Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,”: Thus, the Thought of Creation itself necessarily dictates the creation of an excessive will to receive in the souls, to fit the immense pleasure that His Almightiness thought to bestow upon the souls. For the great delight and the great desire to receive go hand in hand.

The purpose of creation is to benefit. Whom? To anyone who wants to get this benefit. To what extent is it possible to bring him benefit? To the extent he wants to receive it. It turns out that the Creator needs to create in the created beings the desire, matching His benefit. If the Creator wants to give the created being endless pleasure, to bring him unlimited fulfillment in all directions, then it’s necessary to create such a being that could understand, comprehend, and feel endlessly.

But that does not mean just to be fulfilled. The goal is in another thing so that the created being constantly wants more, without limit, without end. How can we get this ability? How can I form the vessel of desire that will always want more and never be filled? Is this possible?

Comment: It’s necessary to be integrated in the group.

Answer: Well, I integrate in the group, put myself under its influence, and adopt the friends’ desires. But eventually, the end will come. Can we imagine an infinite desire?

Comment: We need to take fulfillment beyond the limits of desire and then it will become unlimited.

Answer: Correct, this is already a solution. Fulfilling myself in the end I always “become closed.” We understand that in order not to “close” the vessel of desire, the opposite approach is necessary, which is based on bestowal, love. Striving to get outside, being out of myself, it can then be unlimited in my senses.

And yet, isn’t this vessel unlimited? After all, I give others what I have. Even if I obtain their vessels, desires, I fill them with what I have. This already imposes a limit.

In essence, here is a question of whether it’s not enough to love only created beings. Why do we have to achieve love of the Creator, mutual bestowal with Him? Indeed, this is the condition: In order to do good to His created beings, they have to enter into relationship with Him, which is based on bestowal – reception.

Meanwhile, we cannot imagine what the infinite love of the Creator is. We have nothing infinite inside and that is why these words tell us nothing. Even the entire universe is not limited, as it has been discovered. In fact, there is no true concept of infinity in our world. “I love you immeasurably,” we say. But it means, immeasurably for the time being. We cannot comprehend true boundlessness; it’s not manifested in our senses.

On the contrary, we feel that we exist only due to limits because of restrictions. We perceive our existence; see ourselves and our surroundings within this framework. But in boundlessness, everything will immediately disappear, and it’s a terrible sensation. It’s called the “illumination of Malchut,” which is revealed in the form of a dark abyss. There’s nothing worse than it.
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From the 4^th Part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/29/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: We see many corruptions in human nature but we don’t have an example of the corrected state. So how can we clarify things? How can we draw our path from incompleteness to completeness? Why didn’t the Creator give us an example?

Answer: Indeed, we have no examples of the perfection of the goal. But let’s suppose that I study how to create a sculpture or how to draw. In Rodin’s Museum in Paris there are groups of students studying how to sculpt according to the famous statue of The Thinker. It’s probably a good way to study. They study the different elements and become familiar with the details of the human body in order to sculpt it.

But what if I continue to copy from a ready made model when I graduate? Would I be able to become a real, creative independent artist? No. The best I will be able to do is to copy what someone else does. But I will not be able to express myself that way, I will only make a certain duplicate and that’s all.

It turns out that if there is a ready model before me I will never understand what it means to be the Creator, and we want to resemble the actual idea of the Creator. On the way I correct what He has done, but it’s only a means, and theoretically it could also be different. The goal is to reach His level and to be there, to acquire the ability to make all of reality from nothing.

Question: What kind of stimulus for that can we find in our world?

Answer: First you have to start from nothing, like Him. In the same way a person in our world invents something that did not exist before.

Question: But how can I start from nothing?

Answer: That’s right, we don’t understand that. But without this I will not be like Him. Without this I will remain on the level of traditional science that copies and uses what it finds in nature, medicines, chemical substances, and different metals—all this is a complex, sophisticated copy of what we find in nature. I study different elements and then I learn how to put them together successfully. This isn’t real art, it isn’t creativity; by doing so I merely follow nature.

For example, we calculate the features required for the walls of a submarine and then we find the right combination of metals to build it, but we don’t build it from nothing since we use something that already exists in nature. In our world we simply don’t understand what it means to be the Creator. Even the most brilliant and ingenious ideas cannot compare to it.

Why do we need the Restriction and the Reflected Light, total darkness, and uncertainty with regards to the upper level? We do so in order to really create something that didn’t exist before.

What do we create? We create the Creator, design Him and make Him out of emptiness.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/27/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

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Question: What can I say to a person who wants to “attain the world in one hour”?

