Entries in the 'Daily Kabbalah Lesson' Category

The Springtime Of Freedom

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: The upcoming Saturday is traditionally called Great Saturday (Shabbat HaGadol) as it leads into the holiday of liberation, Passover. What makes the spiritual work that is carried out on this Saturday special?

Answer: This Saturday is called “great” because additional Light is present in it. In spiritual work, this Great Saturday doesn’t come to a person according to a calendar on a wall, but can happen any time of the year.

Nevertheless, there is a connection between the material branch and its spiritual root, and the upcoming Saturday is in some ways unique. Additional Light acts during Great Saturday, and it is capable of awakening a person to exit the exile to which the holiday of Passover is dedicated. This entire time is special and extremely favorable for inner work.

This influence appears on the still level, but we nevertheless respond to that kind of influence too. It is felt in all aspects of life. Even nature is waking up; it is springtime!
[74057]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/30/2012, Shamati #190

Related Material:
The Night Heaven-Sent For Escape
The “Awakening From Above” On The Sabbath
Saturday As The Result Of Corrections

The Decision Is Made Below

Dr. Michael LaitmanIf you perform actions directed toward the goal of creation, you advance with the help of two forces: your own desire and the Light. But if you perform actions that aren’t directed toward the goal of creation, you advance only with the help of one force: your desire. Developing naturally, we fulfill our own needs.

All of reality is essentially desire and the Light. Desire exists within the Light and is constantly changing, more and more. This is the way our natural development is carried out: from a point of energy to matter that becomes increasingly complex, until the present form of life. There are basic elements that create the cyclical system, and there exist connections between them that produce complex materials and even living cells that absorb and discharge all kinds of substances. The cells consist of a new, qualitative connection with the environment because at the still level, the absorption and discharge don’t produce the sensation of life or pain.

Thus, if we want to advance forward, we face a special condition: either to advance under the influence of nature’s force, like a machine, or to create a connection with friends in the group and to build a model that is essentially similar to the Light, the upper force, love and bestowal. You overcome the heaviness and the problems, and accordingly you receive help from Above. In principle, you don’t activate anything new, but in your wanting to advance to the goal, you add your efforts, and in response to it, you receive extra Light from the state you long for.

In the end, you use the same system that responds to “the addition” from our side. If you want it, go ahead, and if you don’t, then you don’t. The changes don’t come from the Light, but from you: If you invested efforts, showed more desire, then you discover an addition of deficiency on your side, and then you receive a greater illumination. No one Above makes decisions about allocating you a portion of the Light. The Light is at absolute rest, and everything depends only on your need for it. Take advantage of the conditions given to you—and you will receive it.
[74449]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/4/2012, Writings of Rabash

Related Material:
Only The One Who Is Ready For Everything Will Be The One Who Escapes
Even If You Pretend, But Honestly And Till The End
Who Decides: Desire Or The Light?

Even If You Pretend, But Honestly And Till The End

Dr. Michael LaitmanAll the forces and details of perception come to us from Above, from the Light that acts on us. But it acts according to our efforts, when we nevertheless want to do something, even though we are not able to. From one hand, we are not able to, but on the other, we try anyway.

And this is the true effort: I have no chance, but I want it anyway. Yes, I am an egoist. That is clear to me. And nevertheless, without forgetting this, I perform certain actions as if they were actions of bestowal.

This is a game, but a serious one, and I want to play by its rules. I have been given this opportunity, and I want to take advantage of it. Even though I have plastic toys, what can I do, I work with what I have. Of course, it is not enough for me, but it doesn’t weaken me. I want to at least somehow be similar to the Creator, like a monkey that imitates man.

And then I invite upon myself the Surrounding Light. It is called “Surrounding” since it illuminates from afar on the desires the Light has absolutely no connection with due to their opposition. However, they do try, and then the Light illuminates on them from afar. Thanks to this, they begin to understand and feel a little more, receive more heaviness of the heart, and continue the work until they fill the needed measure of effort.

