It is so difficult to reveal and explain Kabbalah to the masses of the common man because it is a reality that he doesn’t feel. Besides, it is opposing him, an “anti-world.” And it is not just the opposite reality where “plus” can be replaced with “minus,” but the very fact of it being opposite is incomprehensible to a regular person since this formula doesn’t operate in our world. Therefore, it is only natural that this wisdom is practiced by few.

Even though great many people agree that Kabbalah is probably talking about something quite exalted, good, and correct, they, however, are unable to grasp it. Hence, we witness how mankind sinks itself deeper into deception seeking solace in all kinds of substitutes of the truth: theology, mysticism, and various “new age” trends. Well, what can one do? We have to wait till humanity grows up. The more teachings that claim to reveal spirituality continue to circulate, the sooner mankind will see what is good and what is evil.

It is a well known fact that the more popular a person becomes, the sooner his real worth becomes clear. If a doctor advertises himself, everybody will rush to be treated by him. And if he is not a very good doctor, with so many patients it will quickly be found out and they will leave.

Prior to that, he still could have treated patients, but after the advertising effort, in general none will come to him. In other words, advertisement promotes revelation of truth.

This is why Kabbalists do not oppose any teachings; let everything have its place since all of them exist due to the uncorrected nature of desire. As long as people find some fulfillment in these methods, nothing can be done in that regard. Let a person make his own discernments in his egoism and later come to the truth. There are many obstacles and false teachings that stand in our way, but they serve as certain filters that help us filter our ego through them.

And when a person has finally passed through all these filters and stops believing in various forces (“multiple gods”) and his own powers, as well as all sorts of fetishes such as red bands, talismans, and blessings, he realizes that nothing can help him but the Upper Light that reforms and returns us to the source of love!

Besides, now he is certain he knows what “good” means. And then, he comes to it.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/16/10, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Preparation to the Lesson

Shamati #68 “Man’s Connection to the Sefirot“

The Book of Zohar — Introduction

Talmud Eser Sefirot, Vol. 3, Part 9

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Inheritance of the Land”

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Question: From whom do I get a greater desire: the group or the external audience?

Answer: These are two different forms of desire. I get the need for unity and cohesion from the group, and from the external audience, the need for the Creator. Yes, precisely for the Creator.

After all, I myself have no need for Him and neither do my friends. The point in the heart only aims us in His direction but does not give any real momentum; it does not increase the “flesh” of desire; it does not form an empty, hungry vessel.

In uniting with friends, we do not demand the Creator. Nothing pressures or urges us to do that. How much can our own desires spur us? A little bit more and a bit more, but it is an artificial pressure. Everyone is a great guy, everyone is right; there is no such desire between us that will oblige us to act with no exit.

When will it arise? When people require us to respond to their needs, whatever they may be. We will find ourselves under pressure; the need to help them arises, to take care of them and help them, and that’s when we really need the Creator. An inescapable, irresistible desire can come to the created being only under external pressure.

That is why we have no possibility to advance towards the Creator if we do not go out into the world and do not take care of a wide audience.

Even the need to unite in the group will not be saved without outside pressure. Indeed, why do we need to unite? He who wants nothing for himself feels good in a hut in a forest with no amenities. The vessels of bestowal do not feel the need to unite. The points in their hearts do not seek it by themselves.

But what will they bring to the Creator? What kind of receiving vessels are able to lead to correction? It turns out that in fact we have nothing.

On the other hand, the unity of the masses has enormous potential of vessels that have not been manifested yet, both material and especially spiritual.

That is why connection in the group, as well as concern for the public, is possible only under external pressure. Pharaoh helps the sons of Israel escape from Egypt. His army pursues them, “looming over them,” forces them to enter the Red Sea and then stand at Mount Sinai. They do not agree, but after the breaking of the first tablets, they receive the Torah, and the process goes on.

We cannot manage without the pressure from the outside, it is necessary for us. Yes, by uniting between ourselves, we can somewhat neutralize this pressure but not completely.

