We need to understand that the eternal particle of the soul exists in its potential in every one of us if we unite with the others. It is one for all of us and is initially created as such. If, however, we don’t feel that we exist in one collective whole, this means that none of us has this soul and all we have is just our animalistic nature.

The soul is also called “Adam”—from the Hebrew word “adame”—similar to the Creator.

The desire to receive is totally opposite to the desire to bestow; it wishes to receive, not give, but at the same time, if it realizes itself against its own nature, it becomes similar to the Creator. Its similarity lies in the core of its action, not according to its nature, but according to how it transformed itself. This is its inverse, corrected state and is called the soul or Adam.

It is also called “Shechina.” This is a special word, from the Hebrew word “Shochen,” meaning a place of dwelling, settlement, residence. It is the place where the Light descends to and fills it up.

Thus, there are various names for the soul depending on which of its aspects are being discussed. But generally, no matter what is being discussed, it is the only subject matter: this collective soul, the only one that exists, besides the upper force. And we are its corrupted part and don’t understand where we are. We are in this soul but in a broken state, and that’s why we can’t say that we have it in us. Respectively, all our work is aimed at one goal: only to correct and find ourselves in this reformed state.

There are many people in the world whose parts in the collective soul have been corrected. These parts are called “particular souls”, and they are assisting us.

There is circulation of souls: Every instant a person passes through certain states even if he hasn’t yet entered the spiritual world, meaning that he hasn’t found his part in the common soul and hasn’t become Adam in general, hasn’t linked with this whole system; that is, he is not yet its active part.

This is an enormous egoistic system containing all the egoism of the universe and working on bestowal, in sync with the upper force, with the Creator. They connect, receive from each other and bestow to each other, and between them, a complete contact occurs, a so-called adhesion. One way or the other, we are in this common soul in everything and always, although we are moving toward our goal either willingly or unwillingly; that’s the difference.

People who live in our world without any understanding of it, move around unaware of and yet according to the program of creation. There is nothing that could break the confines of the law of the collective creation. This program is concealed from man, but he doesn’t understand where he is going and what he is doing at any particular moment in time. Suddenly something pushes him, and he acts, instinctively or seemingly conscious. None of us can see what strings we are being pulled by.

Why did one suddenly wish to act this way, think this way, or got into this trouble—we don’t understand. Only having risen over our state of existence and observing ourselves from aside, like a mother watches her child, will we be able to work on ourselves, on our egoism. Then, we will feel when we are being pulled by the strings, and maybe we will be able to pull them ourselves.

This is our development; I come to a state where before I am pulled, I will pull myself. Thereby, I engage the Light to affect me instead of the Light coming to play with me. This is a crucial turning point in a person’s work on his transformation, when he begins controlling his own development.

This, essentially, is what we are striving for: to be handed the governing force and to govern with it on our own. When the Surrounding Light is in my hands, I can engage it and make it affect me as necessary. In that case, I govern my soul; I am equal with it. This is the aim of our development in the group. Because essentially, the group represents the soul for me in a “material” form. If I connect to the friends, I connect with the collective desire, which, actually, is the soul.
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From the Novosibirsk Convention 12/7/12, Lesson 2

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Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 54: When the Creator sees that one has completed one’s measure of exertion and finished everything he had to do in strengthening his choice in faith in the Creator, the Creator helps him. Then, one attains open Providence, meaning the revelation of the face.

This is where the work in the group comes in—all of the person’s obligations, according to the designation of his soul and his generation, which can be very different from one generation to another and from one person to another. No one knows for sure what one’s obligatory measure of exertion is, since it is very personal, because everyone stems from the spiritual root of his soul. Even when we correct ourselves and connect, we are still in different states, although we are connected into one big vessel.

Every time new people join us, we immediately connect to them in one system, and accordingly changes take place in us. There is never a change in a person that stems from himself. If he lived alone in the world, he would never change.

All our changes are a result of perpetual movements towards connection in the general vessel. This influences everyone personally, each time awakening a new environment, in the attitude towards a person, to which he has to connect: either by the path of sufferings or by the path of the Torah. This is how everyone operates throughout his life.

Most people go through these connections unconsciously, unprepared, not understanding what they are doing and what they are living for. This is how they are reborn from one generation to another and their whole correction is done unconsciously. About this it says “go and make a living from one another.” Everyone influences everyone else and as a result everyone changes according to the Reshimot (informational records) in the general shattered desire.

So no one changes on his own. All the changes stem from the fact that a person forms different connections with others at any given moment. This is how this general system exists and operates.

