It is written, “The Lord is high and the low will see,'”that only the low can see the exaltedness. The letters “Yakar” [precious] are the letters of “Yakir” [will know]. This means that one knows the exaltedness of a thing to the extent that it is precious to one.

One is impressed according to the importance of the thing. The impression brings one to a sensation in the heart, and according to the measure of one’s recognition of the importance, to that extent, joy is born in him (Baal HaSulam, Shamati 26, “One’s Future Depends and Is Tied to Gratitude for the Past”).

It all depends on the degree of importance, which depends on the environment. If people are talking about spirituality everywhere, I am ignited with desire and begin to appreciate it although I have no idea what it is. Then I have the fuel, the strength, to follow the path and acquire something ephemeral, the subject of everyone’s conversation, which escapes my field of vision. This is not a problem; I am ready to follow others with my eyes closed.

This is how society “hypnotizes” me and pushes me forward. In our world, it ends up with me meaninglessly buying things I don’t have the slightest need for. But in a group, it pushes me toward a spiritual goal, which I gradually reveal until it comes out in its entirety. This whole path, all the steps of the spiritual ladder, are conquered only because I am imbued with the importance of the goal from the environment.

Thus, if one knows his lowliness, that he is not more privileged than his contemporaries, meaning he sees that there are many people in the world who were not given the strength to do the holy work even in the simplest way, even without the intention and in Lo Lishma [not for Her sake], even in Lo Lishma of Lo Lishma, and even in preparation for the preparation of the clothing of Kedusha [holiness], while he was imparted the desire and thought to at least occasionally do holy work, even in the simplest possible way, if one can appreciate the importance of this, according to the importance one attributes to the holy work, to that extent he should give praise and thanks for it.

This is so because it is true that we cannot appreciate the importance of being able to sometimes observe the Mitzvot [commandments] of the Creator, even without any intention. In that state, one comes to feel elation and joy in the heart.

The praise and the gratitude one gives for it expand the feelings, and one is elated by every single point in the holy work, he knows Whose servant he is, and thus soars ever higher. This is the meaning of what is written, “I thank You for the grace that You have made with me,” meaning for the past, and by this one can confidently say, and he does say, “and that You are destined to do with me (Baal HaSulam, Shamati 26, “One’s Future Depends and Is Tied to Gratitude for the Past”).

There is no one worthy to come to the Creator. Moreover, no one deserves to come to the Creator before others do. What kind of merit can there be?

Therefore, if a person is at least involved in the process, is drawn to spirituality although in fact the Creator is pulling him toward Himself, one should be grateful for it, it should be given great importance and significance. Because of the degree of importance and sensitivity a person has cultivated in himself, he feels how the Creator draws him upward in a mutual relationship. It turns out that the Creator is behind his entire story, behind all crimes and missteps through which He deliberately guides a person right up to the present day. Then a person begins to acquire a sixth sense—the sensation of the Creator. This is only in the measure of the importance he has.

Why is the formula so simple? Why do we only need to give importance to spirituality in order to evoke a response from the Creator?

In fact, this awareness of importance includes everything. For its sake, I must bow my head, as it is said: “The Lord is high, and the low will see.” I raise Him in my eyes, i.e., the property of giving, and lower myself, i.e., the property of receiving.

I take strength for that from the environment, which means I have to join it as a small one. After all, it is the small one who can learn from the great one because he really perceives them as such. That is why I join a group, and by doing so, I already develop the quality of bestowal, love for my neighbor, and unity.

At the same time, I also need to study the actions of the Creator: how He set up the whole reality. Also, I have to spread this message to others. After all, I honor Him, and therefore I find out what He wants. He wants to reveal Himself to everyone, to bestow to others, and so I act in this direction.

It turns out that the mere concept of the importance of the Creator is enough to add everything necessary, everything that exists in me, in the vessel, and before the light to this action.
[71872]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/24/12, Writings of Baal HaSulam “One’s Future Depends and Is Tied to Gratitude for the Past”

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