Answer: It is said: “There are people who attain their world in one hour.” In one hour means by one action. One action can only refer to connection. Attaining one’s world in spirituality refers to a certain revelation of the true reality in contrast to our fictitious reality. The stronger we can connect, reaching not just a quantitative change, but a qualitative one, the sooner we reach great success and discover a new world.

We are preparing for a great convention with this motto. Although it doesn’t mean that this motto should actually be written, this will be our intention: to fulfill this opportunity and to attain the spiritual world in one hour. At the congress, we will meet people who are distant from us, people who have had no contact with us, those who have learned about the wisdom of Kabbalah via our TV channel or the Internet and do not know each other.

We invite everyone and we hope and expect them to reach a feeling, an understanding, of what spirituality is by being incorporated with us. We can do this in a short time during the days of the convention or even in the few hours that a person will attend the convention with us. Therefore it is said: “There is a person who attains his world in one hour.” A person a long the journey of his life doesn’t know where the greatest treasure that can give his life meaning is. We, on the other hand, do have a special book, The Book of Zohar, which we want to open for everyone.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/29/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Baal HaSulam, Shamati #19, “What is the Creator Hates the Bodies in the Work”: We must know that “God hath made even the one as well as the other.” It means that as much as there is disclosure in Kedusha, to that extent the Sitra Achra (Other Side) awakens. In other words, when one claims, “it is all mine,” meaning the entire body belongs to Kedusha, the Sitra Achra, too, argues against him that the whole body should serve the Sitra Achra…

One must know that it is a sign that this work hits the target.

All of nature, all the levels from the bottom up, still, vegetative, animate, and speaking nature, and also every level width wise, every cell, every species, are all based on the connection between opposites. A difference means oppositeness, a plus and a minus. Everything, from the tiniest particles to the bigger structures all connect since they are opposite from one another and can thus add or complement one another.

So nothing can be stable unless it is made of two opposite parts. Only when two opposites can mutually complement one another, despite their oppositeness, can they exist. This is the only way the connection between them can exist and the only way they can exist.

This principle stems from the initial development of the Light, which means “something from something” that created the matter of the desire to receive as “something from nothing.” We can discover the Light only in the desire and the desire can exist only if the Light sustains and revives it.

So in all of creation, every discernment in any thought, in any desire, in any action always includes two opposite parts that are in relative balance. So if there is goodness, there must also be evil in it which balances the goodness. It’s because of the evil that a person can discover the goodness and vice versa. There cannot be one without the other, just as we cannot be balanced standing on one leg, but we always need two legs. So it’s clear that we develop by two opposite forces, and each time one overcomes the other alternately; the right leg is put forward and then the left leg, and this is how one advances.

So when we are not very developed, we think that everything has to be ideal and that ideal means one thing for us. But when we grow, we understand from our experience and by the expansion of our perception that the states must be complex, and that they must always include two forces, two opposite attributes. Only then can they exist, as it says: “and there was evening and there was morning, one day,” only according to this principle.
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/27/13

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Baal HaSulam, “Disclosing a Portion, Covering Two”: … the secrets of the Torah are revealed only to those who fear His Name, who keep His Glory with their hearts and souls…

Even though we tend to feel “reverence,” we must realize that trepidation is a law that we are talking about here. The Book of Zohar writes that fear of the Lord is the first condition, the first correction that precedes the next step, love. If one doesn’t yet feel trepidation or has not yet acquired the vessels of bestowal, the level of Bina, one cannot attain the Creator.

That’s why it is said that the secrets of the Torah are revealed only to those who fear Him. The vessels have to be corrected so that the Light can dress in them due to the equivalence of their properties. We are not talking about ethical teachings here, but about a firm conformity to the law. A “mystery” is something that is revealed to one who fears the Creator, i.e. to those who rise in their self-correction to the level of Bina. Only they happen to reveal things that were previously hidden from them.

It is said in Midrash Rabbah: “Everybody who fears Me and follows the directions of the Torah has the whole Torah and the entire wisdom in his heart.” A simple condition applies here: similarity of properties between the vessel and the Light.

Question: This excerpt is about those who “fear His Name, who keep His Glory with their hearts and souls…” Is it the same thing?

Answer: No. “Fear” means that one has a screen and the reflected Light at a level of Bina, whereas “keeping His Glory” is at a higher level. The Torah contains the words of Moshe (Shemot, 33:18): “Show me Your Glory.” This is a level of Hochma, a perfect faith, vessels that receive for the sake of bestowal.

On the other hand, we bestow through vessels/desires that tremble in front of the Creator, thus we initiate our “acquaintance with the Creator,” yet a passive one – same as in this world where we live without knowing much about it with the exception of things that provide our sustenance.  In spirituality it is quite similar; an analogue situation precedes the next step – the revelation of the Creator that lets us penetrate in His laws, His nature. How do we do this? For that, we have to receive the Light of Hochma; it becomes possible only if we keep and reveal His Glory. His Glory is in fact the Light of Hochma.

