Question: How can we practically use a “prayer of the many” at the convention? Which thought and what kind of attitude toward others should I hold during the course of the convention?

Answer: 7,000 people will arrive at the convention. This is an enormous force! If these people begin to connect even slightly (certainly, to the extent of their individual abilities since there are “big” and “small,” experienced and beginners, among them), if they simply want to be part of this process, this is enough. This is because in spirituality, the quality of the force is more important than its quantity. When there is one guide who knows the way, everyone else follows him, and he brings everyone to the goal.

We already have a large and experienced group that has been studying for 15 years. These people know and understand what needs to be done. And even if another several thousand new students will join, this does not matter because the spirit comes from the top of the pyramid. This is why everyone joins one direction and “many” become “one,” “like one man with one heart.” We know that this is exactly what happens based on our experience at previous conventions.

During the convention, everyone experiences different inner sensations: Sometimes you want to escape, at other times return. This testifies to the strength of the inner work, the intensity of the corrections and analyses that come to the person. Over the period of these three days one attains results that he is unable to attain over the course of a year. For this reason it is very beneficial to be at the convention.

Every day I give three lectures at the convention, besides there are gatherings of friends, seminars, cultural evenings, meals, and other events. All of these measures are directed towards the creation of one from many since we must become one whole in order to reveal the Creator. From this we understand what the condition of “love thy neighbor as thyself” means.

We will necessarily achieve something by acting in this direction. We cannot reach the infinite connection, but its 1/125th part, the smallest spiritual level, is quite attainable. And then we will feel that there is a small Light between us which gives the sensation of a spiritual life. In this sensation we exist above the body and perceive a different field, a different dimension in comparison to our physical senses.

All of this is attained through the connection between us, the prayer of the many. The “prayer of the many” means that I ask for the ability to bestow to many people in order to only feel the Creator in this ability.

Question: During which part of the convention can we expect this sensation?

Answer: This depends on the preparation for the convention. If we prepare properly, if we know the materials and the lecture topics, learn the songs, take part in writing the questions, and answer them, then nothing will prevent us from experiencing the mutual connection and the Upper Force that unites us towards the end of the first day.
[23542]
From Kabbalah for Beginners, “Prayer of the Many” 10/11/10

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People write to me that in anticipation of the Convention they are seized by worry and permeated by inner vibrations, some pleasant and some unpleasant. I would like to give everyone a piece of advice: Don’t let your feelings roam free, but rather act rationally and thoughtfully.

First of all we have to understand what is required of us in order to establish a connection. Later, once we establish the connection, we will feel how the Upper Light shines upon us. For now we should thoroughly prepare all the conditions for the upcoming Convention, do it rationally, precisely, and according to plan, without excessive emotions and panic.

Worry is a wonderful thing. We will let it out at the right time and in the right place once we get down to business. However, now, at the preparation phase, we have to follow our reason, rather than our feelings, in everything we do. Everything has to be balanced.

When we sign an agreement of mutual guarantee, we do it with sound reason, being clear on everything that is happening. We have to understand and accept several principles that make up the mutual guarantee. There aren’t many of them, and our task is to become aware of them, to affirm them, and then to carry them out. That is when we will let ourselves be emotional.

We have been placed before a specific state from Above and on our end we have to accept and be aware of this state, and then actualize it accordingly.

From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/22/10, Writings of Rabash

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Question: Is there a difference between studying The Book of Zohar at the congress with the masses and studying it in our group at the morning lessons? What is more important, quality or quantity?

Answer: Quantity doesn’t demean quality. Within a mass of people, there always are those who can unite to a greater or lesser degree, and there are those who can’t unite at all or who forget about it. In either case, quantity has its advantage, as it is written: “I dwell among my people.”

At this point, we are not talking about some special group of people, meaning those who are bright, determined, capable of inner work, and well trained. The Creator dwells within the entire nation, not just in some small group of special characters that He Himself advanced and brought together into the tip of the pyramid. Regardless, He still says that He dwells among the masses.

