If we used even one percent of the environment’s influence, we would be in spirituality by now! In all, this is called entering the Upper World, the transition from my individual desire into the desire of the environment.

Where else can I experience it? The deeper I delve into the desires of the environment, the higher I ascend in the Worlds of Assiya, Yetzira, Beria, and Atzilut. The instant I cross the barrier where the environment is more important to me than myself marks the passing of the Machsom (the barrier separating us from spirituality).

Right now everyone is preoccupied with their own desire. The environment affects a person, but only in the degree that he nullifies himself before it. The environment isn’t at fault for what is happening with a person; it depends only on him!

As for the environment, it is completely corrected; it cannot be uncorrected since it is arranged by the Creator! It is He who brought you here and said: “If you wish to have contact with Me, you have to include yourself into that environment, like an embryo in the mother’s womb. Enter this environment, and if you succeed, you will find Me.”

When you nullify yourself in the smallest degree, you will ascend to the first spiritual degree. This is a crucial step, “bestowal in order to bestow,” like an embryo inside the mother. It doesn’t seem to exist on its own, and that is why the mother provides all the necessary nourishment.

The more she gives it, the more it grows and nullifies itself. Hence, it grows inside the mother without disturbing her, seemingly non-existent. And the more it annuls itself, the more she can give. Therefore, she doesn’t view the embryo as a foreign object; on the contrary, it is close and dear.

When it grows to the extent that it is unable to completely nullify itself before Bina, it is born; it exits outside. From now on, it will annul himself in relation to her in a different manner, like a little child in relation to an adult. But nonetheless, it is nullification in order to receive nourishment, and later, education. All levels, through adulthood, receive by way of self-nullification.

The mother is the group, Shechina, the collective assembly of souls. Nullify yourself and you will enter it. And when I become an “adult,” it doesn’t mean that I don’t need them anymore; rather, I am able to take this collective desire and start working with it, drawing fulfillment to it.

I nullified myself in relation to all souls, this entire collective desire, and received this Kli (vessel), all the examples and forces from the mother. Now I can begin revealing this enormous desire, Malchut of the World of Infinity, and work with it by receiving in order to bestow, which is the level of “love” at this point.

All of this work takes place in relation to the environment, the collective soul. Where else is there to work? There is nothing besides it. Everything occurs in the same place, and that is what the Creator is called: “the place.”
[28489]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/2/10, “Mighty Rock of My Salvation”

Related Material:
Malchut Of The World Of Atzilut Is, In Fact, You
There Is Only The Group
Two Levels Of Mutual Guarantee

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Inner Work - No Comments →

Question: Is it correct to build an intention while studying The Book of Zohar and to think about those who have been hurt by the fires in the north of Israel and those who are fighting the fire?

Answer: This is not a matter of the obvious and latent problems people are facing. By bringing the Light closer to Malchut de Atzilut, we enable Malchut to shine in her nine lower Sefirot, meaning in all of reality that lies beneath her, including our world.

We raise MAN, a plea for correction, to Malchut, which is then transferred higher, all the way until Arich Anpin, the source of abundance. By virtue of this, the abundance starts descending to Malchut and she provides this Light to the lower ones: the Worlds of BYA, our world, all the souls, and the still, vegetative, and animate levels of nature.

Of course, we thereby bring life to all the creatures below. This includes the inhabitants of the north of Israel, who are the same as all the people and all the creatures that continue to suffer.

We understand that they are suffering due to a lack of connection with the Upper Force. When we add the right intention to their suffering, we raise their desire upwards together with our intention. Then we receive additional abundance in response, which becomes transferred to the whole world.
[28754]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/5/10, The Zohar

Related Material:
I’m Asking For Everyone’s Sake, Including Ourselves
A Guide To The Book Of Zohar: From Darkness To The Light

Filed under: Crisis, Daily Kabbalah Lesson, News, Prayer and Intention, Q&A, Suffering, World - No Comments →

Question: What should we actually do to counter nature’s blows, such as the fire in the north of Israel that’s happening now?

