When studying Kabbalah in a group of like-minded individuals, we gradually uncover our nature, how much we are governed by egoism. We see it somewhat from a distance, as if from the outside, and then we can begin to do something about it. Essentially, we try to resist our egoism and unite with our friends in the group to resemble the Creator.

However, all these efforts are merely tools to help us realize that we cannot achieve anything on our own. Only by turning to the Creator, to this force that is opposite to us and willing to help us, can make a difference, but only to the extent that we genuinely desire to change. Otherwise, there is no other way.

Without this, our progress will only come through suffering. In other words, instead of asking the Creator to correct me from the start, I might simply endure suffering, which then also acts as a kind of request.

Thus everything we can do boils down to either asking or suffering. Both suffering and requests reach their target, the Creator. To the extent that we reach out, He draws closer to us, transforms us through His presence, and we change to resemble Him.

So we have two paths to transformation: through suffering, where the Creator changes us even without our conscious request, but only in proportion to the suffering we endure; or by consciously asking Him, where He changes us even before we begin to experience real suffering. This is the essence of our work.

Why do we study the wisdom of Kabbalah? To understand what we need to become and to begin asking the Creator long before we feel suffering. This is called the “path of light” or the “path of Torah.” If not, we are destined for the path of suffering.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/2/19, “Questions and Answers”

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