It is impossible to realize any spiritual act until the upper Light grants us spiritual attributes. And until then, we need to continue to be involved with “simulation” and to be thankful that we received access at least to this. Even if the Creator wants me to do this until the end of my life, although I am neither lazy nor resigned, I agree.
[74452] 
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/4/2012, Writings of Rabash

Related Material:
Only The One Who Is Ready For Everything Will Be The One Who Escapes
The Decision Is Made Below
Your Efforts Do Not Vanish Into Thin Air

The Seeds Of Light Are Sown Now

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Holiday of Pesach (Passover) begins tomorrow. We have to understand what it is. Firstly, “Pesach” is the most important state. We remember this exodus from Egypt in all the following corrections. Why? Because this is the foundation, from which the ladder of spiritual degrees begins.

Secondly, Pesach is the spiritual birth of a human being.

Thirdly, we are talking about darkness, in which we build the preparatory base for our corrections because we have nothing else to correct except what is disclosed in “Egypt.” These years of preparation, on the one hand, are useful because they reveal our corrupt desires; on the other hand, they are hard because exile is an unpleasant thing.

However, in reality it all depends on how we accept what is happening, trying hard to comprehend, understand, and recognize this state, how much we are aware of its necessity in the group, and how much we can feel blossoming in it.

Similarly, the Middle Ages was a dark period of history, which was characterized by confusion, human brutality, the cruelty of inquisition, religious aggression, and animalistic mores. However, going deeper, we see that it became the preparation for the outburst of the Renaissance, for the development of science and other subsequent achievements.

Until the end of the Middle Ages humanity was obtaining big vessels, desires. Then, a cultural explosion took place, and the Age of Enlightenment began during which we used what we had prepared before. Now, we are approaching a logical result—the crisis of all the desires having been exhausted and there is nothing else to do in our world.

If we draw parallels with spirituality, the current preparation allows us to reach the end of correction and use our desires correctly. After all, we revealed our evil during the period of Egyptian exile. That is why all further corrections are called the “memory” of the exodus from Egypt.

In this case, evil is revealed to us only in the relationships between friends. Consequently, if we correctly perceive the problems arising between us, we prepare ourselves for ascent. We must request correction from these states; however, on condition that we want to unite, we feel the need for it, see that we cannot, and nonetheless continue to push. The less we succeed, the more we press.

We need to reveal bestowal namely in this mutual pressure between us. Even if instead of it, we on the contrary reveal reception, evil, manifested above good, we do not retreat, do not relax, and do not despair. We are going to the end, until the state about which is said in the Torah: “and the children of Israel groaned from the work” (Exodus 2:23)

It will not be just moaning; we will really feel that we are powerless to do anything else. That is when a person raises his hands to the Creator and merges in the collective prayer.

Thus, we should respect the current period. We cannot exit it until we prepare the desire for further corrections. It is impossible to receive revelation from Above, if we do not push, forcing the upper force to reveal us our evil.
[74562]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/5/12, Writings of Rabash

Related Material:
The Escape To Unity
A Leap To Freedom
The Place For Work Is Between The Hearts

Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 04.06.12

Preparation to the Lesson
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Writings of Baal HaSulam “Igrot,” Letter 13
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

The Book of Zohar – Selected Chapter “Beresheet (Genesis),” “Against All the Gods of Egypt, I Will Execute Judgments,” Item 317
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Writings of Rabash “But the More They Afflicted Them”
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Only The One Who Is Ready For Everything Will Be The One Who Escapes

At the Arava ConventionRabash, Dargot HaSulam (The Steps of the Ladder) 924, “And the Lord spoke to Moses”: Actually we cannot receive anything from Above, from nature, before a person comes to the decision that it cannot be in nature. Only after he despairs from nature, can he ask for help from Heaven, so that he will be helped above nature.

We should try to connect and perform actions of bestowal among us in order to evoke the Reforming Light. When the Light influences us we will feel that we are less and less worthy of connection. It says: “Come to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart.” By wanting to resemble the Creator, we are getting closer to Him and at the same time feel that we are drawing away from Him.

