The power of our connection with each other must be such as to be called bestowal, connection for the sake of bestowal, mutual guarantee. And then our common vessel will be a hundred to a thousand times greater than our own cumulative abilities. If every person out a thousand wants one gram, then by connecting they create a desire hundreds of millions times greater, instead of one that just equals a thousand grams.

This is because when every person connects with everyone else, he acquires the power of the entire group by connecting to it. Then he takes this entire inclusion and once again connects with the group where everyone is already included in everyone else, and this is why he increases his power multi-fold. And everyone does the same and increases himself multi-fold by including everyone within him. This is how this progression grows: squared, the fourth, sixteenth degree, and so on.

This is the only way to achieve spiritual fulfillment and not through regular addition. When we connect under the conditions of mutual guarantee, we attain a vessel so powerful that it is able to reveal the Light before it. There will already be a similarity between the vessel and the Light.

Otherwise, the vessel is very weak and it’s unable to reveal the Light because they do not correspond to one another. It’s just as if you were to walk into a bank to ask for money, and they were to tell you: “Sure, we have a million dollars to give you, but provide us with a back up, a guarantee!”

And if I don’t have a back up or a guarantee, I will not receive anything. This is the entire essence of the spiritual vessel (Kli). Spirituality differs from corporeality in the power of the connection, mutual loyalty, which can be achieved through the upper Light (the force of connection between us) that makes us suitable to receive at least the first, smallest portion of the Light.

And then we increasingly need to continue growing the power of our connection. This is how a spiritual vessel is built, which is the only thing that we lack. The upper Light exists in the state of absolute rest—only the desire is lacking.
[63806]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/2011, Writings of Rabash

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Question: How should we prepare ourselves for the quiet internal convention that we decided to have so that thanks to this silence and inner concentration we will reach maximum spiritual advancement and rise to a new level?

Answer: After the great successful convention that we had, after three days of an incredible uplifting spiritual experience from this stirring and delightful festival, we should also understand that the main part of our work is done internally. Of course, there was also internal work in the convention, but actually this kind of work doesn’t require any external movement.

Our millions of friends who study with us and are tied to us in their heart and soul don’t have to travel anywhere either. We have to do our internal work that is aimed more internally, connects one heart to another, one brain to another, and ties us together most deeply. Therefore, we need to be silent at times, to withdraw into ourselves, and to try to connect there. This kind of work requires great efforts, more significant than those needed for jumping and dancing. It’s very hard work that requires the greatest inner effort.

We have to make an effort so that everyone together will feel this silent connection. Kabbalists say that in order to reach the state of “Hear Oh Israel” (which is a very high level, from GAR de Zeir Anpin and above), they prepared for two hours in the corporeal world, sitting quietly and preparing the desired intention.

The meals at my teacher’s were also in absolute silence. It was forbidden to speak with the person next to you. We ate the simple food that was there, drank, and kept quiet. After half an hour Rabash spoke for a few minutes, and it was all over.

Many actions took place in silence, in keeping quiet. Sometimes someone sang and the others were quiet. On Friday evening we had a meal for an hour and a half and didn’t even eat there because we were already full. Every person received a small apple, a glass of malt beer, and a tiny piece of black bread so that everyone could bless together. Thus two hours went by without any movement or words.

Sometimes, in the lesson or during a meal, Rabash would say “Let’s think!” and he would close his eyes and lower his head, as if he were asleep for about 40 minutes.

The point is that we have to do a lot of internal work. After a lesson we go out into the world and enter its turbulences, flying with its hurricanes that throw us from one state to another. A person has no chance to stop and think, to be with himself, to internalize what he has heard, to put things in the right places, and to do some soul searching. We come to such clarifications only rarely, at tragic moments.

So I think that we have to be silent. But in order to do that we must be prepared for the inner connection so that inside we’ll feel a powerful force, a cry, singing and dancing, all our studying. It shouldn’t be just silence, but a roaring silence!
[63815]
From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/2011, “Introduction to TES“

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It is not enough for us to know that we are distanced from each other, that we are pushing each other away not desiring connection between us, and that what is called the evil inclination is what does not let us unite with each other.

Only this is called evil; it is what prevents us from reaching the Goal of creation where we are connected together into one whole. Our evil inclination, pushing us away from each other and separating us, which we come across with when we want to unite, is called evil. We are the ones who define it as evil.

If I do not feel that it is preventing me from reaching the Goal, and uniting with others, then I do not consider it as evil. So it turns out that evil has gradations: The more I want to unite with others, the more evil I feel.

