Question: How do I achieve the similarity of properties with the Creator when both His intention and His action are bestowal, and I only have the ability to correct the intention? How can I become like Him in the full sense of the word?

Answer: You become absolutely like Him according to the essence of the action. Do you give to Him? You do. Does He give to you? He does. Do you do everything in your power to express your love to Him? He does the same.

When an infant does everything to make his mother happy, it does not matter whether he receives something from her or gives to her; it is the quality of the action that counts. It is the same with people: You are looking at the direction of the fulfillment, but what happens here is the revelation of the relationship, and it can be that the receiver bestows.

Only our world lives without an intention (attitude) sustained by the spark of Light that exists in it and gives it life. However, the entire spiritual world only operates according to the intention. When we say that the Lights of NRNHY (Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Haya, Yechida) fulfill us, what do these Lights represent? They are a relationship with one another, and nothing more than that.

“I receive from Him.” What does this mean? I receive and feel His attitude toward me. What do I give to Him? Also, it is only my attitude toward Him, and this fulfills us.

Then, what do we give to each other? This does not matter at all. We do not take this into consideration. I do not need to receive anything, like Hafetz Hesed (wanting nothing for himself), and we build our attitude above this.

The desire (Kli, vessel) created by the Creator is no more than a black point in an ocean of Light. However, what does the “ocean of Light” mean? “Ocean of Light” points to the Creator’s attitude toward that point.

This point also must expand to the point of infinity in its attitude toward the Light. This way, it will become a vessel, a receptacle for the Light. But what does it receive? It receives the Creator’s attitude. We do not understand that the pleasure here only comes from the attitude toward one another.

There can be no pleasure without attitude. Pleasure without attitude can only exist in our world, which is why this world does not exist. It is an imaginary world from which we rise into the spiritual world where everything is only determined by intention.
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From the 2nd of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/30/2010, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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Writings of Rabash, Shlavei HaSulam, “The Matter of Tu Bishvat”
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The Book of Zohar — Introduction: “The Donkey Driver,” Item 101, Lesson 6
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Talmud Eser Sefirot 3, Part 8, Item 59, Lesson 34
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Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Quality of the Hidden Wisdom – in General,” Lesson 3
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Question: What is our reality like in the worlds of BYA (Beria, Yetzira, Assiya), when we ascend along the degrees of these worlds to the world of Atzilut?

Answer: Presently I perceive everything in my desire which is entirely egoistic, aimed only at self-gratification, and disconnected from all the spiritual forces and the Creator. I have no spark of bestowal and live the life of a beast. Such a state is called “this world.”

When I begin to scrutinize which of my desires I can elevate to correction, it means I am in the worlds of BYA. That is, I can annul myself before the group, receive the strength of my friends, unify with them to some degree, and achieve the mutual guarantee, unity, and wholeness like one man with one heart.

To the extent I am able to do this, I rise to Malchut of the world of Atzilut. Elevating my desire, changing it for the better, means that I ascend. I connect to Malchut together with everybody and then in our collective desire (Kli) called Shechina where we are all united together as one man with one heart, we receive the revelation of spirituality, the Creator.

It follows that the worlds of BYA are states in which I scrutinize myself while studying and working in the group where I have the opportunity to connect with the friends to at least some small extent.

The difference between the worlds of BYA is the degree of our connection according to which we can elevate our pleas to Malchut of Infinity and achieve correction. But we always remain in the worlds of BYA, only we bring about their ascent, together with us, to the world of Atzilut.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/1/2010, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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Question: What is the difference between the Masach (screen) and Machsom (the barrier separating us from spirituality)?

Answer: Crossing the Machsom is equivalent to receiving the first anti-egoistic screen. Such barriers exist between all levels, but we simply call them degrees.

The very first spiritual degree, “Machsom,” is so unique because the person has no idea of what bestowal is. However, after reaching it, he already begins to picture bestowal a little; he sees an example of the Upper One and imitates Him. The person already has some connection with the Creator. In contrast, when he rises to his first degree he has to break through this “barrier” while being totally blind.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/1/2010, Beit Shaar HaKavanot

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Question: How can we connect the opposites?

Answer: Opposite things can only be connected through resistance which opposes both of them. It is not important what the resistance consists of; it exists and it is the only thing that can connect the two opposite phenomena.

For example, two people, a husband and wife, do not get along with each other. They turn to a specialist, a psychologist, and he connects them. How? He does not agree with either of them; he is in the middle.