It either happens on an unconscious level, or in people who are already on the preparation level, which means that they want to advance to conscious actions. In the meantime, however, they only make efforts, as preparation. They work on it so that they will be worthy of their advancement and to participate in it actively, and thus they advance.
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From the 1^st part the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/3/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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Israel is a high degree. Every person who has separated himself from material interests and is only directed at adhesion with the Creator, with the force of bestowal according to the law of equivalence of form, and devotes every moment to this is called Yashar-El (straight to the Creator), Israel.

One of the stages on the path is to enter into a pact, when a person integrates the others, those who are also called Israel, into himself. Once they were already united, but the desire to enjoy, the evil inclination, entered between them and separated them. And now, in spite of the fact that they reveal it, they nonetheless work on their connection all the time in order to reach connection, and to provide the Creator with the vessel for the reception of pleasure.

The goal of creation is the delight of the created beings. This is the action on the part of the Creator, so why was it given as the task of creation? Because the creation has to bring itself to such a state to give the Creator an opportunity to bring it pleasure. Our work is to reveal this vessel for receiving pleasure. And the pleasure is to give the Creator an opportunity to bestow.

As is it said about the miracle that happened at Mount Sinai: “Today we have all gathered here,” that is, from this point forward we receive the ability to connect and be worthy to be clothed in the upper force. And now we are called the chosen people; this general vessel is called the people of Israel. And He who fills this vessel according to the law of equivalence of form shall be called our Creator.

Therefore, there is a condition: “Today we have all gathered here,” that is, we should all get together to become as one—one common vessel for the realization of the goal of creation, to benefit the created beings.

It is said: “And the people stood under the mountain,” that is, having broken all doubts (Har – mountain, Irurim – doubts) to achieve unity. We need to take care of our common connection so that none of us forgets about it.

Real mutual guarantee is needed for that. That is what we lack, and this is the reason why we have not yet succeeded in building the common vessel. This is all because of the lack of mutual participation, care that each friend is concerned about connecting everyone into one, so that we “have ALL gathered here!”
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/03/12

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Question: What happens to the individuality of each one during the unity of the world group? Is there any importance to our attributes when the Creator separates us, connects us, or requires some kind of effort from us? Or do they not make any difference?

Answer: Imagine that once there was a body and it broke into small parts. How is it possible now, from all these parts, to create the same body?

Each one of us is responsible for a certain part of this general body that is called Adam HaRishon (the first human). I am a small part of his liver, and you are a small part of his lungs, and someone else is a small part of this heart, etc.

So how can we change our foundation? It is impossible!

Therefore each one needs to remain with one’s initial attributes. He retains his character with all his innate attributes. It’s all his. It is precisely thanks to this individuality that he expresses himself.

However, this entire wonderful picture is comprised specifically from opposites, from the differences of each one of us who is completely opposite from his friend. And so they all can connect themselves and in this connection to attain this compound, like a general body that will be perfect specifically thanks to each one complementing the other. Under no circumstances do they need to be identical.

Only one thing is needed from a person, that is to connect with others in bestowal to all of the others! By following this condition, each one realizes himself in an individual manner towards the others. And from this comes forth one, huge, integral Kli (vessel/desire) which is complete.
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From a Virtual Lesson 11/11/12

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Question: Inner efforts cause pain. Can we say that this pain comes instead of the suffering that comes directly from nature in the form of hurricanes and other natural disasters?

Answer: On the whole the answer is yes. Instead of rebuilding the homes that were destroyed by the hurricane and receiving more terrible blows, we can move on to internal work and make mental efforts. The efforts should be qualitative, although nature obligates us to move to quantitative efforts.

There difference between quality and quantity is enormous. We know this from the laws of the pyramid, which is divided into four levels: the still nature (s), the vegetative (v), the animate (a) and the human (h). On the level of the human we make purposeful efforts.

But other people are on the lowest level. Think about the efforts they have to make to the full width of the pyramid’s base! What a great area the desire covers, how many tons of concrete and iron, how many hours to waste, how many diseases to go through, and what a great lack to be felt!

We are above that level and can change the difficulties and sufferings of billions of people for many years with one click on a button.

But don’t think that pushing the button is easier than a thousand years of hard labor. It isn’t by chance that the people of Israel cried out in the desert and were willing to return to the hard labor in Egypt, to work for Pharaoh, only to avoid pushing the button.

This is the essence of the decision a person has to make, and so our world will not disappear until the end of correction.