That is why in the beginning when a person begins to study the science of Kabbalah, he does not think that he has to get closer to others at all; he is similar to the brothers of Joseph. Later, he begins to understand that it is necessary to unite together, and then he begins to ponder how much good it will do him if he unites with others. He begins to unite with friends, this stage is called “the seven years of plenty”, when everyone is moving forward nicely together.

Then we begin to feel how much we are appalled by this unity, how much it is undesirable and worthless in our eyes. This is how we arrive at the stage called “the seven years of famine,” when we do not understand how we will be able to work with each other and how we will unite together since the Pharaoh is standing between us and separating us.

And instead of constantly exerting the correct effort towards unity, the Pharaoh throws various kinds of actions our way by which we are seemingly acting for unity, but it turns out that each one performs the action for his own sake. This is called that the Pharaoh bites the “back of the neck,” sucking all of our efforts for himself. This keeps repeating again and again.

However, there is a special force, opposed to all of our exerted efforts, called the Light that returns to the Source. If we are attracting it, then it is not important what states we are in. This force acts on us and moves us forward. It is impossible to move forward without this force.

So it turns out that in the field of our work we must become aware of the evil as much as possible. Evil is realized due to trying to do kind deeds, meaning that our work should be happening in unity, in happiness, in love, in studies, in all of the very best. Not for a moment do we mention the evil; we do not want to feel it in any kind of manifestations.

As a result of us trying to be connected to each other, to be kind, filled with Light, and similar to the Creator, that force of evil reveals to us, separating us. If we exert enough effort, we reveal it from concealment. To the extent that I exert effort in order to unite with others, to this extent, I become worthy of revealing evil. Meaning, the revelation of evil is a reward, a result of my efforts.

I gave “20 kilograms” of effort in order to unite with friends, and I got “20 kilograms” of revelation of the evil inclination: I realize that I do not want to unite with them. I did not know and see it earlier, but now I know. In spite of this, I continue to work, I apply “40 kilograms” more effort, and I get “40 kilograms” more of the evil inclination revealed to me. The Pharaoh keeps growing until he turns into such a monster with whom it is impossible to do anything.

Even if I come to him and I agree to all of the misfortunes and suffering, which will befall upon me like the 10 Egyptian plagues, he remains standing and separating us. Due to his stubbornness, I see that I have no choice: only to stop working with my ego. This is called to “run away from it.”

Then, under the condition that I am ready to part with my ego, to rise above it in faith above reason, an opportunity to achieve it is revealed to me, to use a special force, which will keep me above my desire to receive for myself, as if “in air”: My ego is located below and I am above it.

What does “I” mean? I can think, feel, make a calculation, and make actions without drowning in my desire to enjoy, but by being above it. This means that I am standing before receiving the Light that returns to the Source—the reception of the Torah.

Now we are located opposite to the Torah, we are sitting at the lesson, we want to unite together, to build a common desire (Kli), and reading The Book of Zohar in order for the Light, which comes from it, to act on its promise, to return us to the Source, if we have prepared the evil, which separates us, in order for the Light to correct it.

That is why it is said about Rabbi Shimon’s students that they sit before the lesson and are revealing the evil, the raging fire of hate. They do not arrive at such a state simply, but after numerous efforts desiring to unite, they reveal the evil, a new one every day. And then every day you have the need to receive the Torah, the Light that returns to the Source, if you are trying to unite and you realize that you are not able to do it, that you have once again revealed the Pharaoh even more than before.

Therefore, still try to reveal evil—but only due to our desire to come to goodness. And then if we really do want the good, the evil will be revealed. If the evil will be revealed, we will indeed ask for The Book of Zohar to act on it and turn it into good.
[63112]
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/14/11, The Zohar

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Question: Can we say that besides egoism, the Creator has imprinted another element in the desire: the point in the heart, which He will evoke at the right moment?

Answer: This point begins from the shattering.

Physicists admit that the more they penetrate matter, they “lose” particles. Each particle becomes a kind of a “cloud,” and these clouds mix up and together become very thick fog.

With the point in the heart things aren’t that simple either. It is a concept that contains all of the Light of Infinity, but in the opposite form. Thus it seems to us like a spark. It appears in its minimal form so that we will be able to hold on to this initial thread of connection.
[63829]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/11, Baal HaSulam, “The Freedom”

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Question: How can integral upbringing, which explains the general mutual connection, help us come out of the economic crisis smoothly?

Answer: We don’t perform the correction on the economic level, the financial level, or in the mutual commercial connections among us, but in our awareness and our recognition. We have to recognize the mutual connection among us and the need to adapt to nature.

It is as if we all buy a pair of new integral glasses. When a person puts them on, he will see one “round” world. He will see that we are all connected and that we depend on one another. We are so interdependent that only I can feed you and you can feed me. By ourselves, we will all die of hunger.