That’s why it is said: “Show me Your Glory.” It’s about seeing and knowing.

Question: What does it mean “to fear the Creator”? What do we have to be afraid of?

Answer: The one who experiences trepidation in front of the Creator is afraid that he won’t be able to please Him maximally. We should not worry about ourselves, our families, or about this world, but just about Him. If we keep His Glory, that is, reveal the Light of Hochma, it’s even better. However, for that we have to use not only the vessels of bestowal but also the ones of receiving.

As to trepidation, let’s say you love and respect somebody very much. It means that you constantly think of what you can do for those you love and how to please them.

Question: What pleases the Creator?

Answer: If you constantly think about this, you’ll find the answer. He needs your concern. If you really are eager to know what exactly He likes because you want to please Him, it’s already the Reflected Light. The Creator will reveal Himself and will show you what you are supposed to do on one condition: that you enjoy taking care of Him and are happy having the opportunity to please Him.

In this case He interacts with you and you both give pleasure to each other. By doing so, you feel love.

Question: Who exactly do we want to please? Who is the Creator?

Answer: You should be careful and never materialize these notions. “The Creator” (Bo-Re) is the property of bestowal that reveals Himself in us according to the principle “Come and See” (Bo-Re). We “play” and “have fun” with Him and He enjoys our “company.” We should not treat this property as a personality, but rather as the Upper Root.

Question: What do I have to imagine before this reveals in me?

Answer: There are certain details of perception that are inbuilt in us and let us see the upper reality. Gradually, we transition from love of the creations to loving the Creator. This level is gradually formed and built in us.

The answers to fundamental questions are hidden: Why does this step appear above our current nature? Why is it contrary to our egoistic desires? Why are creations built this way? Why is it so arranged that in the creation’s search of the Creator has to be “above reason” and go against its desires? …

In any case, now, we do not have any idea of who the Creator is, nor should we “draw” Him in one form or another.

Question: How should I relate to the upper force at this time?

Answer: You have to relate to it through your friends and your teacher. In this case, you won’t make mistakes.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/13/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Preparation for the Lesson 

Lesson on the Topic: “9 Steps”

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Item 12 

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Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar“: And yet, we understand that according to the Thought of Creation, there was no need to create anything more than that will to receive. This is because this new creation is sufficient for Him to fulfill the entire Thought of Creation, which He had thought to bestow upon us. But all the filling in the Thought of Creation, all the benefits He had planned to render us, stem directly from His essence (Atzmuto), and He has no reason to recreate them, since they are already extracted, existence from existence, to the great will to receive in the souls. Thus we evidently see that all the substance in the generated creation, from beginning to end, is only the “will to receive.”

Baal HaSulam emphasizes that there is Atzmuto, the original root, from which the action originates. The action of the Creator is the created being. But created beings do not originate from the Creator Himself; He creates them out of nothing. What comes from Him is the decision, but the “material” from which they are created, is produced out of nothing. This is the act of creation. The Creator did only this.

We are unable to understand and do this. We reveal every thought, every decision, everything in which the attitude of Atzmuto to creation is expressed. This is what we do not know at all. However, we discover His attitude toward us. This is called the “thought of creation.”

Question: Do we create anything new that was not in creation? Otherwise, how do we become similar to the Creator?

Answer: No. We become similar to Him by the properties, but not by creation. Being His created beings, we cannot create anything new. We accumulate, combine forces, so that the likeness of the Creator is formed in us. However, this cannot be called a “new creation” because we use the forces and “materials” that have been created. We do not create.

Question: But the revelation of the Creator, isn’t it creation?

Answer: No. The concept of “creation” (Beria – בריאה) means something external, extending beyond the limits of the existing (Bar – בר), “existence out of absence.” We already use the existing means and carry out correction, imitating creation. We reveal what already exists and thus return to the world of Infinity.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/30/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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When we advance in our work, we first have to accept that there is no evil without goodness and that there is no goodness without evil. We have to reach the final state in which all of the evil is revealed and in against it all the goodness; one sustains the other as “the advantage of the Light in the darkness.” The greater the darkness, the better chance we have to discover a greater Light in contrast to it.

This is how the creation is arranged because we always find in it two forces, two parts, two attributes, which are basically the Creator and the created being.

So if we want to advance, we have to know in advance that we can do so only by increasing the negative force and the positive force in contrast to it. But the negative force grows first; as it says: “And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” So they keep appearing alternately, the negative force and the positive force, negative and positive.

Our role is to find the place for the middle line in which we can exist and determine our balanced states. This balance is possible only if we unite and connect. Then each one adds his own state to everyone else, and thus we bring everyone to a state of balance.

