All of our work is an ascent up a ladder where each next step is completely disconnected from the previous one. This structure of the ladder emerged during the descent from above downward when the Malchut of the upper became the Keter of the lower. The same happens in every transition from one state to another, even if it is not yet an ascent on spiritual levels.

This is a real revolution; it is a fundamental change that occurs in our matter, in its very foundation, that we cease to understand ourselves when we transition from one state to another. After all, all of these states consist of a change in the portion of light that awakens our desire to enjoy, and both the light and the desire give birth to a new degree, a new state.

And we are within this new degree, and we have nothing remaining from the previous state except for the informational gene (Reshimo) that has led to this new state. And this Reshimo is also hidden. It turns out that in a new spiritual state, nothing remains from the past.

We can already feel that this is how it happens even before entering the spiritual world. We must agree with all the states we pass through, and learn from them what a true spiritual transition really means when we step from one world into another. Each degree is a separate world.

The problem is that on every degree, two opposing forces act: the desire to receive and the desire to bestow, left and right lines that are opposite and contrary to each other, each with its own impure aspect (Klipa). And we must become the middle line that connects them both, rules over them, and stands above them.

The descent from above downward went like this: Hochma (on the right) → Bina (on the left) → Daat (below in the middle)—like an inverted triangle. But in the ascent from below upward, there is Hochma (on the right) → Bina (on the left) → Keter (above in the middle)—since we desire to rise. Keter is always the result of Hochma and Bina—mercy and overcoming, fear and love—and is always above them.

And therefore the problem always arises of how to combine the two opposites that negate each other, until a third one comes and reconciles them. This third component comes from above as the revelation of the Creator after a person sees that he is totally unable to reconcile the two opposites on his own.

Therefore, both in fear and in love, what is needed is devotion of the soul. And it is harder to attain it in fear than in love. After all, love already absorbs the soul, and they move in the same direction. If I love someone, I am devoted to him with all my soul and strive to unite. That is how we perceive it in our world, because we love what our desire to enjoy loves.

But in the spiritual world, I love someone who is hateful to my egoism, as it is written: “Love covers all transgressions.” It turns out that even in love, it is difficult to be devoted with all your soul. And in hatred, it seems impossible altogether.

To hate and yet be devoted to the soul means to use one’s receiving desires for the sake of bestowal. How can I unite with all the people I hate most in the world, who hate me, and shower them with all the good that I am capable of giving to my most beloved ones?

This can be done only for the sake of some higher goal that justifies everything else. But if the goal is the action itself, it seems completely impossible. That is, it requires a very difficult ascent above one’s own calculations.

And we gradually advance toward this, not by the shortest and most beautiful path of light, but by a slightly longer one, which includes suffering and is called “the path of the earth.” But in the end, we do reach the goal because every action we make draws the upper light, which reconciles the two conflicting sides.

Therefore, although slave-like devotion to the Creator is needed both in fear and in love, it appears in a mixed form until we rise to a state in which we unite everything. Then even in fear you will be able to be devoted with all your soul just as in love.
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From Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/26/12, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Devotion”

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Preparation to the Lesson

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1st part of the Lesson — Writings of Rabash, Article 24 “What is Unfounded Hatred in the Work?” (1987) (8.7.2022)

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2nd part of the Lesson — Writings of Rabash, Article 566 “Cast Their Seed Among the Nations”

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Our path is tied to the development of the desire for pleasure. Altogether we exist within this single, unified desire. The four phases of the expansion of the light, the worlds, the Partzufim, and the spiritual degrees are embedded within it. Everything is inside it.

In other words, this desire is a composite. Just as the human body is made up of various organs and parts, so too is this desire made up of many components.

Among the parts of the desire, some are more developed, some less. They also differ in their thickness, which we call Aviut. In addition, some parts are closer to reception by their nature and others are closer to bestowal. There are many such gradations. Thus, if we break this great desire into its constituent parts, each will reveal itself as unique in its details and ingredients.

Among these parts, there are those that are purer, less egoistic, and they awaken first toward the light because they are closer to it. These are our friends across the world. They possess a yearning for bestowal, for the light, for discovering the reason for their existence.

They seek freedom. And freedom from life in this world first reveals itself in the question: “What am I living for? What does this life give me? What is its benefit?”

This question arises from problems and suffering. But afterward, in trying to understand their cause, one begins to search for the essence of life itself. The suffering becomes secondary; after all, what can be done about it? The main thing now is to uncover the secret of existence.

This means that I have awakened and want to break free from the everyday routine and from the vain pursuit of egoistic fulfillment. I can no longer continue serving my desire to enjoy like a slave. To me, this is death. Day after day, I have to drag around my “donkey,” feed and water it until it dies. When it dies, I, its loyal servant, will die with it.