Question: Does every friend need to connect to the outside desires or is it enough if the world group as a whole is involved in this?

Answer: Both. Both individual and general work is necessary here in various forms. First, we have to get together inside in order to understand how to reach out to the outside audience and then become integrated with it to feel the need in the inner unity again. Then, we need to demand the revelation of the Creator between us in order to give Him pleasure by transferring fulfillment to the external Kli.

Thus, we will take the place of the conductor,  the “transmission channel,” transition link, and realize our destiny.
[117795]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/10/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Baal HaSulam “Inheritance of the Land”: It is said, “according to my sorrow is my reward.” This means that the reward is measured by the amount of sorrow. Sorrows and exertions are needed only to find the vessel that will receive a good reward. And the more human one’s sorrow in spiritual work is, the greater his vessel is, which is ready to finally get the maximum reward. We measure everything according to the vessel, desire.  The Light is in absolute rest, and it all depends on the vessels, on how we develop them. And the vessels are the essence of suffering.

However, in spirituality this suffering becomes sweet and is called “pangs of love.” There, the pain of lack can be combined with pleasure, and they do not neutralize each other as in our world. Here, after a few sips, I am no longer thirsty, and every time, having received something, I become satiated. It is different in spirituality since both the need and pleasure are aimed at bestowal, they support and increase each other.

It turns out that I constantly feel lack and pleasure, but not as opposites, and I constantly flourish, develop in them. Together, they become a sense of eternal life for me. That’s where we are going. You see yourself that this knowledge can only come from above. The person himself has no opportunity to grasp at least its “edge.” No matter how much philosophers and thinkers have tried to figure out the age-old questions, it is impossible. After all, the answers are not inherent in our current egoistic nature.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/10/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: What is our ego, is it a feeling or a mental perception?

Answer: We can compare the brain to a movie screen since it is actually blank. Today, for example, you seem to be ugly and disgusting, and tomorrow after a change of state, I may look at you and see before me a fine guy that radiates vitality. Does my brain depict these pictures, is it the screen? Or do I project them? My ego, my interest, depicts all these figures, but we don’t understand this until the end.

We believe that we are objective when it comes to the still, vegetative, and animate nature, but on the level of the speaking, in the relations between us, there are different variables. Generally speaking, we don’t actually understand that we are the ones depicting our own world on every level of the desire to receive.

This is why our world is called imaginary since it doesn’t actually exist. The moment you clean your ego from the perception of this world, it will disappear. And what will be left? Nothing?

So what will we be left with? Start establishing this “something” now. Start building a new world. It all depends on what you draw on the screen of your perception.

Question: But how do we draw these pictures if they immediately seem real to me?

Answer: I imagine a force that controls me, that surrounds me, that manages me and confuses me, sending me positive and negative things. This whole situation, the bubble I am in, operates on me; it is like a science fiction movie since we have to imagine something and work on something in our imagination. So I imagine a certain space in which a certain force or a force field operates. In the meantime, I cannot manage without this three dimensional illusion with the different phenomena of time and space. I am connected to it whether I want to be or not.

I imagine a force that surrounds me as if I am in a cloud. This force operates on me in every direction and in every possible aspect. Even now when I think about it, it actually operates me; I am relaxed, let it operate me. But what do I have besides this operation?

Because without any additions of my own, I can only constantly yearn for a good feeling and how to thank this force for its good care. It has created a deficiency in my feeling, a desire to receive, and I feel good in this world under its domination.

It turns out that we don’t need anything but that. The whole philosophy of the epicurean school is based on this approach. Other Eastern methods also believe in nirvana and peacefulness. This attitude is in fact the deepest since it is based both on the fear of disrupting something in creation and on the fear of cursing the Creator. So I have to constantly feel good. I constantly try to be calm and relaxed and to be happy with what I have, not because the ego drives me to do so but because of a more sublime intention. In short Abraham worked well with this approach in Babylon.
[117735]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/02/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: In our times, when we experience new problems from all different sides every few seconds, and all we do is battle with them. what special means are offered by Kabbalah that do not exist anywhere else?

