Question: How must one answer the question about why is it necessary to love your friend as yourself?

Answer: It is because the world is integral and the mutual integral connection between everyone in human language is called “love,” mutual love for each other, like cells in one body. This is called, “And you shall love your friend as yourself.” This means that there must be such a connection between people as there is between all the other parts of creation.

In nature everything is in the right connection and union between them, except for humans. People violate this unity and distorts the still, vegetative, and animate nature. As soon as people begin to correct themselves, nature will automatically begin to be changed.

Nature will begin to rise because all parts of creation are included in each other, but in particular on that level called Adam (human). So “love your friend” is implementing the essential law of creation, the connection between all of its parts.
[137492]
From the Sochi Convention 6/9/14, Lesson 1

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Question: How is it possible to extract the deficiencies from the 99% of humanity most fully and correctly?

Answer: If we work with the general public correctly, we will begin to feel such a deficiency from them that we cannot sit still, so much so that will it stab us from all sides. It will be unpleasant, uncomfortable, sometimes frightening, and sometimes as shame. These are terrible sensations that will appear to us when working systematically with the external public. I hope that the group will compare and examine its yearning to rally around itself as its greatest opportunity and simultaneously be careful about how great the deficiency of the masses is and how much they understand us and are impressed by this.

So we need to prepare a very understandable and simple booklet for them that makes it clear and understandable that within our method is concealed a truth that will help them to rebuild the family, relationships with children, relationships at work, will make them healthy, will clarify a multitude of problems, etc. I would really like us to have this brochure that will always balance our influences, our meetings with the wider public.
[137494]
From the Sochi Convention 6/9/14, Lesson 1

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The rules of the group, the rules of the workshop in a circle, and the rules the global world should behave according to today are the same rules. They are the rules of mutual integration, mutual cooperation, and connection to such a degree that we become like one person with one heart.

In the upcoming convention in America we must learn that the wisdom of Kabbalah and the wisdom of connection are the same thing. The wisdom of connection that we are now going out to the world is the first explanation. In the meantime there is no mention of the upper worlds and their structure in the terms of Kabbalah. This is because in the meantime, in any case, we haven’t discovered them.

But after this, we will truly begin to relate to one another with an intention of bestowal. The moment we do enough exercises and attract the Light that Reforms from Above, we will suddenly feel that we are relating to our friends with an intention of bestowal. And then within this relationship we discover the Light: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Haya, and Yechida of the world of Assiya.

And after that, the Light will become stronger and stronger, according to my attitude towards the friends. In the Kelim I correct, in accord with the intensity of the connection between me and others, I discover the Light of NRNHY.

And the levels of spiritual ascent about which the wisdom of Kabbalah speaks are the distances between us. They are determined according to the degree of our approaching each other, the connections of our hearts, our desires into one desire.

The higher that I ascend on this ladder from this world to Olam Ein Sof, so I approach the shattered souls more strongly, and become like one whole body together with them. And then all the Lights are gathered and concentrated into one beam, and all the Kelim (vessels) are connected into one Kli and we return to a state called Malchut de Ein Sof.

The main goal of the convention is that we speak about the wisdom of Kabbalah and the wisdom of connection as one wisdom, one method, without any division. There is no artificial division that exists between them. This is the same wisdom that explains how we—this humanity and this world that is scattered and pulverized into fragments—become one whole again.

And so our practical work today is to go out to the whole world with the wisdom of connection or with integral education. And after we begin to discover the connections between us, we discover that we have reached the wisdom of connection, which is essentially the wisdom of Kabbalah.
[137596]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/16/14, “Preparation for the Convention in America”

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Question: You said that we must organize workshops on acute questions that appear as a result of interactions. Is it necessary to promote these situations, since they certainly could accumulate and then appear like abscesses, or is it preferable to set up workshops in advance?

Answer: Try to do everything that you can and the Creator will turn it as needed. Your concern for tomorrow is right, but it must be more organized. This means I cannot say, “What will be, will be since everything is in the hands of the Creator.” I don’t realize free choice in that way.

Likewise, I cannot say that everything depends upon me, so I don’t want to pay attention to anything. This also is not correct. In general before the action we say,“Everything depends upon me,” and we say it this way as if it truly depended only on us.  At the end of the action, we say that all of this was determined from the start by the Creator and happened only according to His decision.

As a general rule, these two situations, these two disparate equations, are comparable only beyond the Machsom (barrier) when we begin to work with the middle line.  Until then, we only make attempts to connect them. Either everything depends upon me or everything depends upon the Creator. So, first try to take everything into your account, and after that, attribute it to the account of the Creator.
[137444]
From the Sochi Convention 6/9/14, Lesson 1

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Question: We are going through an immense number of states. In one of the lessons you gave advice to record these states and follow that with how we are changed in our attitudes towards one another and the outside world. I would like to clarify how to do this.