If we examine the balance point, we will discover HaVaYaH in it that is direct and opposite, the ten Sefirot of the Direct Light and the ten Sefirot of the Returning Light, which is a whole spiritual structure called a Partzuf. This is the structure that reaches a state of balance.

It is an elementary principle, two opposite forces that reach a state of balance and thus establish all of reality.
[124080]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/27/13

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There is only one force that draws me to the reality together with all the people and this world. I need to reach the state in which I will see, in reality, the only one force that operates it. Although this world will remain in my perception, I will, nevertheless, see only one force that clothes in it and operates it.

So, why do so many people, animals, and this huge universe surround me? Why does the world divide into such a tremendous amount of pieces, instead of being one material, one desire? But, it is specifically there where the uniqueness of this world lies, that is, that it appears to us to be separate from the spiritual world. This picture, specifically because it is imaginary and doesn’t exist in connection with the Creator, can be seen in us even when we reach Gmar Tikkun (end of correction). This is a very special form of reality.

Thus, we ascend the spiritual ladder and see how the Creator is clothed in the entire world, which is on the same level that we are on. The Creator rules all the attributes of the upper worlds, but still this world remains. This corporeal form remains, seemingly outside of the spiritual space. I can feel spiritual levels that are very different, that differ very much from each other, but the form of the corporeal world remains intact in my five senses.

This is the wonder that allows us to work on the perception of the upper force.
[123542]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/19/13, Shamati #15 “What Is Other Gods in the Work”

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Question: What is a correct effort?

Answer: Our level of spirituality is outside of the boundaries of the spiritual realm. Our level is unique because of the possibilities it offers and is much more important than all other spiritual levels, since only at our stage does the miraculous combination of the desires to receive and to bestow exist. No other levels have this.

Only at our level, playing as children, can we become more intelligent and mature. It is similar to a child in this world who doesn’t have developed senses, an intellect, any understanding or knowledge of the way big systems around him work, and yet, all of a sudden the child becomes intelligent. In other words, a child runs these systems unconsciously without any idea that they even exist, without a clue which particular state he is supposed to achieve. He doesn’t know or see anything; all he does is play because he is driven by his natural instincts to grow up.

We lack this kind of natural aspiration; other than that, we are just like children. We have all the means that allow us to attain this desire. If we are permanently warmed up by our surroundings and if it kindles our envy, lust, ambition, and a desire to be better than others, we start aspiring to some goal that is yet unknown to us. We have no clue what we want to receive; however, it seems to us that others have something that we don’t.

We already have all qualities and desires that were given to us by nature. All we need is to organize these qualities and desires correctly, to build a system of relationships between us so that our friends keep inspiring us with the greatness of the goal, and we are worried that others are already ahead of us.

Later, they show me an example of how to help each other, suggesting that this attitude is extremely important and leads to spirituality. Envy is the main thing here! Our egoism is ignited by envy and suffers greatly. If we tightly connect ourselves with the surroundings and happen to understand that there is nowhere to run, then even though envy is a negative sensation, by nature it doesn’t push us behind, but rather, pulls us ahead and leads us to success.

Getting this desire is already a success. The desire is not ours. We receive it from the group as a reward for not running away from them, but rather for bowing our head in front of them and clinging to them. All these methods can be purely material to the extent that we can even pay money to our friends for the desire we receive back from them, as Rabbi Zushi who hired street musicians so that they would inspire him. Or, we can cook a meal for our friends, thus inputting our exertions so that they eventually influence us back.

We receive a spiritual aspiration from our friends, but, in fact, it is still a desire for material success, since all we want is to become more significant, smarter, better in everything. No matter how much we try, we just cannot think of spirituality since we are still in egoism, at this side of Machsom. However, it is already strong enough to attract the Light that Reforms.

It turns out that at this level we have a chance to work and influence the next step that is above us and to attract the Light from there as a magnet that draws things that are in another room through walls.

Really, how can the Light influence us if we are not adapted to it? We are opposite to the Light as if we are in anti-worlds. And yet, everything is set up in a way that the transition between the two stages, between us and the closest spiritual step from which we receive the sparks of the Light, is just a hindrance. The Light can impact us and change us in accordance with its nature, with the desire of the Upper level. So, we can agree with It and start entering this higher level, as a fetus enters a mother’s womb, and then grow first to a small state and then to a “big state” (Ibur – Yenika – Mochin), until we completely merge with it.

That’s why we should value the state we are in at this time and use the level that is called “this world” correctly: all of humanity, our loved ones, our neighbors, our studies, our groups. There is nothing we actually need more than that. We already have all essential things at our disposal; we just have to organize them correctly.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah lesson 11/27/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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