Entries in the 'Daily Kabbalah Lesson' Category

The Narrow Passage To Freedom

Dr. Michael LaitmanOur soul is divided into two parts: Galgalta ve Eynaim (GE) or 248 desires, and AHP (Awzen, Hotem, Peh) or 365 desires. We have to correct the desires of GE to “bestowal for the sake of bestowal” and then AHP to “reception for the sake of bestowal.” Our freedom of will lies between them, in the middle, in the special area called the middle third of Sefira Tifferet.

Above, in GE, there are Keter, Hochma, Bina, Hesed, Gevura, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut. Below, in AHP, the lower third of Tifferet, Netzah, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut. Between them, there is the middle third of Tifferet called Klipat Noga (the Noga Shell), the very place of our free will.

It is like a narrow neck in an hourglass. Above it, there are our desires to bestow, beneath it our desires to receive, and in the middle, between bestowal and reception, I am left with an empty space. It is not ambivalence when I don’t know which egoistic fulfillment to favor and choose; rather, it is a passage to a totally new space, a new dimension. If I find and step through it, then I will live there in one dimension with the Creator.

Through this narrow tunnel, we are brought into the new world as if we are born from the mother into the world and realize our free will.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, “The Freedom”

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Who Is Last In Line On Onion Duty?

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: What if my duty is to be a security guard during a lesson at the convention? Everyone is sitting and listening to you while I am outside checking passes. Even if I get to listen to the radio broadcast in my headphones, it is not the same thing.

Answer: This is your “earning.” After all, you are serving others: Everything they “catch” at the lesson is organized and provided by you. In other words, at that moment, they are receiving fulfillment because of you.

Question cont.: But how is that when I do not receive any of their impressions?

Answer: On the contrary, all their impressions come through you from Above. It is as if you were receiving everyone’s rewards. Not bad, eh?

Question cont.: But what if I am on duty as a security guard, and I am enjoying it because I am helping disseminate Kabbalah? Is it all right to receive this type of fulfillment?

Answer: Go ahead, receive your fulfillment. Overall, perform less theoretical calculations. An action is an action.

Question cont.: Let us say that I came to the convention, I do not have a desire to work in the kitchen, but I was given the responsibility of peeling, like, a hundred pounds of onions, a half-day’s work. I do the work without any desire, I am disgusted, I feel woeful, I keep cursing my friends and the entire convention, and keep wishing to run away every coming moment.

Answer: Just take a look at the enormous work you are doing. Look at the thoughts about the importance of the group and the goal that are running through your head every second of your work with these onions. Look at the amount of calculations that you need to make in order to stay in the kitchen all these hours.

You will think so many things over, you will figure out your attitude toward friends and the Creator, you will fight yourself, suffer, and, in the end, you will see that there is no other place for you. Where else would you do all these examinations?

In situations like this, the precision of the analysis is very high. Thoughts and apprehensions start falling over you as soon as you begin any kind of work from the most to least pleasant. This is a wonderful opportunity. If everyone were able to work in the kitchen while listening to the lecture, I would stay in my room and do a radio broadcast without a camera. Even if there were no need for people in the kitchen, it does not matter as long as there are disturbances and the ability to overcome them. This is the best condition for advancement.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, Shamati #16

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http://www.laitman.com/2010/01/a-clear-definition-of-the-goal/

Untwist The Chain of Reshimot

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Can I hasten the unfolding of the Reshimot (spiritual records, genes), or is it a constant value?

Answer: We descended into this world from the World of Infinity (Ein Sof) through five worlds, and from this world, we must now ascend back to the World of Infinity. Baal HaSulam describes this quite in detail in the  Introduction to The Book of Zohar. On the way downward, the Reshimot broken in the process of the descent remain within us. This world has existed for fifteen billion years, and today, in 2010, we are the first to start the ascent, our correction.

We need to take the broken Reshimot and realize them anew in the five worlds, ABYA and Adam Kadmon. We must take the same steps, but this time, do so in the corrected way. In truth, these are not two different paths, upward and downward, but one ladder, one line. We descended it without awareness, unconsciously. Even in this world we are still completely unaware of what is going on.

When we start realizing our Reshimot, we don’t know what is happening to us, until we reach a certain level, cross the Machsom (the barrier separating us from spirituality). But after the Machsom, we begin to lift Reshimot through the worlds of Assiya, Yetzira, and Beria to Malchut of the World of Atzilut which is called Shechina. In the World of Atzilut, there is a mechanism of correction. That is where we correct everything and then begin to understand, feel, and comprehend the entire process.

We don’t pick the Reshimot. Everyone has a “helix,” a chain of Reshimot placed in them, and we pass through them one by one, from the first to the last.