The Upper Governance cares most of all about the still level (in humanity), less about the vegetative one, less so about the animate, and the least about the speaking level. The weaker the created being, the less free will it has, the less autonomously it can work for the correction of creation (according to the Plan of Creation and the common system), the more the Upper Governance gets clothed in it, and this is a sign of revelation of Godliness (Elokut).

In other words, we are not talking about revelation of the Creator in some exalted souls such as Rashbi and all the great Kabbalists. The revelation of the Creator is measured with regard to society, not individuals. Therefore, we should not neglect large quantity but value it. The power of the masses lies in quantity, not some individual characters that have personally attained spirituality and perform personal spiritual work.

It is the common work which matters the most because by doing it, we allow the Light to be revealed and attain the revelation of the Creator. As to the personal, special work of some individuals, our group, or several groups, it is necessary solely in order to connect to this huge mass (several million people into billions of them) and through us, bring to it the spirit of life.

Therefore, the aim, intention, and goal are namely the society and the people. Hence, we need to disseminate the wisdom of Kabbalah in the masses.
[24423]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/21/10, The Zohar

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During the convention, a person goes through various states; he experiences mood swings, all kinds of thoughts pass though his mind, some of them "in favor," some of them "against." But we will try to explain to beginners that all of that is inner work which develops us very quickly. These discernments save us years of life with needless suffering.

What you go through in three days of the convention is more than all what you experience throughout your entire life, and all of it is preparation of your inner, spiritual vessel by the power of the Light drawn by such a huge mass of people. It is because the Creator is present "within the nation." Unity contains the Light and that Light acts upon us!

Some understand this more, others less, yet everybody is influenced by the Light according to his or her level. There is no risk in it. A person scrutinizes his states, and it’s very beneficial. We will discuss it there.

You can invite anyone. A person will feel absolutely free at the convention. He will always have an opportunity to go outside, sit down, have a chat with others (there will be stands with tea, coffee, and cookies), and then return to the convention hall or even go home and return the next day.

A person has come in touch with his inner work, and it leaves a mark in him. You can’t put any pressure on him; just give him a chance to come in touch with the Light, with spirituality.

Don’t be afraid; a calculation is made from Above concerning everybody as far as how much force one needs to receive from that human mass in order to advance him. It can’t have any adverse effects.
[24148]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/18/10, "The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence"

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We have already reached the state where we can attain the mutual guarantee, now we only need to work harder. It might be beneficial to imagine in great detail how much we will lose if we do not attain it. Imagine that we were unable to turn the November convention into anything more than a colorful festival and did not bring the point of unity into this action. What will happen to us if we do not advance in reality?

We have decided that we must reach unity this year, and we need to remember that all the time during the preparation for the convention. There will be no problem reaching unity if all of us together are absolutely serious about it. People that are less advanced than us are capable of doing it.

Our group has gone through a very serious preparation. We are simply facing a psychological barrier. The greatest problem is that we are unable to imagine this notion, this goal. We need to constantly think about it so that the loss in relation to the gain and our actual loss will become more obvious.

We are already connected in the common system; we only need to reveal it from our state. Beside this relative revelation, nothing else happens. Everything is already here! This is also relevant to the entire world, but we have more because we have gone through a great deal of preparation.

The spiritual system has become closer to us; we have drawn closer to it and pulled it towards us. It has already started to “surface” from the depth and come closer to us. Now we just need to work harder to reveal it. It will become much easier to work after the first revelation. The hardest part is rising to the first degree.
[23800]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/8/10, “From My Flesh Shall I Know God”

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Question: If everything depends on the power of thought then why can’t I participate in the Convention while sitting at home on my living room couch in front of the computer screen, with a cup of coffee and a cigarette?

Answer: Trust me, I understand you very well since I also like doing that. However, the matter is that I require inspiration. I have to receive an impression from the group. I need a society that’s as strong and as high as possible. I need a goal-oriented, gutsy group, a team, and a mass of people to influence me and turn me into whatever it wishes.

Can I receive this impression while sitting at home on my living room couch in front of a computer screen? If the answer is yes, then there’s no problem – go ahead and stay at home. However, we know our nature better than that. A person has to find a place where he can dissolve in society and receive the society’s mind and feelings. Let them replace everything that fulfills my heart and mind; then I am bound to be moving in the direction of the plan of creation.