But those who begin to understand that this is not life, but death, those are the ones who move forward. If the donkey wants to eat, feed it. But let it carry you, not the other way around. During this life, as long as you feed your donkey, you have the opportunity to ride it to a higher purpose. If you are not dragging it on your shoulders, but riding on it, then you are a human being.

This is the first stage of liberation from the angel of death, from the endless concern with mere corporeal existence. If you care for it in order to find a solution, that is a different matter; that is already life. Because essentially, you are charting a course toward the source of life.
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From Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/8/11, Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Freedom”

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Hence, if we want to work only for the sake of the Creator and not for our own sake, it is hard work, since we must fight against the Kli that the Creator created.

From this work come all the lacks we learn about, such as the departure of the lights, the breaking of the vessels, Kedusha, Tuma’a, Sitra Achra [other side], and Klipot (Rabash, Article 26, “What Is “He Who Defiles Himself Is Defiled from Above” in the Work?”).

Question: It is said that work not for one’s own benefit is hard work because we must fight against the Kli created by the Creator.

What kind of work should we do so that the shattering happens not externally, especially now, during the period of “between the straits,” but rather between us in our inner work?

Answer: We simply need to persist in this and not be afraid to ask again and again from within our Kelim for connection, for adhesion, and so on. That is what we are already doing, only we need to be more active.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/22/2025, “The Ruin as an Opportunity for Correction”

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Question: There is a saying: “One who prays for one’s friend is answered first.”

If a person who prays for a friend sees that the friend receives but he himself does not, does that indicate some kind of flaw, or is it normal?

Answer: If a person sees that the friend is investing a lot of energy, participating in all the actions the group is doing, then he understands that this is the friend’s work. And the opposite is also true.

We must feel where we truly need to be.

Each of us and all of us together must be at the center of the desire for the Creator, when all our desires gather together, unite, and are directed toward Him. That is the most important thing.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/22/2025, “The Ruin as an Opportunity for Correction”

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Question: The Creator plays with a person. What are the rules of the game?

Answer: The rules of the game are that the Creator has only one intention—to bring a person closer to Him.

He cultivates egoistic desires within a person and the person begins to feel a burdening of the heart, confusion, and heaviness. It suddenly seems to him that the whole world is against him, that he has many enemies, many obstacles in his way, and that he himself is tired, confused, perhaps even somewhat ill.

In short, he feels a multitude of disturbances, both external and internal.

In reality, these are not disturbances at all; rather, they are additional layers of the desire to receive within which he has a new opportunity to connect with the Creator.

Usually this arrives with some unexpected disturbance, a sudden fear of people or of authorities.

The Creator dresses Himself in all these means of our world, in all these forms. The person begins to perceive them like a small child who fears everything in the world.

At that point, he must strengthen himself through the books, the environment, and the study and constantly try to hold onto the thought that “There is none else besides Him, the good who does good.”

It is not simple because this game on the Creator’s part is exceedingly clever and intricate for us.

He knows how to entangle a person on his particular level every time in such a way that it demands great effort not to veer off the path and to keep thinking that there is no other authority besides the Creator.
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From the preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/22/10, Writings of Baal HaSulam “What Is ‘Hurry, My Beloved,’ in the Work?”

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Question: If during our daily activities we do not feel, think, or believe that sparks of holiness are rising somewhere, does this mean that we are not raising them? Or are we raising them, but it is hidden from us?

Answer: This is hidden from you. Any action that you perform in connection with the group is spiritual. You still, with your actions, evoke in the upper Partzuf a desire to connect you to it and conduct the upper light through you, through it, and further to Malchut of the world of Assiya.

Question: For example, after class, we compose a prayer, then during the day, we gather for calls and so on. Is it useful to add thoughts about how we raise sparks to Atzilut to these actions, and to think and talk about it? Does this increase sensitivity to sparks of holiness?

Answer: Yes, it increases sensitivity. But on the other hand, it brings additional properties with it that you have not yet mastered; that is, you are not yet at these levels.

So little by little, one more lesson, two more lessons, we will still gradually enter into this together. Let’s say that today it is considered that our lesson is at the level of Malchut of the worlds of BYA. And tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, we may already be one level higher and go further.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/21/2025, “The Ruin as an Opportunity for Correction”

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Question: What does it mean that we raise sparks of holiness for correction in Atzilut?

Answer: We do not yet feel this, but we hope that through our mutual effort, together we will feel that we are already connected to the degree of the world of Atzilut, and that all our desires, sufferings, and requests are directed from that degree to the Creator.

It is precisely from that degree that we hope to receive support from Him in the form of the upper light, which in turn will raise us into the world of Atzilut.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/21/2025, “The Ruin as an Opportunity for Correction”

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