Lesson Preparation
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Lesson on the Topic “Hanukkah”
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
Writings of Baal HaSulam, “The Peace”, Article “Clarification of the Excerpt from the Mishnah: “Everything Is in Deposit, and a Fortress Spreads Over All of Life”
| [media 5] | [media 6] |
Lesson Preparation
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Lesson on the Topic “Covenant Of Salt” (Preparation for the Virtual Convention 2018)
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
Writings of Baal HaSulam, Newspaper “The Nation”, Title “The Individual and the Nation”
| [media 5] | [media 6] |
Lesson Preparation
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Lesson on the Topic “Prayer” (Preparation for the Virtual Convention 2018)
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
Writings of Baal HaSulam, Newspaper “The Nation”, Title “The Individual and the Nation”
| [media 5] | [media 6] |
Lesson Preparation
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Lesson on the Topic “Arvut” (Preparation for the Virtual Convention 2018)
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
The problem is to achieve the correct discernment. After all, who knows how objective I am? It is said that “For a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise,” and I do not know how it might affect me, whether my opinion is influenced or not. Initially, we try to evaluate things by other standards, like when we compare our children to others’ or our qualities to others’.
Egoism operates at all levels, which is why it is so difficult to discern the truth and objectively reveal the flaws in oneself. Therefore, we must ask for the ability to see things as objectively as possible in order to observe and evaluate not from our own perspective, not from Malchut, but from the height of Bina. To the extent that a person receives a portion of the Light, he acquires the ability to distinguish his own opinion from the opinion of the upper Light. Only then can he become a real expert.
Even if I try to pray for society and not for myself, I must demand the ability to remain an objective judge from above so that the Creator would shine through me. If not, then my opinion would certainly remain egoistic. In order for the prayer to be sincere, I have to rise above my desire to enjoy, see everything from the degree of Bina, and compare it to what I saw from the degree of Malchut. The revelation of the difference between these two degrees is called “recognition of evil.”
If I do not have the two degrees Bina and Malchut, and do not feel the difference between them, and thus do not have the recognition of evil. I do not know where I am, and I possibly keep wandering inside my egoism.1
Soon, the expertise in the spiritual work, the work of the Creator, will become the most popular profession in the world. This is what we are preparing for, and all this work consists of building a network of connections between us. We are ready to say anything with words, but we have no power over our hearts, which leads us to the recognition of evil.
Therefore, we must exert effort as if the heart has already been corrected, and the Creator will finish this work for us and correct our hearts. We only need to create the place where He can work. If we complete our preparations, then the Creator will fulfill His end of the deal.
We are required to do all we can, in the fullest measure, “until the cup overflows.” The moment the cup overflows with our efforts, the Creator will interfere and finish the job: He will change our nature.2
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/14/18, Lesson on the Topic “The Mutual Guarantee”
1 Minute 20:02
2 Minute 46:01
Related Material:
Spiritual Development And Growth Of Egoism
New Life #31 – Love Above Egoism
Between Malchut and Bina
Lesson Preparation
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Lesson on the Topic “Revealing The Creator In The Connection Between Us” (Preparation for the Virtual Convention 2018)
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
Writings of Baal HaSulam, Newspaper “The Nation”, Title “The Individual and the Nation”
| [media 5] | [media 6] |
Lesson Preparation
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Lesson on the Topic “How Do We Organize Ourselves For Prayer”
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
Talmud Eser Sefirot, Vol. 6, Part 16, Table of Answers for the Meaning of the Words, Item 112
| [media 5] | [media 6] |
Preparation for the Virtual Convention 2018
| [media 7] | [media 8] |
The created beings cannot perceive reality except through the contrast of opposites. We inevitably must feel ourselves and what is outside of us, and only in this way do we perceive reality. Therefore, first we develop our egoistic perception of reality in the desire to receive. Then, after many thousands of years of development, having reached a certain level of egoistic perception, we become ready to move to the perception of the true reality the way it actually exists, not limited by our egoism and by our nature.
But we are not the Creator, for whom this reality is natural, but rather the created beings, and therefore, we reveal the true reality only in contrast to our egoistic reality in which we grew up. Every detail of the upper reality we discover includes two opposites: one side that we notice and feel in our egoism and the other one that we perceive above our egoism.
It is like a candle that consists of oil and a burning wick where the two opposites support each other. Only in this way can we grasp, feel, study, and begin to live in the reality called “the Creator.” We perceive it only from our opposite state of creation in the contrast of opposites.