This seems terrible to our egotistic nature, but from now on there is no other way. And we can see that it is really close.

So we have to raise people’s awareness and then with this new perspective, we will gradually change our life. Our life will change because of the changes in us, whether we like it or not. How will we see it in the banks and the stock markets? This is another question. First let’s start to change, and then everything will begin to take shape.

This process will undoubtedly flow in the right direction because when we understand the total mutual connection, we will not be able to harm one another.

Therefore, integral education is primary and it should be arranged above all else. There is no need to dig too deeply. The shortcomings of the current situation must be disclosed precisely to the extent that it will make us realize the need for education and that only integral education can save us. We should recognize the fallacy of the current system, but not touch the system itself. It is so rotten, that it may collapse as a result of one careless movement and leave us with nothing.

Question: But there are “fires” that must be put out now.

Answer: If you start with integral education, you will see how they immediately begin to subside. And besides, there is no other method. It isn’t the first time that the best experts are dealing with this problem. How many meetings took place and how many promises have been made—but no solution? No one has a fire extinguisher. Everyone says what he thinks: give money, save money, be careful of saving….

So I repeat: The solution is on a totally different level.

In the meantime we should stop making any unnecessary movements, keep things quiet, and publicly declare that we should be very careful. After all, we are up to our necks in the swamp and any wave we might make may drown us.

Instead we should rise to another level and activate the education system. Then, when we look at the world through these new glasses, we will know how to solve our problems. We will know it internally. Thanks to the new education, people will begin to change, and thus change the balance with nature’s forces. We will accumulate the power of mutual help and will improve the mutual relations among people and among nations, and gradually come out of the old, crisis-stricken world.

Above the old system, we build a new system: This is the same mutual guarantee, but it is now adapted to specific fields like education, the family, the state, society, industry and the economy. The principle of mutual guarantee will be determined in every field according to a person’s internal changes.

I don’t know any other solution. The problem is only in realizing this and here we are at a crossroad: Should we go on using the usual methods that will eventually bring us to the rise of Nazi regimes, wars, and mass destruction, or should we follow the path Kabbalists recommend?
[63823]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/11, Baal HaSulam, “The Freedom”

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A regular salesman agrees to give his product to the customer under conditions that benefit him. But the Creator does not need our work and gives us conditions which benefit us. He agrees to give us all the Light, but under the condition that we have somewhere to accept it.

Just like a friend who is ready to give you all his treasures, but asks you to bring bags to fill them with gold and silver. He will fill as many bags as you bring.

Our egoism works in a completely different way because it has nothing to give us. The crisis of the modern world is when the demand is greater than the ability to receive and then it begins to operate like a bank, printing money without actual back up. You come to ask for a vessel, and instead, it gives you paper money, promising much more than it actually has. This results in the growth of a huge financial bubble, which blows up at the end.

This crisis shows us that the desire to enjoy does not have the ability to provide us with fulfillment. And the desire to bestow, on the contrary, is ready to give you everything, just bring bags, vessels, desires!

The only problem is that we do not have the right vessels, desires. But there is a plethora of Light. The Creator has no shortage of either gold or silver or any other fulfillment—and the only thing that stops us is the lack of the correct desire able to reveal this fulfillment.

The suitable vessel for the revelation of fulfillment is the intention to bestow or connection. If every one of us is able to receive one gram, then when 100 people connect together, they can receive 100,000 grams, instead of 100! This is because connection gives a greater power than regular addition.

There is a special supplement in the connection—a spiritual essence, which comes from Above—beside the regular sum of forces performed below. This is like a second coin, added from above when we earn our half below, or like two merging drops where one comes from below and the other one from above. It is known that connection contains many times greater power than a regular addition of forces.

And it creates the vessel, suitable to the Light. Whatever number of people there is: 10, 100, 1,000—they must be connected and loyal to each other. And then their connection creates the necessary vessel and not a simple sum of their private desires.
[63809]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/11, Writings of Rabash, “The Miracle of Chanukah”

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Question: The financial sector, including the banks, the stock markets, investment firms, and others make up a great industry. In the US, for example, the financial industry makes up 8.5% of the GNP and averages 33% profit. It is accused of causing the current global crisis, and at the same time it is flourishing even today. How can that be? After all, the economy is a copy of the mutual relations among us.

Answer: This is exactly the reason that the financial industry is flourishing. It lives in a lie, and it is aware if it and doesn’t want to change anything.

Let’s take the banks for example: Can we believe them today? There is no one who is closer to bankruptcy than they are. In fact, they are already bankrupt because they lack the assets that are registered in their names. But we are still filling our bank accounts happily. Why do we believe them?