Such a judge must be within us: I do not connect two opposite things without a third one because the direct connection between them is impossible. And if I try to do this, then I get a short circuit, causing destruction.

This is also related to the connection between husband and wife. Due to the growth of the egoistic desire, they feel themselves to be opposite to one another, and between two opposites there has to be a higher connector.

Zeir Anpin and Malchut (ZON) of the world of Atzilut connect only under the condition that they ascend into the Partzuf Aba ve Ima. Before this, there is no connection between them since it only forms due to the ascent, the attainment of the Creator.

In the future, family will only exist due to the higher spiritual goal, and for the sake of attaining it, spouses will support each other.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/10, Talmud Eser Serifot

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Question: Why is it that even when a person knows what is good for him, he still goes and does things that harm him?

Answer: We even see this happening with small children. How many times do you have to punish a child until he starts to understand something? And even then, is this a result of the punishment, or did he simply grow up and become smarter? Maybe the punishments were not beneficial at all? This is indeed a question: What causes us to change our actions?

In reality, we do not change by being punished. Overall, there is no such thing as reward and punishment as we understand it. We never learn under the influence of fate’s misfortunes. We simply grow until we outgrow our Reshimo. Then new ones emerge in us and the surrounding environment changes, and we change under its influence as well. We only change from the confrontation of two parameters: our inner informational data (Reshimot) and the surrounding society. As they interact with one another, they determine our state.

We have to bring our Reshimot to balance with the environment. This is all we aspire to. It is the basic law of the universe: similarity, balance, equilibrium. Everything in nature automatically aspires to this. That is why as soon as an imbalance emerges inside us with the surroundings, then consciously or not (depending on a person’s development) we immediately put all our energy toward trying to bring ourselves to balance.

For example, when you enter a certain society or a certain group of people, you always adjust yourself because you desire to be similar. That is how things are built; it is the law of equivalence, the initial law that the Creator put at the head of everything. Having created a nature opposite to Him, the will to enjoy, He desires for it to gradually reach equivalence with Him, the will to bestow. That’s because growth creates a mind inside the desire, and then the creation gains awareness, sensations, and reveals the Creator, becoming equal and identical to Him.

A person differs from any inanimate creation by the emergence of a mind that consciously directs creation toward similarity to the Creator. Therefore, our entire freedom of will lies in constantly creating a surrounding environment for ourselves that will “pull us up” to the Creator. That means we have to take care of the environment so it would be a level higher than we are. In that case we will want to become similar to it, and thus we will keep advancing toward the Creator. By envisioning the group as higher, greater, and more ideal than ourselves, we advance forward.

Therefore, everything depends on creating the right environment because it will enable us to automatically pull ourselves forward. Therein lies the entire law of growth.
From the lesson in Moscow on 1/17/11, Shamati

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Question: What inner meaning should be attached to kindling the Chanukah candles? What do we need to explain to children?

Answer: We aspire to bestowal and love for our neighbor, and that should become for us the Light which fills us with pleasure. If we all connect like one man with one heart, we will begin sensing the spiritual world, the Creator, eternal life. This is called kindling Chanukah lights.

Chanukah is still not the end of correction, but only a stop on the path. We reach the property of Bina, bestowal for the sake of bestowal; we come out of our egoism, meaning we rise from Malchut to Bina.

For now, I am still unable to descend back from Bina and start using Malchut. I only rise above reason. This is called Chanukah. This is why we are not supposed to use this Light; we can only look at it.

Afterward, when we achieve the holiday of Purim, we take this Light and use it in our desire to receive pleasure so that “the darkness will shine like the Light.” Then, all powers of Bina descend to Malchut, and Malchut herself begins to shine.

This is the end of correction, while Chanukah (Chanu-Ko, “they stopped here”) is still a stop over, a break in the middle of the path. It is like a generation wandering in the desert and discerning the ways to rise above their ego.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/1/2010, Writings of Rabash, Letter 43

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We need to try to build a state of an endless convention and be constantly impressed with many thousands of people gathered in one place. I have to feel the same “electric vibrations” anytime and anywhere. Distance doesn’t affect this spiritual force field. It depends on us; we can make this state of existence permanent.

This unique field of spiritual connection and direction is what is called a Kabbalistic group. In it, everyone retains the influence not only of the 7,000 friends, but of the millions of our friends around the world.

First of all, we create the group out of several thousands of our students, in which all of them are mutually connected within our integral network. If part of this group reaches the state of Arvut (mutual guarantee), it starts projecting this illumination outward, and it cannot be stopped anymore.

