World Kabbalah Convention Connecting to Lishma, Lesson 2

Question: What is bestowal?

Answer: Bestowal is the restriction of perceiving the current reality and gradual revelation of the true reality to the extent of bestowal to another.

In this way, we will begin to sense from whom we receive. And although everything that exists does so thanks to the Creator, if we receive from Him in this manner, we will be able to study Him. This will be our advantage over all other beings inhabiting our world.
[341159]
From the International Kabbalah Convention “Unite In Lishma” – 2/20/25, Lesson 2

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Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 93

If We Do Not Know What a Vessel of Bestowal Is, Could We Pray an Incorrect Prayer and Receive Something Unnecessary?

There are several questions here:
• Is it possible to pray for something unknown?
• Does the Creator hear a prayer for something that is unknown?
• Will the Creator respond to a prayer even if He knows that we are asking for something hidden from us?
• Is it possible for something harmful to be given from above?

A prayer is a real deficiency that the vessel brings forth from itself, not what can be heard on the outside. A vessel can bring forth a real deficiency from inside of itself only by means of light that shines from above. In other words, it is not the person but the Creator who created the deficiency and the prayer that we do not always feel. Afterward, the Creator answers this prayer, this true inner deficiency in our heart. In other words, the Creator created the vessel and the Creator also fills it.

Where is our “self” in this process? The “self” is the one who feels these actions. In the whole system, the “self” is only the one who feels. Thus, there is no need to be afraid. We need only endeavor to be as genuine as possible with what we feel, and connect it to the Creator as the single source of all actions. This means not deceiving ourselves about what comes from the Creator.

We need nothing but to focus on the Creator and the unwavering knowledge that everything comes from Him. We must check, in the most transparent way, what exactly we receive, without judging whether it is good or bad, or true or false, casting aside all outer shells, confusions, formulas, habits, and things others have said to us. We need to remove as many distractions as possible and connect with the Creator from our internality. By doing so, we will receive all discernments, and gradually, the path will unfold before us. A chain of cause and effect leads us directly to the goal.

Although we know that the light and fulfillment do not come from us, we still think that at least the vessel comes from us. But the truth is that even in prayer, we must ask for it to be given to us. This is called “a prayer before a prayer,” as the Kabbalists who wrote the prayer books are fully aware of this concept.

We should not delude ourselves that the source of anything comes from below. Below, we can only engage in discernments, noticing everything that comes to us. We people are only feeling elements, and nothing more. This is the correct approach. Why? It is because this is how we do not become confused and always place ourselves exactly where we belong. Then, we have no pride or honor, nor sudden thoughts that we have any part in things.

This is when it comes to our relationship with the Creator. But when it comes to society and the environment, we must use them to sharpen our connection with the Creator. We use friends and the community to cleanse ourselves from the shells, confusion, and obscurity. Here, human effort is required.

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Preparation to the Lesson

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1st part of the Lesson — Writings of Rabash, “Concerning Prayer”

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2nd part of the Lesson — Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Study of the Ten Sefirot, Vol. 1, Part 2, Сhapter 1, Item 5″

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World Kabbalah Convention Connecting to Lishma, Lesson 2

Question: You say that one must rely on the teacher, on his opinion. But when you hear the advice of the teacher, sometimes it seems that there is a contradiction in it.

How can we help each other so that each friend has clarity in relation to what you say?

Answer: When you begin to receive the “revelation of the heavens,” then it will not seem to you that you need to speak in an understandable language because you will feel these states inside yourself. We must come to this. This is called the study of Kabbalah.

Question: Is the internal connection of the student with the teacher a quality of faith above reason, and on whom does it depend?

Answer: The connection of the student with the teacher depends only on the student.

Question: We turn to the Creator with prayers and requests for unity and adhesion. Is there a place for such an appeal to the teacher-sage?

Answer: I am here precisely to give you the end of this chain.
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From the International Kabbalah Convention “Unite In Lishma” – 2/20/25, Lesson 2

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Question: You say that we need to ask that our friends enter the common heart and feel it. I feel that with each passing day, it becomes more difficult for me to pray for my friends, to ask that they unite and reveal the Creator. My ego asks, “Why should you ask for them to do this?” What should I answer?

Answer: The fact is that only through connection with your friends can you reveal the Creator and unite with Him yourself. That is why you must constantly desire this.

Comment: It is difficult to feel this mutual dependence when I pray for my friends, and they reveal the Creator.

My Response: You turn to the Creator so that He reveals Himself to them. Your desire is not egoistic because you are asking for them. So keep asking.

Question: Do you pray for us?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What if we do not just talk about this but take it as a practical form of work? Before the convention we made a pact that we would all pray for each other, just as Israel did at Mount Sinai. Like in mutual guarantee: I pray for everyone, everyone prays for me, and each prays for the other.

Answer: Try it, and you will feel the result in the coming days.

Question: What result should we expect?

Answer: To reach unity in which the Creator will be revealed, and this revelation will lead you to the feeling of the entire world.