Answer: It is advisable to record our states because this shakes us up and obligates us a bit. Through scrutiny of those states, I suddenly begin to catch myself thinking: “But I really didn’t think this way yesterday. The day before yesterday I didn’t act this way. I behaved this way before and now quite differently.”

This means I am begin to notice changes within me. I recommended recording your feelings so that you will feel that serious changes are gradually happening in you that bring you closer to essentially new states.

Question: Does every person evaluate this individually or should the entire group do this as a result of the shared work?

Answer: The group also. But in a group all kinds of changes can happen all the time: people come and go. As a result of this, the influence of the individual on society is discovered and that of the society on the individual. But in general the group can evaluate its state, how much it reacted before in an unhealthy way to various actions by someone or something else, whereas now it understands that it must be more patient.

But the main thing is for everyone to set a goal for himself: “I want to see how much I have changed.” These can be very serious changes under the influence of Ohr Makif, which must be discovered in such a group, for you have indeed produced it.

So you need to experience very serious changes and this must be seen: You were lazy, you have become more diligent, you were scattered and lacked attention, you have changed for the good. Everyone changes differently, but it must be recognized.

And the main thing is that you feel your inner connection more, which can appear even as a result of physical activities. You always show concern for your common “baby” that is born among you, your shared general desire and common aspiration.

And this common general state is very valuable to you. It becomes so important for each one that personal life is not important to him at all; the main thing is not to obstruct our society, our common sensation, and our common connection that has already begun to appear and has its own right to exist.

And this is the Adam (human) that we are creating. This is that common part of Malchut that we compose together and in which soon, after the composition accumulates enough power, the Creator will be revealed.
[137387]
From the Sochi Convention 6/9/14, Lesson 1

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Question: What is the difference between caring and service? You say that we must attract the future states. This is unclear because it truly doesn’t exist within our sensation.

Answer: Certainly. So, this is not understandable. We understand only what is given to us in sensation. The matter of the world, of creation, is desire. So, feelings are primary. First, we feel, and after that we begin to understand what we are feeling, the reasons, all kinds of connections and everything that is happening within the desire itself. We understand how it is reinforced and  how it is possible to recover it, and so forth.

It is very important to understand that the main thing is desire, meaning feeling.

What touches upon the difference between care and service? Well, “service” or “usage,” these words are not good because they indicate that we must do something without ourselves understanding what. This is what has been taught to us, commanded and forced upon us. I am not saying that this is bad. For instance, service to a nation is something else. However, this is something that cannot be in the spiritual way.

In the spiritual path, it is necessary to attain everything emotionally within ourselves and, after that, explore our emotions. On what level of desires are Shoresh (root), Aleph (first), Bet (second), Gimel (third), and Dalet (four) found? Which Light is extended into these desires according to our intention? The degree of intention—Shoresh, Aleph, Bet, Gimel, Dalet—determines the amount of the Light that is revealed, in other words, the intensity, the strength of feeling of the Creator which is discovered in that desire.

All of us must begin to feel to such a degree that when reading a book, we experience and measure our feelings at the same time. The book must be our spiritual and emotional guide in the full sense of the word so that we will laugh and cry when we read it, for it is talking about which activities I must carry out within me at every moment.

The wisdom of Kabbalah is a very emotional science, but only for someone who can feel these emotions in himself already, and, if not, then it will seem dry to him.
[137355]
From the Sochi Convention 6/9/14, Lesson 1

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All human beings are bearers of a particular part of the one and only collective soul: Malchut of the world of Infinity. In the right state of resemblance and equivalence to the Light, this is called Adam (from Domeh, meaning similar). All of us are shattered into parts, distant from each other, so that in spite of our natural rejection called egoism, we can connect above it.

To the degree that we begin to yearn to approach each other, the shattered desire that is in us gradually will begin to be discovered more and more, and we are egoistically repelled from each other more and more strongly.

Through our opposition to the mutual rejection and building a mutual connection above it, we enhance the intensity of the vessel of the collective soul that is composed of two opposing forces: repulsion and attraction. Accordingly, with our desire above the ego, a greater and greater Light is discovered: the characteristic of bestowal.

As it is written, (Proverbs 10:12) “Love covereth all transgressions.” Therefore, they are necessary, and the degree of the gap between the crimes and the love determines the volume of the vessel in which the characteristic of bestowal and love is revealed. A small vessel (a small contrast between hatred and love) becomes greater and greater until the contrast becomes infinite, and this is the world of Infinity.

That is how we advance forward. Everything depends upon the intensity of our work. If we build ourselves in the right way, we don’t flee from the opportunities for connection that appear with us in all kinds of physical conditions, like studying and dissemination, wherever possible. This is a necessary condition with whose help we hasten and accelerate our way.

With this, the attitude toward a friend and the entire world must be like the relationship to the Creator because this is discovery of Him. That is how He is revealed to me. If I try to approach Him, I must say that everything that is happening comes from Him. In this case, I already am justifying everything that is around me.