We are aware of this fallacy, and still leave everything the way it is because we love to live in a lie; we like to be deceived and to have others lie to us. This is our life: We enjoy the shell.

Question: Could it be because people have no alternative?

Answer: It is all a psychological matter. People think that a bank is a safe place even though they know it isn’t so. The lie began when the financial means were disconnected from their value in gold. Since then the banks have multiplied their “virtual” financial debts, which have no backing. They are not connected to anything that has any real value anymore.

In spirituality, “money” is a cover, a Masach (screen), the real power to overcome. The financial professionals, in contrast, have turned money into a “phantom.” This is a big mistake, but they did it on purpose in order to be superior to others.

Today everyone lives in this lie. What’s more, we’ve already discovered it, but we don’t know how to get rid of it. The lie is the crisis. How can we solve it? The whole world is surrounded by a network of wrong mutual connections and it cannot break loose. it doesn’t know what to replace it with. Without it everything will come to a halt, including the provision of basic necessities for people. So eventually we are compelled to support this false system.

So what is the solution? I am for a gradual descent, instead of a sudden fall. In the meantime, by education, we can turn this evil into something good, without totally destroying the system. If we destroy it, there will be wars and total chaos.

We don’t need a global collapse. The recognition of evil this way will really be a terrible catastrophe, so it should be done wisely. What do the billions who suffer know? They won’t understand anything and in the meantime they look for scapegoats….
[63826]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/21/11, Baal HaSulam, “The Freedom”

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Writings of Rabash “The Matter of Chanukah”
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Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Peace,” “Necessity to Practice Caution with the Laws of Nature”
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Question: What is the meaning of the miracle that the holiday of Chanukah celebrates in the inner work?

Answer: There are several miracles that occur in the inner work. The first miracle is the exodus from Egypt. The second miracle occurs on Hanukkah, and the third—on Purim.

A miracle is a revolution in one’s perception of reality. The actual reality I am in is unchanging, it is the world of Infinity. But such revolutionary changes take place inside of me that I receive a new perception, a new nature, such a drastic change that I see the whole world in a different way.

This is similar to a baby that comes out of the mother into a great, light, world, which is signified by his birth. And this is a miracle because it is not a simple continuation of the regular growth of the fetus, but it signifies a total revolution and an exit to a new level of perception. This transformation can only happen by virtue of the Light’s influence upon us.

When the Light finishes raising my desires to the first ten Sefirot, I am born on the new level in the new ten Sefirot, on the next level.

There are several revolutions like this: the first is when we go from the period of preparation into the new world, through the Machsom, and begin to work in the small spiritual state. Then, after this miracle of coming out of Egypt, there is a gradual ascent, the state by Mount Sinai and the revelation of the upper force, the miracle of Chanukah. All of this seems to be one process, beginning from the passage of the Red Sea and on. A revolution in a person’s perception of reality takes place, and all of this occurs by virtue of a change in his desires under the Light’s influence.

A miracle is when all of my previous desires undergo instant change, a total revolution.
[63966]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/22/11, Writings of Rabash

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Question: Judging by the sensations of the last few days, we are entering the next state after the convention and can already make a new attack. In the near future we are planning to concentrate internally, to unite together quietly, to enter the picture of the spiritual reality. What would you advise us to focus our efforts on?

Answer: There is the current state and the desirable one, and there is the transition between the two, which we have to overcome. The means to go from one state to the next can be similar to a convention: a focus of our efforts, hopes, forces, joy, actions, and events, where we are all together and we focus all our efforts over a few days and try to realize them non-stop.

But there are also other means that can help us go from one state to another. Kabbalists used them mainly for more internal concentration, which they attained by making external actions only in order to concentrate everything in the inner actions.

That is to say, they assembled together, preparing all of the external conditions so they would not interfere and would help them focus, such as by meeting in a cave, an isolated, quiet place, away from all possible external disturbances, and in a special state of day or night, which also influence a person. In short, they arranged everything so the friends could unite with one another internally, with the help of inner, more spiritual efforts.

Obviously, we must also make actions like that. But for that we need preparation and the realization of the great importance of this event, so we don’t end up with something boring or useless, something that doesn’t provide fulfillment.

Every person must understand that progress is possible only by virtue of efforts, that “penny by penny adds up to a great capital,” and that in the sum of these efforts, in the efforts to unite them together, in one place, in one Kli or vessel, we attain the common might that is called a cry, a demand—and then the gates open up to us.

We carried out a great preparation in Israel and in the whole world during the convention, and now we must perform several opposite actions—in more internal concentration, in humility. Let’s try to do this. How effective this will be is up to us.
[63955]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/22/11, The Book of Zohar

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