built only on bestowal. So we will learn to bestow.
Question: How can I check the sincerity of my intention to bestow? After all, I can quite easily convince myself that my intentions are not at all egoistic and are aimed at the group, but deep down, I am deceived.
Answer: It will always seem to you that you are already in the quality of bestowal and love for the friends.
But then it will gradually be revealed that this is not so. It’s okay, this is the system of revealing egoism.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/3/24, for Graduates of MAK – the International Academy of Kabbalah in Russian, “We have gathered here”
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Question: Why should I feel awe before the Creator rather than affection and gratitude toward Him?
Answer: We feel awe from the awareness of the Creator’s revelation when we attain Him. But in general, this is not mandatory; it comes by itself.
So let’s keep striving step by step to come closer to the Creator, to reveal Him, and will see what it evokes within us.
Question: How can we perceive this sense of awe to foster unity and love within the group?
Answer: Together as a ten turn to the Creator and implore, request, and plead with Him to lift you closer to Him. Use the simplest words, He will understand everything.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/3/24, for Graduates of MAK – the International Academy of Kabbalah in Russian, “We have gathered here”
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Question: Following the war that began on October 7th, people in Israel began coming to cardiology departments with heart problems, not with heart attacks or blocked arteries, but with what is called “broken heart syndrome.” In Hebrew, it is tismun et lev shavur.
Its symptoms resemble a heart attack, but it is not a heart attack. The shape of the heart changes, its function is impaired, and instead of contracting, it expands. This condition results from adrenaline being released into the blood during prolonged grief or stress.
Doctors recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting exercise, reducing stress, lightening work demands, pursuing hobbies, takingvacations, etc., but for a modern person who is always on the go, stressed, and trying to find their place in life, these recommendations do not seem realistic.
How can we not “break” our hearts amidst everything going on around us?
Answer: To do that, we need to understand that everything happening is nature’s response to our behavior. We cannot help ourselves unless we act precisely according to nature’s laws.
Question: What if I knew that my behavior and relationships with others affect all these stresses and wars? What would result from this?
Answer: Then I would behave differently. I would avoid stress and conflicts with others. Meaning, I would behave normally so that there would be no clashes.
Question: It is interesting that there is physical pain like torture, suffering, and imprisonment, yet people come out of that alive and sometimes live to be 120 and remain healthy. But here, emotional stress ends life. What is this, why is that?
Answer: Our bodies are adapted to physical suffering but not to emotional or moral suffering. We cannot endure that.
Question: Why not? After all the body is healthy?
Answer: Because such suffering goes beyond our natural life, our body.
Question: So a higher function is disrupted while the earthly one remains intact?
Answer: Yes.
Question: So even with a healthy body, roughly speaking, I can pass away?
Answer: Yes, people lived in conditions beyond our imagination.
Question: And then, bang, it is all over. Does this mean we have some higher component within us?
Answer: Yes, you can survive life if you have a goal. If you can elevate that goal above suffering and limitations, you can endure anything.
Question: So you grasp this spirit and survive, but your body can give up?
Answer: The body will not give up if you hold on to this force above life.
Question: So you connect these ideas?
Answer: Of course. A person must see a purpose ahead of him, a reason for enduring suffering.
Question: Then the body will hold on?
Answer: Yes. The problem is that in today’s life, people do not see that purpose.
Question: Does this apply even to a simple goal? For example, centenarians often seem to have a simple goal, they hold on to it, and their body follows. Does this also apply to simple goals and not just lofty ones?
Answer: Yes, they may have their sheep, goats, or a dog.
Comment: Yes, the fresh air, nature. And they live.
My Response: Exactly.
Comment: There are many movies now about elderly people living to 100 years or more in remote places like forests and mountains. You wonder how they manage—and yet they do. They live without hospitals or doctors.
My Response: Right. If they wake up knowing they need to do certain things, that is enough to keep them going.
Question: Even just feeding themselves?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Should we also learn to feel another’s pain?
Answer: Yes, we must learn to feel others’ pain because that creates a positive field of mutual connection around us, which is essential for survival.
Question: Can one find meaning in emotional suffering?
Answer: People often find deep meaning in suffering. But suffering should lead to a result whether it is creating literature, music, or other expressions. Much of art is rooted in suffering. A person must change their attitude toward life and develop a new life philosophy.
Question: You attribute all this to suffering?
Answer: Suffering drives humanity forward.
Question: Is it possible to accept suffering?
Answer: Most people accept suffering; they cannot resist it. But some individuals suppress their suffering and reach the next level.
Question: Do we ever reach the root of suffering, why it happens?
Answer: The root of suffering is actually quite foolish: it lies in the rejection of suffering itself. When I believe that what I am experiencing should not be happening to me, I suffer.
Question: So if I accept it, I will not suffer?
Answer: Exactly, then you will adjust to that level of life.
Question: Why am I given all these sufferings?
Answer: They are given to make you reflect on your life. You need to see whether you are the source of your own suffering and how you can rise above it. Once you transcend the cause of your suffering, you can free yourself from it and gain a new perspective.
Question: And what will I see?
Answer: You will see that your suffering is purely philosophical. Where suffering exists, there is a philosophy tied to it, a belief that suffering is undeserved. But if you accept it, you can rise above it.
Question: At the same time, understanding that these experiences are part of a divine plan is essential?
Answer: Yes, that is what the Creator wants you to understand.
Question: Should this understanding be both in the heart and the mind? And is that when you…
Answer: I agree with Him and I follow this path.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 9/23/24
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Question: In the ten, a great force is created that allows one to fight with oneself to annul egoistic desire. Does the force of egoism increase to the same extent?
Answer: No, the force of egoism practically does not increase. It is revealed slightly, in proportion to our spiritual ascent, so that we feel our connection to the spiritual ladder more deeply and recognize our connection with the Creator and with the friends at each degree more and more.
Question: How can we strengthen the connection within the ten so that it has the full potential to acquire qualities of bestowal?
Answer: You need to find a common language and shared feelings between you, otherwise the Creator will not raise you. Coming closer to the Creator is only possible through connection with each other.
To reach this, listen to what your friends say, try to feel their desire for spirituality, and be inspired by it.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/3/24, for Graduates of MAK – the International Academy of Kabbalah in Russian, We Have Gathered Here
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