This is because, from the start, everything is determined by Him, just like all the characteristics and all kinds of movements within me. The Creator is found in everything (both within me and in what is outside of me), and the relationship between the internal and the external is the middle third of Tifferet, there, where the person feels free choice.

Therefore, such a correct intention accelerates our path.
[137350]
From the Sochi Convention 6/9/14, Lesson 1

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Question: How is it possible to reach equality in a convention in order to balance the entire system?

Answer: We will not talk about equality, but we will talk about connection. And from connection comes equality. It is not necessary to cut off heads and line everyone up according to one standard for this. On the contrary, everyone must grow as high as possible and be integrated in a general connection. Equality comes from this.

There is no need to limit anyone. Limitation never leads to anything good. The only thing we need is connection, and from this is born the feeling of what it is to be equal.

We want to join, to embrace, and to connect. And on the basis of that feeling that appears as a result of all these actions, we begin to connect equally. This is because connection cannot exist if we are not equal. Connection between differences; these will become the higher and lower levels.
[136699]
From the 5^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/5/14, Writings of Rabash

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Convention in Sochi, “Discussion on the Conclusions from the Activity in Sochi”

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A group should create conditions to accommodate everybody who has a desire to develop their points in the heart. We don’t know in advance who has a point in the heart and who doesn’t. Spiritual desires by all means will gradually appear. It’s quite possible that at some point these desires may stop evolving and a person may abandon the path.

We have to support those who get into an “accident.” We need to help and strengthen those who are in need of our care. A group should constantly think about these situations and maintain everybody at their maximally highest level. The group must constantly feel if they are in the state of absolute integration or not. Currently, we sense one dissolved desire and one focused intention, and everything else is overboard. This state should be constant.

This  may result in all sorts of quarrels and misunderstandings on the everyday level regarding how we publish a book, issue a newspaper, etc., with anything that is not directly associated with spirituality. Things that are not a part of the spiritual path are not subject to spiritual laws. We can argue, fight, and disagree with each other, but still do everything in our power to detach these situations from our internal group relationships.

It is similar to a mother who reprimands and punishes her child even though she loves him to the depth of her heart. For her, it is vital to take care of her child. We should follow this example because in this world this is the only model that is abundantly clear to everybody.

Each one of us has to constantly ponder how he, as a member of the group, can create maximally optimal conditions to ensure others’ development and flourishing at each given moment in time.

Sometimes downfalls happen that trigger jealousy, resentment, negative thoughts, and a critical attitude between friends.

It is very good since it gives us something to work on. One has to evaluate one’s actions correctly. The group has to create the surroundings that promote immediate analyses of one’s attitude to others and its adequate and prompt correction so that one returns to the group at a new level of unity.

We have to work very seriously with our intention; it has to be directed towards the group as a whole, aimed at our collective unanimity and at creating an atmosphere that holds everybody afloat. Otherwise, nothing will work. It’s about a constant and yet benevolent tension. Our desire to have this kind of tension is so strong that we easily get used to it and don’t consider it burdensome at all. It should not trouble you. It won’t exhaust you! On the contrary, it will promote your spiritual life.

At the same time, when we study and go deep into the material we learn together, the group turns into one whole and thus grows. This is how everybody advances, step by step. Individually, each friend feels that he is an internal part of the group like a fetus in the mother’s body; each one sees the group at its new level and continues considering friends to be higher and better than him and experiences a good jealousy toward others. It’s a positive type of envy since it pushes one to connect with others.

A person starts understanding that attainment of the next level is generally very easy: there is something one can cling to, a place where one can be enclosed and where one can be dissolved. This process happens effortlessly. All we need is to tune into it and be in the environment that support this disposition. That’s it! This is enough to be brought into the flow.

Later, our entry into the connection that manifests itself as the Sefirot, all kinds of ties among numerous qualities, and becomes more precise and deep. There are 10 major properties. Besides the major 10 Sefirot, there also are private, individual Sefirot, i.e., each of the 10 Sefirot contains a new set of 10 Sefirot, etc. However, we need only the first 10 Sefirot. We have to start sensing them first.

Connection between us turns into a force that allows us to bestow. When we achieve this connection, we start sensing it as one whole even though it is comprised of totally different forces that oppose each other: Hesed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, and Yesod. They are as opposite to each other in love and hatred, and jealousy and kindness. So when we connect them together, we get exactly the mass that reveals spiritual states. We disclose spirituality in this mass.

A group has to relate to each of its members like a mother to her child so that each friend develops correctly, has the right mood and attitude and prepares for spiritual growth instead of being in a static state. Every new day cannot be similar to yesterday.

That’s why we have to examine ourselves and analyze our internal states. If I don’t see what to work on today, it means that I didn’t work yesterday. It also means that a new prerequisite for my correction does not emerge in me. Our growth is based on a gradual and cumulative correction of the problems that arise among us in the group, in the connection between us.
[113802]
From the St. Petersburg Convention “Day Two” 7.13.13, Lesson 4

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