Here a person is required to do special work: He doesn’t escape the battle, but understands that this hardening of the heart will help him reveal the necessity for the power of bestowal, no matter what, without any preliminary conditions. Eventually a person is ready for everything, no matter what, independent of the conditions, the group, the world. One way or the other the main thing is to acquire the power of bestowal, the power of connection

– What for? What will you gain from it?

– Nothing, except for the power of bestowal itself.

It isn’t enough just to talk about it. We should try to attain this attitude towards others by working in the group and in dissemination. It doesn’t have to be expressed externally, but if a person tries to reach others, then he really encounters the king of Egypt and sees that his ego won’t let him do anything.

Then a person goes through the “Ten Plagues of Egypt” and sees how under the influence of a special force from Above, his ego gradually surrenders. Every time “Pharaoh” raises his head and insists, he receives another blow. This detaches a person from the ego and enables him to finally escape it.

Escape where? A person escapes from Pharaoh, which means from the power that separates him from others. First it is just an escape, rising above it, and then a person begins to practically work on connection. In Egypt, in the desire to receive, he couldn’t do that. This is how we reach the “Receiving of the Torah,” which means mutual guarantee, and start the period of “forty years in the desert.”
[74455]
From the  4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/4/12, Writings of Rabash

Related Material:
The Escape To Unity
The Joy Of Waking Up The World
Who Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart?

Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 04.05.12

Preparation to the Lesson
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Shamati #157 “I Am Asleep But My Heart Is Awake”
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Zohar for All “Passover Shemot (Exodus),” “He Neither Ate Bread Nor Drank Bed,” Item 251, Lesson 2
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Talmud Eser Sefirot, Part 15, Item 33, Lesson 2
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

Writings of Rabash, “Dargot HaSulam,” Article 945
Download: WMV Video|MP3 Audio

The World’s Only Chance

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: When will our work have a real impact on the reasoning of scientists and researchers?

Answer: We need to help them see the whole picture. They are already talking about the signs of an integral world, but they cannot gather individual observations into one system, into a unified methodology.

In addition, they are afraid to delve deeper into this topic because the idea of an integral world leads them to a confrontation with those in power. Current governments are still acting egoistically and individualistically, failing to realize that by doing so they are destroying themselves. Politicians lack an integral perception. Unlike them, scientists observe nature and speak about what they see. Who hears them is another story.

There is another problem: However wonderful the words spoken by various experts and specialists may be, no matter how much they pontificate about interconnection and the need to unify, they don’t have the means to implement it. Money and military might won’t help here. Even if all the people in the world exclaim, “Yes, we want to be one global village!” what will happen after this unanimous declaration of their will? Nothing, except for a world war. After sensing even more acutely the ties that bind them to each other, they will unleash a war in order to sever this connection.

Scientists do not have a solution; they don’t know how to change man. So why scream about how harmful egoism is if you do not have the remedy? In the past, doctors didn’t tell patients that they were terminally ill. There were no means to even slow down the progression of an illness, and therefore, a person was left in the dark so he would suffer less. “Do not put obstacles in front of a blind person,” says the Torah. Why reveal the truth if you are unable to help a person deal with it?

So without revealing the wisdom of Kabbalah, without the message of mutual guarantee proceeding from us, humanity doesn’t have a single chance to correct anything. And this is now our problem: How can we establish connection with people and explain to them that it is possible to correct egoism and thereby correct the world.

We are talking precisely about the correction of man. Nothing else will help here. Many already understand that all evil is contained in human nature. However, they throw up their hands: “A human being is egoistic and nothing can be done about it.” If we don’t supply people with the method of the correction of egoism, if we don’t explain that it is actually attainable, the world has no chance. So far, however, we’ve been working half-heartedly.
[74053] 
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/30/2012, “Preface to The Book of Zohar”

Related Material:
Not An Experiment On Lab Mice
Group As A Guarantee For Success
Collective Intelligence

A Leap To Freedom

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe attribute of bestowal is attained in the group, in society, under special conditions that are described by Kabbalists from the state that was prepared for us by the shattering of First Man (Adam HaRishon), the general soul. If we use the small environment that was given to us correctly, and in it, try to reach mutual bestowal, we will discover that we are in exile in Egypt.