Answer: The only thing we need is the common intention, the unity of our thoughts. We need our friends all over the world to think about how our unity with one another will help eliminate all the disasters in the world, including the horrible fire that has broken out in Israel.

You have to include your personal plea into the common plea for the whole world and unite with all of the world’s suffering. That is the only way it works: If you think about everyone, then at the end you can also add “us” – but not yourself! This is the only thing that can help.

It is impossible to fight catastrophes or a crisis using the old methods if you find yourself facing the Upper Light that acts against you. We are yet to see how the financial crisis will come back, even though people have tried to extinguish it using all the possible means. In fact, it will explode much more powerfully than before. And the same thing will happen with everything else. We cannot cope with these problems using the usual methods. We can only suppress them temporarily, but later they will break out even stronger.

Correction is possible only through bringing hearts closer, only through unity. The world has to become global. The force operating on us from Above surrounds us, shutting us in from all sides and becoming revealed as one global force. Therefore, we feel how humanity is becoming as one organism where everyone is connected with each other.

We are yet to see that these very catastrophes will force humanity to unite. Now fire-fighters from all over the world will come to Israel to help fight the fire, and tomorrow something else will happen in another place and the whole world will come rushing there, and later it will be a new place. In this way, through disasters, nature will force us to unite and understand that we need each others’ help.

Nature will become so hostile that we won’t have time to think about how to fight with each other. If we don’t agree to it the good way, the Creator will force us to it. The situation will become so serious that not one nation will be able to single-handedly fight the natural catastrophes. Everyone will have to help each other. And suddenly, everyone will understand that they have to be together; otherwise we simply won’t survive,

Everyone will unite in the face of a deadly threat. But why should we wait for it if we can advance by the good path?
[28605]
From the lesson on Baal HaSulam’s article “Freedom of Will” on 12/3/10

Related Material:
The General Reason For All The Suffering
Appealing To The Creator Together
Connecting To Good

Filed under: Collective Soul, Crisis, Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Economy, News, Prayer and Intention, Q&A, Suffering, Unity, World - 1 Comment →

Bina represents pure bestowal, Hafetz Hesed. Bina can be situated in the head of the Partzuf and outside of it. Bina is not subject to restriction (Tzimtzum), and yet, she does come out outside because this allows her to endow the lower ones with her own attributes.

While being above the screen, Bina is blocked, locked inside the head. On the other hand, having gotten out, she performs bestowal to the lower ones, and everything they have they receive from her.

However, this “sneaking-out” doesn’t reflect on her in particular. While coming out, she doesn’t seem to have left the head at all and easily maintains communication with the upper Partzufim. Bina is free and may be present as Above, so below. Our salvation is possible thanks to this particular property of Bina.

[28449]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/2/10, The Zohar, Introduction, “The Buds”

Related Material:
When One Road Ends, Another One Begins
Why People Like Looking At Clouds

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work, Zohar - No Comments →

When a person desires to enter the group and to unite with it, then precisely there, inside the interconnection with the friends, he reveals the four phases of the expansion of Direct Light, the ten Sefirot, the forms and degrees of unity that the Kabbalists describe. The stronger he merges with the desires of the friends by the principle of loving his neighbor as himself, the more the Light is revealed inside him, filling these desires. This is the revelation of the Creator to creation.

As Baal HaSulam writes in item 155 of "Introduction to Talmud Eser Sefirot," we have to desire for the material we study to become revealed and come alive inside us. We study the correction of creation so that inside these texts we will reveal the Light, the Creator, the goal of creation.

To correct creation means to correct a person’s connection with his environment. All the worlds lie on the path between myself and the group, on the line of connection between us. The higher I ascend, the more connected I am with the friends. The power of our interconnection corresponds to the degree of my inclusion in the group. To this degree I reveal the spiritual reality and acquire the vessel of the soul.
[28766]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/5/10, The Zohar
Related Material:
“The Place” To Build Your House
The Inexhaustible Means For Advancing

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Spirituality - No Comments →

The studying of the wisdom of Kabbalah is founded on Segula, meaning the drawing of the Light that Reforms. The entire Torah, the method of correction, is designated for this. This is why it says: “I created the evil inclination, and I created the Torah as a spice.”