By pushing that button you have to be aware and to realize what is happening, you cannot just click it and be surprised by the outcomes; in spirituality you push the button only after knowing all the actions you go through. In other words the form of redemption is already in the exile.

You have to imagine the process; otherwise you have no choice, because choosing means that you understand the future and that you choose it.

Qualitatively this work is more difficult than the ordinary work. So even though they could do it, they cried out: “Let’s go back! Let’s switch this work with the previous kind of work!”

Question: Why do Kabbalists say that the path of the Torah is easier than the path of sufferings?

Answer: You are trying to weigh two different things with the same scale: a quantum of Light with billions of tons of rocks. Can they be compared? The inner energy of the Light is a billion times greater than the physical weight of the rocks. But these things are incomparable in your egoistic perception, in your imaginary senses. First we have to change our scale of values. It is written: “A righteous is the foundation of the world.” His power and value are much greater than that of all of humanity. Without him people cannot do anything, they don’t exist in spirituality at all. So you cannot weigh the two types of efforts by the same instrument.

Question: Will everyone have to push that button eventually?

Answer: No, not even all the children of Israel, which means all those who yearn straight to the Creator. Everyone participates in pushing the button, but it is hard to say who will have the leading role in the future.

On the one hand, a person cannot advance without a leader. In every generation there must be someone who pulls forward and leads others. On the other hand, there may be something similar to the Sanhedrin, a group of people who are ready and able to find the general force that will lead the people by the connection among them. I don’t think that anyone can provide a clear prognosis, but it doesn’t matter. The main thing is that we are advancing. What is necessary is what will happen. The lack of knowledge in this case is not a problem.

One way or the other, everyone will participate in the process and until the end of correction, until the last click, we will all be in the pyramid. Only the Light of the end of correction will turn the line into a circle. The levels of the spiritual ladder don’t change, and only when all of Malchut enters the correction and reaches Keter and becomes equal to it, do all the forms disappear, except for the circle.

Question: Is that button the love of others?

Answer: Yes, but through the love of others, we yearn for the love of the Creator—we must remember that.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/4/12, “Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah)”

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Question: When I exit the group and go out into the world, I find it hard to manage correctly at work in order to maintain a balance. How should I work with myself when I am in the external environment?

Answer: We are under the terrible influence of the huge external human environment. In it there is our small environment, the group, in which we try to neutralize the external influence. It is as if we’ve built a Noah’s ark for ourselves and are kept safe from the flood.

On the other hand, when we leave the influence of the group, we find ourselves under the pressure of external passions. How can we guard ourselves? How can we remain in the group even when we don’t see and don’t hear each other?

In order to do that we use modern technology, cell phones, for example, in order to communicate with one another, besides, the group has an “antenna” that allows us to connect to it virtually and to receive different materials from it. We can use an MP3 player to also remind us of what is important, and we can also write notes during the day. In short, we have many means in order to communicate and not become disconnected.

But most importantly, we can establish a direct network of connection from the “mind” of the group to our own minds if we want and agree and stick to this unity.

In fact I am always being played with: There is no outside and no inside; there is no this world and no next world; the scenes simply change all the time like in a theater and I have to “move on to another life” each time and to “play the role,” and to act according to the circumstances.

It isn’t simple, but a person isn’t given more than he can manage. According to spirituality, you increase in Holiness and do not decrease in Holiness. It could be that you are shown from Above that you have not prepared yourself enough and so you broke off from the group. So learn from this example and from now on prepare a stronger connection with the friends.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/26/12, Shamati #3

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From The Light of the Sun by Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Halevi: The main attainment of the Torah is by unity, as it says: “And Israel camped there before the mountain, as one man with one heart, and there the giving was stopped and each tribe corrected and added his Ha-Va-Ya-H.

And they said we shall hear and we shall do in great passion from the bottom of their hearts and they raised Mei Nukvin and they revealed Maim Dekurin, that the Creator descended to give them the Torah and they were rewarded with attainment of the Torah.

The attainment of the Torah means the attainment of the plan of all of creation, its goal, the attainment of the whole path of correction that is attained by unity. This is because we have to correct the shattering and as a result, in addition to the correction of the shattering, we reach attainment. This means that by our exertion we add to our understanding, to the recognition of the state that we are in. We open all the spiritual worlds for ourselves from one level to another until the world of Ein Sof (Infinity).

But before we reach this attainment, we don’t feel any difference between our world and the world of Ein Sof. Infinity is attained only by unity, and the unity is built on two lines—the right and the left, love and hate—one in contrast to the other.