The Light will work on them if we arouse it. Hence, we can only determine the pace by which the Reshimot unfold. If I plug into the group and studies, if I think and care for it during my free time, then by doing so, I hasten the pace of my development. Besides, it absolutely doesn’t matter how many free hours I have day by day. Somebody gets twenty and someone just two, but what matters is how you use them.

Everyone is placed in the setting most beneficial for him or her; it is not up to us. We, however, have to seek the most efficient use for our free time for the goal of spiritual development. This is discussed in the article “The Freedom“: One should get involved in the group as much as possible and there, in unity between us, aim all our effort farther: at dissemination and studying.

These are our main actions: unification in the group and transition from unity to dissemination and study. Thereby, you awaken the Light; the rest is not up to you.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, Shamati #16

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Daily Kabbalah Lesson – 10.21.10

Rabash, Shlavei HaSulam, “I Am the First and I Am the Last”
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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “BeShalach (When Pharaoh Sent),” Item 65
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Rav Yehuda Ashlag, “Beit Shaar HaKavanot,” Lesson 5
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Article, “The Wisdom of Israel in Comparison to Science,” Lesson 1
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The Right Investment

Dr. Michael LaitmanBy working in a group, studying, and disseminating we rouse the influence of the Light, and it brings us new values. Bestowal becomes so important that a person changes his priorities.

Before, he wished to receive more and more qualitative fulfillment, to be the boss of his life, and to hold everything in his hands. Now, he gradually reaches the realization and acceptance of a new purpose. He discovers that when he fulfills others, this bestowal presents an even greater benefit.

One would think what is there to this except pretty words? Why does it appeal to a person? Everything comes from the Light according to the laws of spiritual physics. The global Kli (vessel), the common soul, the interconnection between everyone, opens up to a person, and then he feels that the right “investment” is to invest into others, which guarantees the eternal, greatest possible benefit. A person doesn’t see this with his own eyes yet, but he already can guess that herein lies a system into which it pays to invest, and he invests into it.

Now he agrees that the Torah, meaning the Light that Reforms, changed and corrected his 613 desires, which is, in fact, the execution of the 613 commandments. By studying, disseminating, and being in a group we expect precisely the influence of the Light. Then, instead of demanding self-fulfillment, we prefer pleasure for others. Bringing them pleasure will be advantageous to us.

This, too, is an egoistic calculation, the intention Lo Lishma (not for Her name). I wish to perform bestowal to others, and I will feel good from this. However, the Light continues to influence me. I become included in the group (the external common Kli) more and more, I submerge myself deeper into the studies, and demand more Light from it. I rouse changes in me, and, finally, I become partially similar to the Creator.

Instead of a personal gain and a “safe investment,” I obtain a feeling of bestowal without a response, and it becomes the greatest possible revelation to me. Even the fulfillment that it brings remains non-repayable and also completely directed at bestowal.

Thereby, I truly become similar to the Creator. After all, due to my own desire and choice and thanks to my effort in the group, the Light has transformed my nature. Through His force, I change myself until I become equal to the Creator in all my desires and actions to such an extent that there can be no differentiation between us, and this similarity is called adhesion.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, Shamati #16

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The Work Of The Creator

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe group is the “button” we are constantly clicking on to draw the Light to ourselves. I participate in its life, aspire for unity with the friends, and desire to “dissolve” in them, thereby attracting the Light that Reforms. Essentially, this is my only action: to attract the Light which will implement all the necessary changes.

The situation is simple. There I am, the one who desires to reach the right goal: to become equivalent to the Creator. There is also a means: to demand the Light to affect me and to gradually make all the necessary modifications in me through the group. This is the way we advance.

With every change, I can examine myself: What is “day,” and what is “night” for me? If I am in the “day,” it means that I am being diversely fulfilled; if I am in the “night” or “dark,” it signifies devastation of the mind and heart. This is how it looks in egoistic desires.

Now, we have to stir such changes within ourselves that would allow us to acquire desires to bestow in which we will evaluate “day” and “night” as the Creator does. For the Creator, “day” is bestowal or faith above reason, which contradicts the logic and sensation of the current level.

To reach it, we don’t have to exert superhuman efforts which we are incapable of doing. Rather, we make efforts in the group, in our unification, and summon the force of the Light which descends and does the work.

In fact, all spiritual work is regarded as the “Creator’s work.” He does it, and I must only desire it like a child who grabs a grown-up’s hand and pulls him where he wants to go. If a person understands the essence of this interaction, he feels at ease. With every new step, he utilizes free will in the group and draws the Light that Reforms.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, Shamati #16

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The Mutual Guarantee Draws The Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Would it be correct to say that the first stage is the unification between us and the formation of a spiritual vessel (Kli), while the second stage is the mutual guarantee?