The Torah is regarded as a “spice” for a reason. It never replaces desire but “spices” it up with intention thereby readying it for consumption. In the same fashion, a dish is spiced; otherwise, it wouldn’t be edible. A dab of spices finishes it off.

Therefore, regardless of what text we are studying, our intentions must not change. Kabbalists wrote their books while being in spiritual attainment. However, we haven’t entered the spiritual world yet and cannot directly use their instructions as a guide in the Upper reality. At this stage, while reading, we are expected to hope, to anticipate a “miracle.” Let my eyes open so I may see what I am reading about for myself.

It will occur only if my aspiration is correct. Everything depends on what I demand from the studies and how closely my expectations match the force lain in the Kabbalistic texts. It will respond only if I keep aiming at it and wish for it to arrive and endow me with the property of bestowal. Then, I will rise above my egoism and experience true closeness with the other souls, together with whom we will reveal the Creator.

Such an intention is, indeed, aimed at the realization of the method. Thereby, I do utilize it as prescribed, which is regarded as “studying the Torah.” After all, I anticipate the arrival of the Light that Reforms like a rooster that is preparing to greet the dawn. If, however, I am contemplating egoistic rewards, I resemble a bat that doesn’t need light at all.

This work needn’t be despised either. It isn’t desirable, of course, but it still leads to the goal, only through the dark, by making a loop, through jungles of problems, until after numerous incarnations a person arrives at the question of purpose.

Therefore, darkness radiated by the Torah also helps somewhat. Baal HaSulam writes that we don’t always move ahead in the correct intentions and sometimes act like bats.
[28452]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/2/10, The Zohar, Introduction, Article “The Buds”

Related Material:
How Much Do Your Eyes See?
The Creator’s Call Sign

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work, Kabbalah Study, Zohar - No Comments →

Question: How do we experience “Zivug” (spiritual coupling, merger of the Light and the Kli) in our spiritual work?

Answer: “Zivug” is unification by way of a screen. If you are resisting your ego, the will to receive pleasure (desire), in order to merge with the Creator for the sake of bestowal, and if you have the force of resistance, a screen, you enter a “Zivug.” It is regarded as “Zivug de Hakaa” (mating while striking).

You push the Upper Light away from your desire to receive pleasure by way of a strike, meaning that you are unwilling to receive it directly, for self-gratification. You are willing to receive this “treat” only to equalize yourself with the Upper Light, and not because you are “hungry,” even though you are really starving.

You are prepared to refuse all of these pleasures and not receive them in order to satisfy your hunger, but to perform a calculation and accept them only inasmuch as you can delight the Host. This is regarded as a strike.

By doing so, you don’t reject the Host but the pleasures that are trying to enter your will to receive directly. You are willing to receive them but indirectly, only if and after you have analyzed whether this will truly be in order to be similar to the Host and connect with Him in mutual bestowal.
[28459]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/2/10, Talmud Eser Sefirot

Related Material:
A Baby That Was Ashamed To Eat
A Purely Human Quality

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work - 1 Comment →

Question: Why did we start studying Part 8 of Talmud Eser Sefirot (The Study of the Ten Sefirot) instead of The Book of Zohar?

Answer: First of all, we are continuing to study The Zohar daily during the morning lesson, but only for forty five minutes instead of ninety minutes as before.

When we read The Book of Zohar, we constantly deal with Partzufim of the World of Atzilut, from which the Upper Governance originates: Arich Anpin (AA), Aba Ve Ima (AVI), Yeshsut, and ZON. Therefore, we must gain an understanding of how they are arranged, what constitutes the hierarchy and relation between them, and what program they are carrying out.

Hence, we need to study Part 8 of TES (Talmud Eser Sefirot), which is the major part of The Study of Ten Sefirot, essentially describing the World of Atzilut. Without it, we cannot even come close to The Zohar.