Answer: The wisdom of Kabbalah explains where all this evil comes from and the reason for our bad states. It asserts that evil does not come from somewhere on the outside, from other people or circumstances, it points directly to the inside, telling me: “You are the cause of all evil!”

A person finds it very difficult to agree with this so one immediately pushes Kabbalah away. However, after Kabbalah points to the cause of evil, it explains that there is just one chance to reach goodness: by correcting the evil in oneself to goodness. And the good isn’t for me, it is for all the others!

So not only do I need to admit that all evil is inside me and to correct myself so that others receive the good, I also need to enjoy this without feeling my state and only worrying about how good others feel. Who will buy such a methodology?!

This is why it is only appropriate for those in whom there is a point of truth, and due to their nature, they are unable to remain in a lie any longer: They need the truth no matter what! This demand comes to a person from nature and not because he is so special and such a great hero.

It’s simply that the desire to reveal the truth becomes more important to him than all the other aspects of life. A new desire to reveal the truth suddenly is born in him; this desire was not there before. Meanwhile, those who just have the one previous desire for our world are willing to live in a lie. So they run after everything that contributes to this lie by satisfying their egoism. Only those people in whom a desire for the truth arose, which they are powerless to suppress, accept the method of Kabbalah with gladness. After all, they have no choice; nothing else will help them. And such people advance.

However, if a person is still able to consent to some compromise, he will run away. We cannot blame or scorn him for this since you would have done the same thing if you were in his place… Such is nature: The stronger of two forces outweighs the other; the mechanics is very simple.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/16/10, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: Why is it so hard for us to ask for correction if we know that everything depends on it? It would seem that it’s so natural for a person to ask.

Answer: Yes, it is natural to ask, but here we need to find out exactly: What do we need to ask for, how do we ask, and who is the one that will give us the answer? A prayer is not just a cry, and if it’s put into words, they should be born in the heart not read from a book.

If a person feels bad, he doesn’t choose beautiful words. Our problem is that a prayer doesn’t come from the depth of our hearts.

Only the environment can lead us to such a prayer; if it wants it, you will ask. Why does it seem to us that we all want it and are trying to influence each other but something doesn’t work? The main thing we are lacking is the depth of desire, the truth which is in it. We lack clarification of what is important to me, and that it is secondary to stop being confused between the two desires: material and spiritual.

We have to learn to cast two entirely separate views at the material and the spiritual without mixing them together! Here is this world, egoistic, I’m forced to live in it in the meantime. And there is the world of bestowal and I wish I could begin to live in it. That determines my prayer.

We are still unable to distinguish one from the other, although we can see a lot of progress in it since the last congress.
[29964]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/10, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: If man is simply a small part of nature, then where can he get the power to destroy it?

Answer: We have an additional part in us which is above the animate body and is regarded as “human.” The human can be good or evil because he possesses freewill unlike an animal. It is human, the ego, that exists above nature and that is where you have the right to choose.

All creation exists in perfection: the still, vegetative, and animate—everything except man. Each of us has an animate part, the body, and a “human” part, which is the only corrupted one. It is the part that stretches beyond the essential existence of the body; it makes me exploit nature and even destroy it if that’s what is necessary to make me feel good.

An animal deprived of freewill cannot ruin nature since it acts correctly by following its natural instincts. Therefore, our corporeal world exists only at the still, vegetative, and animate planes, which are in the state of perfection and balance. But man is above this world.

The animate part of man is also in harmony with nature. The problem lies in the “human in man,” a degree in which I started destroying the world. As long as we were undeveloped, we didn’t cause much harm to it since we were living merely as animals that consumed each other in order to survive. But when we reached the current level of evolution and received so much power, the problem immediately arose. Even Aristotle warned that science shouldn’t be revealed to evil people who may use it to destroy the world and mankind.