The Creator works with the group, as it is written, “I dwell among my nation.” However, He does not work with me alone. If I become part of the group, then inside it I find contact with the Creator. That is how I reveal His thought (which becomes my thought by virtue of my choice) until I begin to understand and accept His program even before it is actualized.

Baal HaSulam talks about this in his article, “Thou Hast Hemmed Me In Behind and Before.” If I connect to the Creator, I gain the opportunity to plan actions as if I am planning them and He carries them out. The Creator gives me this opportunity if I attain His thought. Of course, all of this is a result of love, just like our children control us, their parents.
[24768]
From the lesson on 10/21/10, “The Power of Thought”

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We are fed up with what we call “preparation for preparation.” The time has come for true, practical preparation to enter the spiritual world.

All the texts have been thoroughly, repeatedly studied. The books have been published. Conventions are gathering one after the other. No matter what the group does, if it doesn’t begin the practical realization, we will begin to descend. Without an authentic, inner action, we will only be making cosmetic modifications which will backfire on us.

We are no longer alone. We have gained many “children,” groups in Israel and around the world. We must feel responsibility for them, and we have to attract the Upper Force in order to correctly take care of them, to set an example for the whole of mankind by demonstrating what its spiritual center is.

All of this can be achieved solely by means of the force of mutual guarantee between us if we make the decision, “We shall do, and we shall hear.” We need to realize unity, and, as a result, the Upper Force will manifest in it.

The next level seems too exalted and too distant to us, but, in truth, it is even more exalted and more distant than we imagine. It is opposite to our nature. However, we have to accept its condition and, with all our might, try to accomplish it with one unified powerful attack.

Therefore, now, we are preparing ourselves so that we may accomplish this at the congress. There will be neither allowances nor indulgence for this. After all, we have delegated the responsibility for the multitude of groups. You don’t yet see and feel what a serious, actual, ideological, and loud issue this is. We have plowed the soil, and now our seeds are growing deep, powerful roots. So, let’s do what needs to be done.
[24031]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, “The Arvut”

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Question: What if my duty is to be a security guard during a lesson at the convention? Everyone is sitting and listening to you while I am outside checking passes. Even if I get to listen to the radio broadcast in my headphones, it is not the same thing.

Answer: This is your “earning.” After all, you are serving others: Everything they “catch” at the lesson is organized and provided by you. In other words, at that moment, they are receiving fulfillment because of you.

Question cont.: But how is that when I do not receive any of their impressions?

Answer: On the contrary, all their impressions come through you from Above. It is as if you were receiving everyone’s rewards. Not bad, eh?

Question cont.: But what if I am on duty as a security guard, and I am enjoying it because I am helping disseminate Kabbalah? Is it all right to receive this type of fulfillment?

Answer: Go ahead, receive your fulfillment. Overall, perform less theoretical calculations. An action is an action.

Question cont.: Let us say that I came to the convention, I do not have a desire to work in the kitchen, but I was given the responsibility of peeling, like, a hundred pounds of onions, a half-day’s work. I do the work without any desire, I am disgusted, I feel woeful, I keep cursing my friends and the entire convention, and keep wishing to run away every coming moment.

Answer: Just take a look at the enormous work you are doing. Look at the thoughts about the importance of the group and the goal that are running through your head every second of your work with these onions. Look at the amount of calculations that you need to make in order to stay in the kitchen all these hours.

You will think so many things over, you will figure out your attitude toward friends and the Creator, you will fight yourself, suffer, and, in the end, you will see that there is no other place for you. Where else would you do all these examinations?

In situations like this, the precision of the analysis is very high. Thoughts and apprehensions start falling over you as soon as you begin any kind of work from the most to least pleasant. This is a wonderful opportunity. If everyone were able to work in the kitchen while listening to the lecture, I would stay in my room and do a radio broadcast without a camera. Even if there were no need for people in the kitchen, it does not matter as long as there are disturbances and the ability to overcome them. This is the best condition for advancement.
[23710]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, Shamati #16

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