Question: Does the Creator take pleasure when we pray for each other?

Answer: That is when you will find out.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/17/25, Preparation for Opening the Heart at the Congress

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Question: We are advised to start with empty space. But what about the thoughts and information that came through the light? We cannot exclude them. We rely on them entirely.

Answer: If you consider yourself capable of attaining a new connection with the light, then do so.

Question: Why does the Creator completely erase certain concepts that were instilled in me?

Answer: So that you can realize them anew.

Question: Are we obligated as a ten to help other tens after the convention?

Answer: You are obligated to care for other tens and their advancement. Then you too will benefit.

Question: Empty space is a place where there is no authority of the heavens. How can we feel the spark within it on which we can rely and elevate it to holiness?

Answer: When you reach such states, you will perceive them somewhat differently, and you will no longer have these issues.

Question: You said that what the mind does not accomplish, time will, and if we do not understand something, we should not be afraid, understanding will come.

A friend advises me to engage in dissemination. He says: “You know languages, you are articulate. You need to disseminate. Why are you not doing it?”

But I am afraid that I do not fully understand something, and if a student asks me about it, I might answer incorrectly. Should I fear my incomplete understanding of the material and refrain from dissemination?

Answer: You have no right to refrain from dissemination. You are obligated to constantly renew and revive the connection between yourself and the Creator.

Question: Do I understand correctly that the past congress was a deeper form of work?

Answer: This congress should lead each of you to the proper personal attainment of the Creator.
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From Daily Kabbalah lesson 2/23/25, “Continuing the Convention With an Ascent”

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Talks about the Steps of the Ladder, Part 92

How Can We Reach the Prayer for the Deficiency to Bestow?

The way to reach the prayer for the deficiency to bestow is called “I have labored and found.” We ourselves cannot pray for the deficiency to bestow because it is contrary to our nature. We have no way of finding such a deficiency within ourselves or in our reality. We can, however, only pray for the desire to want to bestow. This is called “from Lo Lishma we come to Lishma,” when we make a request but do not know what we are requesting.

Why is there concealment? Concealment exists so that we would ask for the desire to bestow. If we could see what it means to bestow, we would not ask for it. We are thus prevented from knowing what it means to bestow, and we then become ready to make a request. But how can we ask for something that we do not know? After all, a vessel is called “the knowledge of the vessel,” the awareness of what is lacking, and only then can we ask. We are told that it is even possible to ask for Reshimot from afar, without any true desire, and yet come to “from Lo Lishma to Lishma.”

Why should we strive to do that? If we were originally made only of the desire to receive, we would be unable to do it. But because inside us is a spark of the desire to bestow—a corrupted desire while in captivity to the desire to receive since the shattering of the vessels—we can seemingly say that we want to bestow. We feel suffering, and this lets us prepare ourselves until we are given the strength to bestow, which is called “crossing the barrier (Machsom).”

However, all these states play out on condition that we do not know what it means to bestow. Accordingly, we can understand the need for concealment. Without it, we would never reach such a desire. Concealment enables us to request doing what appears to be the most dreadful acts, the most opposed to our desire, which we perceive as actual death.

Why would we do that? First, concealment lets us do this. Secondly, within us there is a spark of bestowal that pushes us to desire it. However, in the realm of this world, everything is false, and we exist in this falsehood called “the time of preparation.”

Why does such a stage exist where everything is vague and fake? Why did the Creator create this state? What does it contribute? This stage does not exist so that we push forth to reach the truth. It exists so that from this falsehood, we perform intentional sins and mistakes that we can later use. In other words, we have no need for the good deeds we have done here, such as praying, working, and giving, but to commit sins. After the accumulation of enough sins, the Creator sees that we have struggled and failed enough times, and then He helps us cross the barrier.

We need these intentional sins. Other than the evil, we do not take anything with us to the next world. So if that is the case, what should we pray for?

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Question: You said that the Creator answers constant prayer. What can our common constant prayer for our friends look like in practice?

Answer: If you constantly think about our common correction, you will soon feel how all your thoughts turn in its direction, that is, in the direction of the common desire, the common intention. And then you will see how they come true.

Question: Yes, but sometimes there is a disconnection, and everything scatters. How can we avoid this? How can we stay constantly connected to prayer?

Answer: I advise you not to think about it. As soon as you feel that a disconnection is happening, immediately return to your unity.

Question: I remember at the last convention, a friend asked, “What do you ask for?” and you gave this prayer: “Creator, unite all of Bnei Baruch into one heart, fill this heart with love, and pass it on to the whole world.” In our ten, we still hold on to this prayer.

Can you give us a form of prayer for this convention?

Answer: I believe I include myself in the wishes of your hearts. I am very glad that more men are present at this congress. This truly speaks about its real strength. Let’s just continue the convention, and in the end, we will reach a state where we truly begin to feel that each heart is filled by all the other hearts.
[341152]
From the International Kabbalah Convention “Unite In Lishma” – 2/20/25, Lesson 1

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