Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Item 64: …with respect to the wisdom of the Torah, it is increasingly revealed in the latter generations. This is so for the reason we have mentioned, that the overall measure is completed specifically by the latter ones. This is why more complete Lights are extended to them, although their own essence is far worse.

This stems from the reverse order of between vessels and Lights. The purer and more refined the vessels are the less Light is in them, even though these vessels are expressed and corrected by the vessels that precede them. And conversely, the greater and deeper the “thickness” of the vessels, the more difficult it is to correct them. In contrast to this, the Lights in them are greater and are revealed by means of their correction.

These lights are specifically clothed in the finest and most refined vessels, being that the Lights are implemented in the order of NRNHY, while the order of the correction of the vessel is KHB ZON. In other words, the vessels are revealed from Keter to Malchut, from the highest to the lowest, whereas with the Lights it’s the opposite, from Nefesh to Yechida, from the smallest to the greatest. They are linked between them in such a sequence.

This principle is not simple and confuses us and it’s very difficult for our understanding of the reciprocal relationships within the system in general, in every world and between the worlds. Sometimes we simply need to accept this as a general rule, as a law, until this gradually “settles” and is integrated with new internal vessels. And only after a person feels the essence does he begin to understand it. In the beginning the feeling comes within the corrected vessels to a particular degree; after that, understanding comes. So intellect always follows feeling.

People who are not linked to the inner essence of the Torah and are guided by their external intellect don’t understand this principle and therefore don’t see the uniqueness of our time and generation. They are familiar with the process of general deterioration; yet together with this, they remove themselves from the responsibility to correct the world. They suppose: “If we have deteriorated so much already, then all that is left for us is only to hope for the coming of the Messiah.”

Yet this is not right. Our generation is the most important for the general goal. And even though we are bent under the heavy burden of our ego, it is intended that we will work on it and will not be rid of it. Through work like this, we attract very great Lights for the highest souls that are beginning to correct humanity, and these souls are Adam, Abraham, and so forth. And we receive a thin and small Light according to our place in the general system, and we advance in this way until we reach the complete ten Sefirot of the entire creation.

Then in fact, we reach attainment and understand what difficult work we have carried out. Even if we were to make a mistake and be confused, even though we don’t succeed in solving and interpreting, even though we have erred and violated, this is unimportant. Otherwise it is impossible. In the end everything will reach the right analysis, the true account, and only then, on the highest level, can we correctly evaluate our state and discern its significance. And in the meantime, it’s up to us to proceed with “faith above reason” and believe in Baal HaSulam who wrote that the first generations were significant because of their refined desires, whereas we are significant because of our “thickness.”
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/27/14, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: Our world is a world of consequences. Do we need, by ourselves, to build the same whip that will force and commit us to correction? Is that the way of hastening (Achishena) time?

Answer: The way of Achishena is not the whip, but a way that attracts us to the purpose of creation due to its elevation in our eyes. We need to raise and elevate the goal so much so it will be so special, so desired, for us that we are prepared to do anything for it. And it won’t be difficult for us to go to it. Then we feel no pain, only inspiration.

For the sake of a higher purpose, people are capable of much: conquering mountain peaks, performing spacewalks, diving to the ocean floor instead of sitting comfortably on the sofa and watching football. People who are involved with creativity or with science burn themselves out, literally. They are willing to experiment with new drugs on themselves and conduct experiments that endanger their lives.

Everything depends on the importance of the goal! After all, our goal is not so difficult. If you arrange yourself in a group and the group begins to support each of its friends, then that will be the easy and wonderful way of inspiration, and you won’t feel even one drop of suffering.

What is that whip that you intend to use on yourself? Self-torment? A thing like that shouldn’t happen. All kinds of religious movements are arranged according to restrictions, while Kabbalah speaks about our path needing to be joyful.

In one of the Shamati articles, it says that the ego runs in front of everyone and shouts, “Catch the thief.” If you feel it is difficult for you, it says that you are progressing in an incorrect way. Make a clarification!
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From the World Zohar Week “Integral Education Convention” Day Three 2/04/14, Workshop 5

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Question: What happens when a person can annul himself?

Answer: He feels that he is already on a higher level in his connection with the upper, with the one to whom he has annulled himself. This is a question of equivalence of form. A higher level is a higher attribute.

Now I have a certain attribute of receiving or bestowal that depicts the world for me. When I annul myself with regard to the upper, I feel myself and the world, which means the inner and the external part of my attributes, in a more sublime manner. So I feel that I am in a different world.

Question: So it turns out that self-annulment is simply impossible and unbearable for a person.

Answer: We cannot annul ourselves and perform any spiritual action at all. But we must be convinced that we are helpless, and then we will be ready for a prayer. Our goal is to do whatever we can, to pay any price, to do whatever is in our power, and to see that nothing helps. Then we will cry out and stretch our hands to the Creator.

Question: If everything is predetermined, why can’t I save time and skip this intermediate phase?

Answer: But how can you turn to the Creator? A prayer is a real desire in answer to which you receive the perfect Light. Your request must also be perfect and then it will draw the perfect Light. This is actually what the whole period of preparation is concerned with. Reaching the perfect request can take a decade. Then you already have everything: You receive the Light that Reforms and you have a new attribute, the first spiritual state.

Then you advance to the second state, to the third…but all the following states are not as corporeal. It’s like the geological periods in the evolution of the Earth that lasted billions of years; there was the evolution of the animals that lasted a billion years and that of the plants that took half a billion years, but the evolution of the monkey, and of man that evolved from it, took only 100-200 thousand years, while the evolution of humanity has been only 50,000 years.