Indeed, the more a person knows, the more he understands and acknowledges that in reality he knows nothing, which better enables him to determine his prayer, not a baby’s cry, but a clearly analyzed request. Besides, if we study TES with the same intention that we apply to The Book of Zohar, it affects us and performs the same work in terms of our correction.
[28462]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/2/10, Talmud Eser Sefirot

Related Material:
Are You Anticipating The Light’s Arrival?
How Much Do Your Eyes See?

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Kabbalah Study, Q&A - No Comments →

There is nothing good or bad in the quality of reception itself. However, the Creator purposely created the condition that makes us feel shame from reception.

There is no reason for the shame: It is an independent creature. There is the desire to receive pleasure and the desire to bestow; He bestows, I receive, so what is so horrible about this? On the contrary, does a baby feel ashamed that the mother feeds him? He brings her pleasure by eating! And in the same manner, the Creator receives pleasure by giving us pleasure.

Then why can’t I just enjoy from receiving from Him? What else do I need? Let Him just give me more desire and more fulfillment, and I will be an obedient baby that accepts everything that the mother wishes to give it, thereby bringing Him delight!

After all, in order to bring contentment to the Creator, I don’t need to bestow to Him. He created my desire Himself, and He can do anything I desire. And I will desire everything He gives me since this is how I was created. Then let Him fill this nature that He created, my desires, and we will both feel well. We will delight in each other!

Everyone knows how much pleasure a mother experiences when her baby eats well and falls asleep peacefully in her arms. I agree to be this baby! What else does He want from me?!

We don’t want anything else; we wish to remain babies in the arms of Mother Nature. However, the Creator does not agree with this; He wishes to raise us to His level. And, therefore, the “shame” does not come from the fact that I receive from the Creator. The shame is not from receiving; it is from the disparity of our qualities.

It is not shameful to receive from Him since He created me to be a receiver, and this is not what we correct. We correct the separation between us, meaning the opposition of our aspirations, only to become equal.

Therefore, Baal HaSulam writes (TES, Part One, Histaklut Pnimit [Inner Reflection]) that “shame” is meant only for the most elevated souls. When they reveal that the Creator is bestowing and they are receiving, they discover the abyss between them and feel that they need to correct precisely this disparity.

Like in our world, where there are things that some are ashamed to do while others are not, here too, we need to achieve a particular level of spiritual correction in order to begin to feel shame. And it is not felt prior to that.

To the extent that a person ascends higher and begins to experience shame, the Creator treats him differently, in a more demanding manner. Hence, it is written that “the Creator finds fault as thin as a hair in regard to the righteous,” and all calculations are carried only in regard to shame. When we feel an intention to bestow against our desire to receive, this difference, delta, gives birth to a feeling of shame.

Meanwhile, in our world a baby eats and feels no shame, and this doesn’t change as he gets older since this desire is instilled in him by nature. Yet in order to become “adults,” we need to work on ourselves instead of waiting for nature to do it.
[28160]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/30/10, The Study of the Ten Sefirot

Related Material:
Celebrate The First Victory Over Yourself
A Purely Human Quality

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work - No Comments →

Question: If the Creator created only two forces, reception and bestowal, then what does “shame” pertain to, and where is its root? Why does it have such strength that it is even stronger than desire?

Answer: “Shame” is an independent “creature.” Had the Creator not created shame, we would not feel that we are receivers and opposite to Him. Shame is a purposely created quality which is meant only for humans.

We are not even talking about shame in this world, which, being an imprint of upper shame, resembles it somewhat. Upper spiritual shame is a sensation that you are situated across the Creator and are opposite to Him. You feel how this opposition belittles you next to His bestowal, and to what extent your egoistic thoughts are opposite to thoughts about bestowal. This shame is so strong that a person cannot tolerate it!
[28163]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/30/10, The Study of the Ten Sefirot

Related Material:
Striking Self-Gratification
A Baby That Was Ashamed To Eat

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work, Q&A - No Comments →