Therefore, we must always keep to the middle line without deviating either to the right, where everything is for the sake of bestowal, or to the left, where everything is for the sake of reception. Only in the middle between these two lines can we exist as the created beings and acquire the nature of the Creator.
We should not despair that we are thrown from one extreme to the other, from an absolutely egoistic perception of reality to quasi-altruism. It is the combination of these two opposites that will lead us to the true reality. We must be patient and get used to such a split, because one opposite supports the other, revealing the advantage of the Light over darkness. Without this, it is impossible to feel the upper reality.
If I agree with the darkness, understanding that this is an inseparable and most important part of my perception of reality, then I look objectively at both forms. On one hand, I depend on both of them, and on the other hand, I am between them. By my equal attitude to the Light and to the darkness, to pleasant and unpleasant states, and to good and evil, I correctly balance myself and can remain as an independent created being, moving in the middle line toward the purpose of creation, that is, toward adhesion with the upper force.1
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/16/18, Lesson on the Topic “The Work Within Reason And The Work Above Reason”
1 Minute 0:20
Related Material:
Two Forces That Create A Human Being
Combining The Opposites
The Two Poles Of Oneness
Lesson Preparation
| [media 1] | [media 2] |
Lesson on the Topic “How Do We Organize Ourselves For Prayer”
| [media 3] | [media 4] |
Talmud Eser Sefirot, Vol. 6, Part 16, Table of Answers for the Meaning of the Words, Item 107
| [media 5] | [media 6] |
Writings of Baal HaSulam, Newspaper “The Nation”, Title “The Individual and the Nation”
| [media 7] | [media 8] |
There is wisdom that accumulates with life experience in this world. We explore this world and naturally develop the tools given to us from birth. Over years and from generation to generation, our minds and hearts expand, and this is how we advance in our understanding of the world through the five senses.
However, the spiritual world requires new and completely different perception organs. Firstly, we need to acquire them, because initially we do not have them. Also, in the spiritual state we are obliged to combine two opposites in ourselves: while remaining a created being, we should become similar to the Creator. These are, however, two polar opposite forms that cancel each other. One can be either a created being or a Creator. They are two different realities.
That we are created beings but have to accept the Creator’s form while remaining in our world and state is very complicated. It requires a major change in our structure and perception. If in our world we are guided by our mind and feelings that support each other, then in the spiritual world it is the opposite, one contradicts the other.
There might be a bad feeling in a good state because we reveal the reality above our egoism. Therefore, inside egoism, we can feel terrible, but in fact, this is the best state.
Perhaps we do not understand what is happening to us without having any spiritual insight, and this will be the highest state. This is why it is difficult to perceive and establish one’s state in the spiritual reality.
Therefore, it is said that in the spiritual world, two opposites are united in one object, and faith operates above reason. It requires great stamina, attention, and time. Gradually “habit becomes second nature” because we let the upper light work on us time after time, patiently agreeing with everything it does to us.
Even if it seems as if the light does nothing, we accept that as well. That is, one needs to absolutely annul oneself to become a complete “zero.” Therefore, we move toward the inner state in which we become ready for receiving the upper light, which means that we will stop relating to it egoistically.1
Our mind cannot combine the two lines: left and right. How can there be peace and harmony in a person who would very much like to become rich, but upon finding himself in total poverty agrees with his condition in the middle line, thereby uniting the left and the right?
How can two such opposites fit together? How can it be that the more a person learns, the more he understands and feels? Every time he reveals his ignorance, stupidity, and lack of success more and more, but at the same time rejoices and reconciles these two states in himself.
How is it possible that having invested 10, 15, or 20 years into the spiritual path, a person receives nothing and is happy about it? He reveals that it is just wonderful that, with his great desire, he did not receive any compensation for his egoism. He feels perfection in the existence of two such opposites.
Our mind cannot accept it, but in the spiritual world, a person can rise to the property of Bina, to the spiritual level, just by combining the two opposites. The spiritual state is born from the collision of two opposites: a massive, unrealized desire and readiness to annul oneself. As a result of this self-annulment, a person becomes worthy of receiving the upper light.2
From The 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/5/18, Lesson on the Topic “The Work Within Reason And The Work Above Reason”
1 Minute 0:20
2 Minute 9:33-12:28
Related Material:
Connecting Two Opposites? Only In Spirituality
A Struggle Between Opposites Or Harmony Between Them?
Harmony Of Opposites In Nature
Daily Audio Version-MP3
Get the Weekly eNewsletter
Follow on Twitter