This is what is called the authentic circulation of Kabbalah. Everyone will have a chance to come, see, learn, and examine whether it fits him or not, and if it doesn’t fit today, then perhaps it will tomorrow.

This convention must show us an example of such a state, and it has to become permanent so we may ascend higher and higher. This is what will become the impact of the environment on a person, and it is our job to create it.

If the environment determines my entire future and the velocity of my spiritual advancement, then I must be concerned solely with how to make this environment stronger so that it would constantly inspire and pull me forward “by the ear.”

In that case, I will definitely come to the convention. After all, what else can advance me forward? I possess no other means but this one. I will come, but we must keep providing the same kind of influence all the time. Granted, there isn’t any other engine that fosters spiritual growth.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/4/2011, “Exile and Redemption”

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Question: Can we build the collective intention before the lesson begins? If so, how?

Answer: The collective intention has to be founded on the common goal. Our ultimate purpose is to delight the Creator, whereby we equalize ourselves with Him. In order to accomplish this, we must get to know Him since He wishes that we see His love and kindness. It isn’t our personal need; the Creator wishes for us to know Him.

Getting to know something means to become equivalent in form. Hence, we do our best to aim all our efforts at bestowal. I exert effort not to gratify my egoism, but yearn to step out of myself and desire to find the Creator namely to delight Him therewith.

To accomplish this, I need to possess the Kelim (properties, vessels) of bestowal, and I turn to the aid of the Light concealed in the Kabbalistic texts, especially in The Book of Zohar. The Light can reform me, walk me across the abyss that lies between my properties of reception (receiving Kelim) and bestowal (bestowing Kelim).

However, if I think about it alone, there isn’t sufficient force. It doesn’t even sustain my ability to hold the intention to bestow. On the other hand, if I work with the others as a link in the chain, in one desire where everyone nullifies himself before all the others, then our common spirit gains great power. Kabbalists, who had already passed these stages, promise us that this is the way to success.

Hence, I am happy to be among the friends and to be able to build the intention with them by withdrawing from myself as far as possible in order to finally bring pleasure to the Creator. In this way, we become similar to the Creator in qualities and get to know Him in the same degree; moreover, we achieve adhesion with Him.

Therefore, we must start preparing before the lesson and arrive to it with a fully formed desire. By thinking about it, a person “heats” himself up more and more until he finally succeeds. It is written: “Mitzva (commandment) without intention is like a body without a soul.” You are given a commandment to study the Torah, a Kabbalistic method that is designated to reform the evil inclination. With its help, you will attain bestowal, feel love for all others and, ultimately, for the Creator. The Torah derives from the Hebrew word “Ohr” (light) and from the word “Oraa” (instruction).

But if you haven’t equipped yourself with the necessary intention, you are sitting at the lesson dead and performing mechanical actions deprived of spirit and the Light of life. So it is up to you to decide what you are getting up for at night and what you are doing.

Even if a person is unable to keep the intention, let him at least feel how strongly he lacks it. The heartache caused by the empty, bitter heart is just as important.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/1/2010, “Introduction of The Book of Zohar,” Article “The Buds”

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Question: In the beginning of the lesson, you usually set a common direction for all of us; you help us focus on a common intention. How important is this directive?

Answer: We need to come to the lesson already prepared, with a particular desire (intention): What do I wish to receive from the lesson? I need to think a lot about this prior to the lesson.

Sometimes I organize an intention for everyone without relying on your preparation, but rather setting an example myself. However, in general, each of us should prepare for the lesson on his own, in his own intention. One’s success in revealing the Creator depends precisely on the intention.

A mother gives to her little child what she thinks is necessary. However, as he gets older, a person chooses things according to his taste, using his own experience and comprehension.

We have come in contact with The Book of Zohar many times already; we have tried many exercises with the intention. Over the course of the day, a person needs to prepare for the lesson and for attuning himself to the studies. We need to give people an opportunity to build an intention on their own rather than gathering them like a nursery school teacher: “Take each other’s hands, and everyone follow me!”

One has to prepare for the lesson on his own based on his present sensations and understanding, based on his current state. After all, the lesson is a time for the realization of desires. Here, being on a date with the Light, a person can receive what his point in the heart aspires for.

Maybe we should sit in silence for 15 minutes before the lesson so that every person could search within. However, I depend on you in this regard: Between waking up and coming to the lesson, you have time to think, attune yourself, and build your intention.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/1/2010, “Introduction of The Book of Zohar,” Article “The Buds”

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