If they can’t use the human power correctly, then they must not be allowed to step outside the animate sphere—beyond this red line; they can do so only if they know how to use the human power correctly. To use it correctly means to make this red area similar to nature by employing one’s own consciousness and understanding by becoming equivalent to the Creator, the upper one. We must achieve the same balance with nature as all the other parts, but through our own effort, since we initially lack the balance.

It turns out that we have a nature where no freewill exists and we only need to use it correctly. The part above it relates to the Creator and human where freewill does exist, but we have no clue what do with it or how to use it. There we must reach balance in order to bestow.

In the past, the previous Kabbalists achieved attainment by placing restrictions on their body as described in the “Introduction to Talmud Eser Sefirot”: “Bread and salt you should eat, water in measure you should drink, on the ground you should sleep, a life of affliction you shall live, and in Torah you should labor,” then you shall reach spirituality. In truth, if the part of a person related to the animate, vegetative, and still levels lived only with bare essentials, like a beast, and on top of that he studied the Torah while thinking about how to become similar to the Creator, he did advance.

But 2000 years ago we reached a state where we started to exploit all of nature, to harm the still, vegetative, and animate parts, this whole “inner” circle. Hence, this is why we’ve come to such need for the Light that Reforms. It is the only way we can transform ourselves.

Previously, the Light of correction worked only at a highest rung. But today we need a much greater Light to work on all of nature since we have corrupted it too by making it entirely egoistic by engaging in it.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/10 Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Preparation to the Lesson

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Igrot,” Letter 26

The Book of Zohar — Introduction

Talmud Eser Sefirot, Vol. 3, Part 9

Writings of Baal HaSulam, “Inheritance of the Land”

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Question: What does a person have to go through so he will want to enter the spiritual world?

Answer: It is very simple, he has to feel great spiritual sorrow that he is in exile in Egypt. It isn’t by chance that Abraham asked the Creator: “How will I know that I will inherit it?” In other words, how will we receive a spiritual desire? After all, “land” stands for a desire and the “Land of Israel” that Abraham asks about is a spiritual desire that is totally in the intention of in order to bestow.

So how can we advance towards it? I have no desire for it, no inner means or external ones.

The Creator’s answer to this is: Go in search for people like you. Start connecting, make the effort, teach them how to live together in one tent. And when you are truly connected, then you will feel that the connection between you is the reason for all your troubles.

But don’t abandon it, continue to connect more strongly. You will feel that it is awful, that it is Egypt where the ego, Pharaoh, dominates your connection. You will go through seven years of satiation and seven years of deficiency. First everything will be fine but then your self -love will grab you by the neck and strangle you; you will not be able to go on, not internally or externally. You will feel that you are parched and will grab your throat: “Four hundred years! How will we hold on in this state? ”

So I am preparing the ego for you in such a way that it will force you to come out of Egypt. If you do your best to be more strongly connected, I will certainly help you.

It is by trying to be connected that you will discover the inner depth of your ego to such an extent that “the children of Israel cried out from the work,” because of the fact that you cannot connect. The more you exert yourself, the greater inner and external troubles you will have. You will not be able to bear it until you cry out only for one thing: just to come out, to leave your own nature. “Better death than such a life.”

Then, when you want a new life that is totally opposite from your nature, you will discover it and not before that. It is because your vessel, your desire, has to be whole. The indication for that is your readiness to jump into the sea.

In addition, you will be ready for the mutual guarantee, which is even worse for the ego. The mutual guarantee means giving your soul to others. Death is closing the account, while mutual guarantee means that I sell myself to everyone in my feelings and my mind, to all those who I cannot stand.

Thus we escape from Egypt since we discover how much we hate one another. This maximum discovery of evil leaves us no other choice.

Abraham understood all this from his great experience. He understood the Creator’s answer, “Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs,” which means that we have to feel the exile. Don’t think that the transition to spirituality is immediate. No, you have to be equipped with a very strong desire so that this desire will open up the gate of redemption for you.
[117743]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/02/13, “Inheritance of the Land”

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