Answer: The mutual guarantee does not depend on us, but comes with the help of the Light. All the corrections and all the states are the result of the Light’s influence on the Reshimot (spiritual genes, reminiscences), but our readiness and desire for this to happen is for us to display.

I open the book so as to facilitate the formation of a common desire whose quality will be bestowal. The Creator will be revealed within this common desire to the extent that it will bestow in accordance with the law of equivalence of form with the Creator. I don’t need to draw the Creator for Him to be revealed within my desire. I don’t need to forcefully reveal Him. I simply need to worry about the desire assuming the form of bestowal, and then the Creator will manifest.

The law of equivalence of form already exists; it is the fundamental condition in nature. If this condition is met, the Creator becomes revealed. I only need to worry about my desires (Kelim, vessels). The Light is at absolute rest; we only lack the right desires, the qualities to perceive it.

Therefore, my only task is to desire correction. I don’t actually perform the correction either; I merely give the Light the opportunity to correct me. This is why we gather together and think of the Light correcting us, meaning the connection between us. We want the Light to correct the breaking that took place in our roots.

Then, because by thinking about this, we as though raise the Shechina (Divinity, our common soul) from the dust, we achieve spiritual revelation, the Creator, the Light of NaRaNHaY, which is 620 times greater than the original state before the breaking where there was only the Light of Nefesh.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, The Zohar

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The Environment Is My Soul

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe environment is not just the entrance ticket to spirituality and not something that accompanies me on the spiritual path, rather it is my soul – the place where I reveal my connection with the Creator. The environment becomes my soul, my World of Infinity when I no longer differentiate between its inner and outer desires (Kelim): myself and others and the worlds. Rather, I experience all of this as one desire (Kli) and one Light.

For example, suppose I ascend to the level of Netzah of the World of Beria. What happens to all the levels I have gone through? They don’t exist inside me in the form of degrees since I already went through them. Rather, they exist in the form of a circle because I have corrected all of these desires.

When I ascend up the ladder of degrees inside the group (our unity), then everything I have already gone through on the ladder of degrees becomes attached to me; it becomes my own. On the other hand, everything I still have to go through remains scattered and divided into many disorderly forces.

That is why the environment still seems like a means to me. And it seems like this is what is written as well, “From love for the creatures to love for the Creator.” It seems like the Creator broke us in order for us to reveal Him. But what does it mean to reveal Him? We reveal Him inside the same broken vessels (desires, Kelim) by correcting them. When these desires take on the form of bestowal, that form of bestowal in them is called “the Creator.”

Therefore the environment is not a means, but precisely the space I have to put together and then live inside it. The right form of this system, the connection between the souls, is my soul, and its inner form is the Creator whom I reveal and thus unite with Him into one.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/20/10, The Zohar

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How Can I See The Real World?

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn essence, we represent souls rather than physical bodies even now. The Creator created the desire to enjoy, and there is nothing else besides this desire. If we sense certain corporeal matter, it is not because another separate reality exists. There is only desire which feels itself in a physical body. It is the same soul which feels only itself and only within itself. It does not perceive anything outside.

For this reason the soul feels itself as existing in its corporeal body, seemingly surrounded by other, similar bodies. This is how I perceive myself and the surrounding reality since I am enclosed inside myself with my ego. As soon as I begin to acquire new desires and perceive properties outside of myself, I begin to see reality in a different way.

The reality which I see outside of myself is called the “Upper World.” How do I exit out of myself (from my ego) and see the existence outside of myself? I have to connect with other souls, with my friends. Within this connection between us, in greater unity, we reveal common sensations and manifestations called “the spiritual world.”

Therefore, when we read The Zohar, we have to remember that we all desire to reveal the Upper Light, to reveal everything described in The Zohar. It conveys to us the states and pictures which talk only about the connection between us and its various forms. That is the entire reality.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, The Zohar

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The Truth Lies Among Us

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How can we be sure that we are on the right path?

Answer: The only way to check this is through the connection between us. The solution to all questions lies in the place where the breaking occurred.

Are we coming closer to correcting it? This is the entire issue. If I see that I am uniting with the spiritual sparks of my friends, that from one day to the next we are becoming more and more united, that our desires for the quality of bestowal among us are becoming more precise and consolidated, this means I am on the right path.

What matters is the extent to which I have the right idea of the picture. My demand to the friends comes later. First of all I have to check my own attitude: Do I see that the solution to all my problems, questions, and requests resides there, inside our unity?
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/20/10, “The Matter of the Slanders”

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