Restriction is the “crossing of the final sea (Yam Suf),” meaning the transition from the desire to receive to the desire to bestow without yet establishing a specific level within the desire to bestow. This is what is termed a restriction.

In other words, it is the ability not to turn toward oneself and not to make internal calculations.

At present, we are not aware of this, but every time we do something, even the slightest movement, it is only because our desire to receive decides that by acting this way, it will express itself in the best possible manner and that in this way it will better control the situation.

In short, everything is determined by the desire to receive. And a restriction at each degree indicates the depth to which I become aware of this desire and, accordingly, the extent to which I have control over myself and do not take into consideration my own benefit from the action I am about to perform.

In the definition of restrictions in The Study of the Ten Sefirot (TES), it is written: “One who restrains himself and does not receive, despite passionately desiring to receive, is called one who restricts himself.”

We cannot eradicate the desire; it remains. But I control it and restrain it; that is, I refrain from using it.

What does “refraining from using it” mean? It means not basing any calculation on it. Or to put it differently, according to what takes place in the Rosh (head) of the Partzuf, I make a calculation concerning the desire to receive pleasure for my self. That is, to the extent that the desire to receive is revealed to me, I clearly see how much personal benefit I intend to derive from it, and I perform a restriction on this basis. On this foundation, I begin to make the calculation for the sake of the Creator and to turn to Him. This is the action.

At each subsequent degree, ever greater depths of the desire to receive are revealed to me both quantitatively and qualitatively. Then I see how deeply my thoughts are entangled in this desire, how deeply my calculations are immersed in it, although previously I could not see this. I see how much I am still thinking about myself in every thought, and so it goes, deeper and deeper. Ultimately, the entire volume of the soul is revealed to me in this way.

Therefore, each degree is a particular area within the volume of the soul where I see that I am thinking only about myself, and that all my calculations are connected solely with myself. In addition, there are four stages of Aviut, for example, how much all the organs of my body, every cell of it, think only about themselves, if we draw an analogy with our physical body.

Thus, a restriction takes place after a person becomes aware of how strongly he strives to fill every cell, every desire within himself, based on his desire to receive. Yet, despite this aspiration, he rises above it and turns toward the Creator in order to work with His desires, with His Kelim (vessels).
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/17/26, Rabash, “What Are Commandments that a Person Tramples with His Feet”

Related Material:
The Essence of Restriction
How Can You Be under Restriction?
Restriction On Egoistic Desires

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