Common Soul—A System of Desires

75.01The common soul Adam  HaRishon represents all of humanity, and its particles exist in each of us.

It is written that Adam’s soul was notionally divided into 600,000 souls. If earlier the world’s population was one million people, today it is eight billion. And this division can continue indefinitely.

From the point of view of Kabbalah, the common soul is a system of desires. In our world, desires are graded as follows: food, sex, family, wealth, honor, power, and knowledge. The totality of all desires from the smallest to the largest in Kabbalah is called the system of Adam HaRishon.

Every person has some part of the common soul, and everyone must take care to correct it from being egoistic to altruistic.
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From KabTV’s “Practical Kabbalah” 1/2/24

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Commandment of Fear

591“All the commandments in the Torah that the Creator gave to Israel are written in the Torah in a general way,” in the verse “In the beginning God created,” until the verse “And there was light.” The Zohar explained that the verse “In the beginning God created” is the commandment of fear and its punishment, and all the commandments in the Torah are included in it (Zohar for All, “Rabbi Shimon’s Exit from the Cave,” #188).

The most basic commandment is fear of the Creator because the entire Torah is based on it. The fear is that if you do not fulfill the commandments of the Creator, you will be rejected. Therefore, this commandment is the cornerstone.

Question: What is the connection between the phrases “In the beginning the Almighty created” and “the commandment of fear”?

Answer: The fact is that our nature is absolute egoism, and the only thing that can force us to work, do something, and bring us closer to something is fear.

That is, “In the beginning the Almighty created” is our desire to receive, constantly fearing that it will not be filled. And then it says: until the words, “and there was light.” Light is already filling.

It turns out that a person’s fear changes since there is a difference between filling: either for oneself or for the sake of the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “Introduction of The Book of Zohar” 12/24/23

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 1/22/24

Preparation to the Lesson

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1st part of the Lesson — Writings of Rabash, “What Does It Mean that One Who Repents Should Be in Happiness?”

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2nd part of the Lesson — Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Vol. 2. Part 6, “Cause and Consequence, ‘Seder Siba ve Mesubav,'” Item 31

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Selected Highlights

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Audio Version Of The Blog – 1/21/24

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The Incident that Shocked all of Israel

963.5Comment: Recently an incident occurred in Israel that shocked the whole country. As you know, we have a sacred attitude toward hostages. We want to free them with all our might; the whole nation is behind it. When three hostages managed to escape from captivity, reached our positions and were almost free, they were mistaken for terrorists and killed. Huge shock was felt all over Israel.

The press started digging, discussing, and looking for who to blame. And the mother of one of those murdered boys sent an audio message to the soldiers.

“I am Yotam’s mom. I love you, I want to hug you even from afar. My son’s death is not your fault. Please take care of yourselves! You are doing the right thing in the world. Do not blame yourselves for my son’s death. You must protect yourselves in order to protect all of us. Come visit us at the first opportunity, whenever you want. We want to look you in the eye, hug you, and tell to your face, no matter how hard it is, that at that moment you made the right decision, you did the right thing. No one in our family condemns you or holds a grudge against you.”

My Response: Yes, it is hard!

Question: I cannot imagine where a mother can get such strength. The most precious thing has been taken away, and she is rising above it. Tell me, where does such strength come from?

Answer: From above! There is no other way… It is revealed from above.

Comment: And this happens right when the search for those to blame is underway, when everything is being discussed. Suddenly, this voice sounds. What is going on here? A mother is the only one who unites the people. Can you imagine? Suddenly everyone feels what they are and what she is!

My Response: Yes, it is a great breakthrough.

Question: When you talk about the role of the Jewish people, that we should come to show an example of good connections by rising above hatred, can we say this mother is an example?

Answer: Yes, what she did was great.

Question: Can we call this a call for the unity of the people?

Answer: Sure.

Question: Can it influence us?

Answer: I do not know. We have already been through so much! And you see that after all this, there are demonstrations again, there is a search for whom to blame again.

What has been killing us for thousands of years continues to kill. It is our inability to unite above all our accusations and problems. I do not know how to achieve it.

Question: Still, can we say this is a call for it?

Answer: It is the call. It has to simply be on everyone’s lips all the time. Even if people do not feel it, to just say it. Then they will hear themselves.

Question: What should be said? That we should rise above everything, above all differences…?

Answer: Rise above all the differences and unite, embrace, connect, just stick together.