Therefore it says: “And Israel camped there before the mountain” (Jethro, 19, 20), they stood before the hatred they discovered after they had always been in the right line, enthusiastic about spirituality, striving for unity, and eager to connect. It was then that they discovered the left line that stood before them like a high mountain not letting them connect.

Then they needed the Torah, the Light that Reforms, and then they discovered the middle line, the Torah, the Creator that is revealed and helps connect the two lines together. Thanks to their prayer, they received an answer from Above. The Creator descended and gave them the Torah and so they were awarded with the attainment of the Torah.

So we must constantly follow the right line, in pure bestowal, in Hafetz Hesed, and then in contrast to it, the left line is revealed: different failures, disappointments, weaknesses, criticism, Din. It’s good that all this is revealed since by that we eventually realize that there is no other choice and that we have to follow the right line.

We see that there’s nothing we can enjoy in the left line and that these are vessels of receiving that demand filling and there is no filling! So all that is left, despite everything, is to ascend above all this; when we attain a full measure, a full measure of the revelation of the right and the left lines, the gathering before Mt. Sinai is revealed, the middle line, and then the Light that connects the two line comes to us. This is called “the Creator makes peace in Heaven and He will bring peace unto us.” The middle line comes and decides between the first two lines by bringing us to peace and wholeness.

The Torah is attained by unity, if we constantly yearn for it as it says, “and Israel camped before the mountain, as one man with one heart.” No matter how hard they tried to connect, they discovered the opposite: detachment, hatred, and rejection. “And there their impurity was stopped and each tribe corrected the combination of its Ha – Va – Ya – H,” which means that in each of us and among all of us there are many internal problems and conflicts that require correction.

“And they said, ‘We shall do and we shall hear!’” which means that they are ready to go above their reason, above the feeling of any criticism, since there is no other choice, since we have seen that we can’t connect in our egoistic vessels. “And they raised Mei Nukvin (MAN) and in contrast Maim Dekurin were revealed, and the Creator descended to give them the Torah and they were rewarded with the attainment of the Torah.” Let’s hope that we will be rewarded with the receiving of the Torah since the Creator gives it every day.
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/26/12

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The heart is at the center of everything. It’s not an accident that we associate human desires and passions with the heart. We say, “from the bottom of my heart,” or “my heart is bleeding,” or “my heart is melting with joy,” or “follow your heart.” The heart can be “kind,” “tender,” “sinking,” “broken,” etc. In general, the heart signifies the essence of life, both in the material and spiritual senses. Of course, we use this word symbolically. The heart per se is a bodily organ; it can be implanted and/or replaced even by a man-made device. Essentially, the heart is a “pump.”

However, it’s hard to overestimate the significance of this organ since it denotes the main action of nature, the act of receiving and giving. The heart “collects” blood from the entire body and then delivers it to all other organs by applying pressure; thus, it provides nourishment to all body parts and cleans them of toxins.

By all means, the heart doesn’t work on its own. It simply cannot pump blood through the entire body without blood vessels that interact with the heart by pushing the blood further to every single cell of the organism. The heart works not because it’s so strong, but rather it sets the rhythm and instigates the original impulse in the body. Then, multiple mechanisms of the blood system (which are not yet explored well enough by contemporary science) begin working together with the heart. Hence, the heart is not only a bodily “pump,” it also coordinates other systems.

There are multiple problems associated with the heart’s work, since “receiving and giving” have to be well-balanced. The health of the entire body depends on the harmony between these two states, which makes it possible to evaluate both physical and spiritual (internal) constituents of a person. If a system of receiving and bestowal is well-balanced (similarly to how it is attuned in the heart), then one harmoniously interacts with others and maintains correct relationships with one’s surroundings. We receive and give (in the same way as the heart), thus providing healthy collaboration with other people.

In other words, at the interpersonal level, we all are connected with each other through our “hearts,” meaning through our qualities. Ideally, we have to use our qualities to pursue one purpose, which is to maintain harmonious relationships with others, meaning giving and receiving all that is needed.

At the same time, the heart per se doesn’t need anything except minimal energy to provide normal work. It doesn’t consume blood that flows through it, nor does it receive anything specific; it simply functions. The “pleasure” it receives (if we can use this word in this context) is the fact that it serves the entire body and pours energy into it.

This is a good example of mental/spiritual health with behavior in accordance with the principles: “Don’t do to others what you hate for yourself” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” One has to regard the needs of his surroundings as his own and provide others with everything that is in his power to satisfy all of their external necessities. This is exactly how the heart functions.

