As seen above, there are two modes in religion: 1) Lo Lishma [not for Her sake], which is pure utilitarianism, meaning aiming to establish morality for one’s own good. One is satisfied when acquiring this tendency. And there is a second tendency to religion, being a mental need to adhere to Him. This is called Lishma [for Her sake]. One can be rewarded with the above through actions, and from Lo Lishma one comes to Lishma (Baal HaSulam, “The Writings of the Last Generation”).

Question: When a person is working in Lo Lishma, does he have a sense of the Creator’s presence, a feeling that there is none else besides Him?

Answer: No, of course not. He is in a state of self-benefit.

Lo Lishma means performing actions for one’s own sake, and Lishma means for the sake of the Creator, for the sake of others, beyond oneself.

Question: Can we say that the majority of humanity is in Lo Lishma?

Answer: No, they are in an animalistic state. But if a person develops within a Kabbalistic group correctly and precisely fulfilling all the conditions, he transitions from complete egoism to a willingness to give to others. He wants to give altruistically, without any connection to himself, but he is not yet able to. This is called Lo Lishma.

The transition from Lo Lishma happens through the reforming light (light that returns one to the source). Precisely because a person wants to give, but is still unable to, the light influences him and brings him to Lishma, to actions for the sake of others.

Question: Should we constantly have the feeling that we are moving toward Lishma?

Answer: We have to think about this. A person has no right to lock himself in the thought that it is for his own benefit, even though his intentions are essentially egoistic. This is precisely the prison, the bondage, the feeling of Egyptian exile—when we feel that we would like to free ourselves from the rule of Pharaoh (egoism), but are unable to. These are not easy states.

Question: To transition from Lo Lishma to Lishma, we work in a group. Where I am like an expert who observes everything from the outside? Does this happen simultaneously?

Answer: Yes, because a second system is created within you—the quality of bestowal. From it, you observe your own qualities of reception.

Question: On one hand a person tries to become aware of the state he is in; on the other hand he has the opportunity to engage in group activities aimed at unity mechanically, without thinking. How can these actions be done non-mechanically?

Answer: This happens under the influence of the right environment. There must be an active attitude of the group toward each individual. Each person must feel the pressure of the group, its correction, what it wants to do with him, and at the same time feel how much he resists this and how much he agrees to surrender. This is the expert point within each member of the group.
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From KabTV’s “The Last Generation” 12/19/17

Related Material:
About the High Value of Lo Lishma
My Dark Silhouette Against The White Background Of Bestowal
Lo Lishma

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