Comment: No matter what happens between us.

My Response: Yes! Above all!

Comment: This woman, this mother, Iris, could have shut down and blamed everyone.

My Response: You see, in this state there are people who rise above themselves. There are no words to describe her condition and her actions. It is just beyond human strength.

Question: What would you say to her if you met her?

Answer: I do not know. I would bow to her and that is all.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/25/23

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“Over 100 Days of Prayer for the Hostages and Soldiers” (Times of Israel)

Michael Laitman on the Times of Israel: “Over 100 Days of Prayer for the Hostages and Soldiers”

For over 100 long days, the people held hostage in Gaza have endured a chilling and uncertain situation in the shelters. It is very hard to fathom what they are going through. The key is for them to cling to an upper force, trusting that it protects them, echoing the wisdom that “Even if a sharp sword is resting upon a person’s neck, he should not prevent himself from praying for mercy” (Berachot 10a).

We, too, must exert great efforts in our hearts for them. Let us intensify our prayers, turning to the upper force of love and bestowal—the Creator—seeking a connection between us and them. We should implore the Creator to draw closer to them, and for us to unite with them in thought, living with them in one heart so that they will feel that they are not alone.

For the safety of the hostages and the soldiers, people from all walks of life who did not choose to be in the dark situation they now find themselves in, we need to be cautious. We must not allow divisive voices to erode our unity, which is our sole strength. We need to resist the temptation to let the forces of evil, which operate to divide us, materialize.

Every one of us should be mindful that speaking ill of another person is akin to harming one’s own kin. Conversely, showing love and readiness to protect those around us, whether in our buildings, on the streets, or literally anywhere, ensures our well-being. This unity keeps us all safe, wherever we might be.
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An Effort to Understand Each Other

528.02Question: What role does the ten play in individual comprehension?

Answer: You perceive spirituality in the Kli (vessel) created by your ten.

Question: Why with these precise friends and not with others?

Answer: This is determined by the Creator.

Question: Is it possible to feel the state of a friend only when we are together at the same level in spirituality?

Answer: No, not necessarily. If you strive to understand each other and connect with each other, then it is possible in specific connections.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/8/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Spirituality Is Called That Which Will Never Be Lost”

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Bring Your Heart and Mind Closer Together

557Question: Rabash’s articles pull me to a state I am not yet at, but want to be. After this, when we begin sorting them out, the mind and the egoistic nature turn on and seek some kind of justification.

How can I make sure that the entire ten and I will catch up with the state of Rabash and the desire of the heart?

Answer: The fact that you feel the difference between your mind and your heart is already good. The fact that you can even control yourself is also very good.

Now, you just need to check whether you agree with your heart and mind and whether you can bring them closer to each other. Then, you will feel what is essential in them and what is secondary.

The bringing together of heart and mind depends on how one aligns oneself with the Creator, the group, and the teacher. And then it turns out that he can simultaneously work in both the heart and the mind.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/7/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Understanding What Is Written in Shulchan Aruch”

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The Influence of The Book of Zohar

209Comment: The article “Rabbi Shimon’s Exit from the Cave” is, in principle, very difficult to understand, just like other articles in The Book of Zohar. But you say they should be read as a magical remedy, a segula.

My Response: A Segula is a certain property that unfolds as you use it. In other words, it is an action that affects you even if you read it without understanding anything. And you change according to what reveals to you.

Question: Suppose a person has read this article. How can he check what has changed in him?

Answer: From reading one article, he cannot do anything yet. But gradually, by reading The Book of Zohar and going through all the properties and circumstances described in it, he begins to feel changes within himself.

Question: For example, we talked about fear. Is there a way I can check if I have developed a fear of the Creator?

Answer: Yes. You can check to what extent you have thoughts about what is said in the Torah is true and worth following. For example, if you start experiencing fear that you will not be able to fulfill the main commandment of the Creator, “love your neighbor,” then this may be a criterion that the book is influencing you. And if the awe does not arise, it means something needs to be changed.
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From KabTV’s “Introduction of The Book of Zohar” 12/24/23

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Praise the Creator

243.07Question: It is said that one should praise the Creator at night. in what situations can this advice be used?

Answer: Whenever you can, use it.

Question: Is it possible to use it when you feel a descent, when it is difficult for you to pray?

Answer: From any state.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/8/23, Writings of Rabash “What Are Truth and Falsehood in the Work?”

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