Current research states that we are closely interconnected in many different ways, not excluding the unity of our souls. So, we can say that the systems we belong to have reciprocal influences upon each other. As a result, when we have a nervous breakdown or low spirits, they by all means reflect upon our heart. Our heart is very sensitive to our spirits; the heart can get “sick” not only as a result of some physical disease. It’s not an accident that when we get into a critical situation we put our hand on our hearts, since our nervous system instantaneously affects the heart and forces it to respond.

Our understanding of what’s going on in the higher systems of egoistic relationships among us starts from here. So far, we are using our “hearts” solely for mercenary receiving that has no sign of giving whatsoever, meaning that we use the heart in a completely wrong way, whereas all it needs is harmony. Besides that, we influence our physical heart from the level of our desires and corrupt relationships.

Until now, we were not involved in integral connections of the global community; this explains why the impact of these mechanisms remained so weak. However, in the middle of the last century, a close connection among all of us emerged; nevertheless, we still continue acting selfishly instead of cultivating our relations. As a result, wrong egoistic interactions impact our physical hearts. There’s nothing strange about the intensification of cardiac problems that has turned out to be one of the most dangerous health issues nowadays.

It’s not hard to cure the heart, since it’s not a really complex organ. Although, all we do at this time is “mend” it by using various symptomatic remedies, and in the meantime, statistics continue to show dismal trends. It happens because we haven’t started to correct the relationships between us. Only by building the right mechanism of receiving and giving at the human level, the highest level, only through “pumping” the system with correct and equal relationships that convey harmony and peace can we alter our bodily systems, first and foremost, our cardio-vascular system.

It’s worth mentioning that the configuration of our heart, its mitral valves, mode of operation, and related systems, are in line with our spiritual structure. However, we don’t take into account the wholeness of our organism, but rather treat visible symptoms and not the real cause of the disease.

Even doctors agree that “everything comes from the head,” and the “head of everything” is our relationships, thoughts and desires. In spirituality, the “heart” is the core of our desires so much stems from the spiritual qualities of a person.

In fact, the only cure for the heart is love. It is said, “Love covers all crimes.” In other words, if one’s heart works solely for bestowal and strives to satisfy external needs, it means that “one works with love,” either to one’s body or to one’s neighbors. No doubt that this kind of work, by all means, should result in a complete cure. So, instead of “heart research institutes,” I would open “institutes of love.” It will be the best preventive method ever.
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From a “Talk About the New Life” 10/10/12

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Question: What does the concept “One” mean?

Answer: “One” means that there is one form which governs and connects everyone together, unites and compliments all based on the infinite number of internal properties that are opposite one another in all possible senses.

Such a connection is called “One.” It points at the infinite number of the individual parts included in Him, their form of connection and everyone’s uniqueness in Him. All of these are included in the notion of One.

One includes the entire reality: When He was one whole, but then divided into many parts, and went through all corrections. Everything that has been attained during these corrections, all of these, is called One. This means that He includes absolutely everyone within Himself. He is not simply One, but rather He is One since everything is included within Him.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/21/12, The Zohar

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Question: What is a group?

Answer: A group is the vessel, that part of Malchut of the world of Infinity that is disclosed to a person now as a place from which he could begin his connection with all the souls.

These are the individual souls that are closest to him. And when he reveals this connection, he will see that everything belongs to one vessel, one soul.

In the meantime, only this part is revealed to him so it would be easier for him to join it. He does not even need to connect with the entire group; he can choose a few people to whom he feels closer.

We operate under the control of informational genes, Reshimot. According to the kind of Reshimot that are revealed in us, we look at people around us and see who matches us and who does not.

We think that this is determined by the physical genes and hormones, but really, it all depends on our internal Reshimot. Even unconsciously, we attach great importance to every detail, choosing by the form, smell, and behavior of the one who matches us more or less.

It seems to us that we choose simply by external qualities, but no, our internal Reshimot speak in us. Usually, we look for “complementary,” qualities that complete us. This happens in everything, beginning from ordinary, earthly love, friends, and as well in a Kabbalistic group where deeper, richer Reshimot are revealed. However, the same principle acts everywhere.

Thus we come to the group. But when we try to connect in it, a problem arises because these Reshimot are broken. We cannot just connect under these Reshimot, completing each other. The lack of agreement between us begins to emerge. On the one hand, I like these people and understand them. On the other hand, something interferes and divides us. We need to work above these disturbances.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/21/12, Writings of Rabash 

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