We cannot initiate a single action, even now, in the preparatory period and our most egoistic state (Lo Lishma), unless we intend to attain faith, bestowal, and an altruistic intention through that action. It all begins with rising above our desire in order to connect with another person. Otherwise, I will never establish contact with them and will remain locked inside myself.

To come out of oneself and connect with a friend means to separate from one’s ego, to raise oneself above it; only then will I be able to come into contact with others. Otherwise, nothing will work out, and I will remain walled up inside myself like in a shell.

All our actions must be directed toward coming out of our ego and connecting with a friend outside of it. As it is written: “The righteous will live by his faith.”

If for now only a small egoism is revealed to me, then it is relatively easy to come out of myself and begin to draw closer to others. But as soon as I achieve the first successes, the ego begins to grow more and more. And again, I must apply efforts in order to tear myself away from it.

This is how it is on all 125 degrees until the desire to enjoy expands to its full volume and I nevertheless remain above it. This will mean that I have risen to the degree of Lishma, the degree of Bina.

And then I will already be able to return to my ego and begin to receive within that sphere for the sake of bestowal, first in the thinnest “peel,” and then expanding it more and more, and so on until the very end, until I have engaged the entire desire.
[64791]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/28/11, Baal HaSulam “Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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