We discover that there is no way we can attain spirituality, the Creator, the attribute of bestowal, if we don’t reach the love of friends first. But all our attempts to reach connection and love of friends end in complete failure, as it is written, “the Children of Israel cried from the work,” because we discovered that we built poor cities, Pithom and Ramses for Pharaoh, which means that we only increased our desire to receive.

Although we despair from this work, we don’t leave it and we shout: “Save us!” After all, our ego, Pharaoh, doesn’t let us connect, and if this goes on this way it will never let us leave the exile and attain the connection with the upper force.

This is really a cry of despair from the bottom of the heart. Then a special, general force called “Moses” is revealed. It is revealed in the group and goes through many changes. Once it is revealed and once it is concealed, until we stabilize this collective force and place it against our ego.

When we are ready to fight our collective ego that disturbs us from connecting by placing the collective force of connection called “Moses” against it, the life or death struggle begins. We support this force as much as we can and even above our power! Here we discover in our general collective point the help from Above. At this point, the Creator says: “Come to Pharaoh, let’s fight him together!” this means that He agrees to connect with our collective point, and so he takes us out of Egypt.

On the way different phenomena occur, which the Haggadah tells us about, and we have to go through all this. It refers only to our attempts to reach connection and to somehow fulfill it. Eventually we come out of this state, of our inability to connect, and attain what we wanted. The method of connection called Torah is revealed to us against the ego and the hatred.

Now the system we can use appears. It is called Torah, the Reforming Light that gradually begins to influence us in order to correct us. There is Mt. Sinai that separates us, the collective ego that stands in the way of the connection among us. When the Light corrects the hatred into connection, this mountain becomes the “mountain of Holiness.”

This is what the holiday of Pesach is about (from the Hebrew word meaning “to skip”), which symbolizes the transitions from exile to freedom. Exile is my inability to connect. I don’t know how to do it, but I yearn for it and demand it.

Redemption symbolizes the fact that I was given a chance, a system, a method that enables me to correct the evil in me and to turn it into good. Good means mutual guarantee, love of friends, in which I discover the force that enables me to fulfill this attitude and adhere to the Creator. After all, He is the goal I yearned for from the start.
[74151]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/1/12, Shamati #41

Related Material:
Exile Is Separation From Brothers
When Will We Finally Exit Egypt?
Farewell To Egypt

The Privilege To Be Happy To Bestow


From a lesson of Rabash: We study that we should be in equivalence of form. What is equivalence of form? Just like the Creator bestows, so do we have to bestow. This is equivalence of form. When we have to bestow, we have no self-love, we cry. It hurts that we must do so. The Creator bestows, and the question is does He have pleasure in it or isn’t there pleasure for the one who bestows? So there is no equivalence of form! So there must be pleasure when we bestow, otherwise there is no equivalence of form. You can bestow without pain; bestow, I don’t need your pain, just bestow.

Enjoy the bestowal, who gives it to you? He should work, the body doesn’t want to! It isn’t that I need to suffer, there is no choice; the body doesn’t want to work. Why should I suffer; I don’t want to suffer. I need the exertion! And this isn’t a condition! A person who doesn’t feel the exertion, it is a sign that his intention is in order to receive, not in order to bestow. The body doesn’t agree to bestow.

You should never yearn for bad things. If it’s necessary to feel different changes, they will come by themselves. A person shouldn’t think about a descent, but always yearn for an ascent, both in his feelings and his thoughts: for goodness, adhesion, connection, and wholeness. But at the same time, a person should assess himself critically, understanding that if there is nothing inside him that objects to bestowal, it’s a sign that there is an egoistic matter here. If a person manages to advance happily and without exertion, it’s a clear sign that he does it egoistically, in order to receive. Only when he receives above the power of bestowal, will he be able to bestow and at the same time be happy.
[74131]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/1/12

Related Material:
I Awaken The Dawn
Make Every Instant More Exalted
Egoism’s Traps