The development time reduces exponentially like on a logarithmic scale. It’s the same with the period of our preparation for the spiritual work, which is the longest and most exhausting. The other phases are much shorter. We have also developed in our technology, moving from DC to AC appliances, and now are working at high frequencies with lasers.

Question: How can a person hold on to this process which exhausts all his powers?

Answer: We can only count on the Creator’s help and on luck. Luck means holding on to the group, the teacher, the study, the daily schedule, as if you are in an army where everything is like clockwork: you get up, go to the lesson, from the lesson you go to work, and the whole day is according to this alarm clock. This is called God’s work.

After all, only at the end of correction will you be able to get rid of your desire to enjoy and until then you have to work. If you raise the importance of the goal to the right height, you will constantly feel elated. If you curse the Creator who gave you such hard work, it will not end well. You will suffer your whole life, torture yourself and your environment, and will come to nothing.

You should at least continue your participation in the group, even passively, as it says: “Anything but leave.” Eventually you will change, whether you want to or not; the influence of the environment will have its effect. We should understand that our state is perfectly arranged so that we will change, and there is nothing else we can do in this life.

We need to continually adhere to the group. If you are incorporated in it, you will feel that the group is an ideal state: that it is high, strong, and that you can always receive powers from it and adhere to it like a baby adheres to his mother.
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/14/14

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Question: In our movement there are two ways: the good way and the way of suffering. My ego doesn’t want to submit to others. How is it possible to oblige it to go in the good way? I understand that suffering is not good.

Answer: You cannot oblige it as long as the group doesn’t convince you of it. You are stubbornly opposed like a donkey, holding on to the ego with all your strength, and you cannot change your mind for the better by yourself.

In the beginning stage we nullify our opinion under the influence of all kinds of blows. And after that we can nullify it, soften it, and change it only under the influence of the group. The group must teach you how to relate to your problem.

Question: But the group is made up of people like me.

Answer: This is what you think: “Who are they after all? What do they understand or know? They, know nothing!” That’s why you sit within your problems.

You must elevate and magnify every friend as the greatest of the generation. And then you will see how it’s possible to hear them. Another ear will appear to you, not beastly, rather spiritual. You will begin to comprehend and understand their words and thoughts in a completely differently; you will feel them differently within yourself if you begin to elevate and magnify them as great. This is the whole problem.

I keep getting answers from my students to questions that I myself cannot answer. I am not ashamed to admit it. It’s said: “I have learned much from my teachers, more from my friends, and from my students most of all.” You must lower yourself before them, and then you will be able to hear them.
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From the World Zohar Week “Integral Education Convention” Day Three 2/4/14, Workshop 5

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Baal HaSulam, Talmud Eser Sefirot, Part 9, Item 1: Although this return is annulled during the shattering of the vessels, as we know, it turns out that the vessels of AHP fell once more to the level of the lower like their initial state of smallness. Malchut wanted to use all the ten Sefirot in order to bestow and discovered that it cannot, and so all the AHP were annulled. Now, we must correct them, and only then will we be able to use them, when this is the end of all the correction to the end—which means only to return all the AHP that returned and were corrupted as a result of the shattering of the vessels and fell to the level of the lower of each one, to their places, like they were in the state of the greatness of Nekudim, which means after the new Light that came out of the MAN of NHY of AK already corrected all the fallen AHP and raised them again, which means the time of the seventh Malchut Malchin Kdmain that spread until the point of this world.

We correct the real vessels of receiving, the AHP and then we reach the end of correction. The world of Atzilut spreads until the point of this world, the central point of all the worlds, as it is written, “His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives.”

Thus, we can use all the vessels and every person will attain all 125 levels. This may seem strange because this world is built like a pyramid and we all stand one on top of the other, as one is part of the hands and another of the feet of the general spiritual Partzuf. Yet, it doesn’t matter which organ each one belongs to since we all reach the end of correction and connect into one system, and so every individual, even the smallest one, attains everything, just like the greatest individual. All the differences are eliminated.

This means that everyone’s feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, and their heads will reach Malchut of the world of Infinity, as it says that at the end of all the correction when the Messiah comes, “He will gather everyone in Jerusalem.” This means that everyone will spread form Malchut of the world of Infinity to Malchut of this world, because everyone is incorporated in everyone, and there will be no differences between us.

Everyone will perform his specific individual work with regard to the system, but throughout the whole system, from one end to the other. Thus, we will complement one another and reach the same level. We all will drown in the great sea of Light and will celebrate by “eating the Leviathan,” which means that we will receive all the Light of Hochma in order to bestow.

I am incorporated in all of reality and I operate in it in order to bestow upon the Creator, and you are incorporated on the other side and operate in it for the same goal. It turns out that we attain an equal level because each of us uses the whole system, but I am different from you according to the root of my soul, and so our work is also different. Therefore, each one is envious of his friends’ achievements, and everyone will have a different Masach (screen). I am impressed by how much everyone does, to what extent each one is greater, and the height he reaches being initially more corrupt than me.

It seems that we don’t need all these impressions if we complete the work and reach the end of correction. However, they are essential in order to advance. In the meantime, we don’t understand what will happen after the end of correction. It says that when we complete the correction the Creator makes us wings.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/17/14, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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A question in spirituality is a desire (Hisaron, need) that triggers the Upper Light. The Light descends and fills that desire. This is called a real question or prayer.

However, until such a real question is formed, one goes through an array of preliminary questions that are called “a prayer before a prayer.” In other words, before one really reaches the prayer, request, one undergoes numerous small, private, inaccurate questions until a correct question finally emerges.

In general, all questions boil down to one thing: “What is the meaning of life? Is it worth living? If yes, for what?” This is the only question that really exists. A man asks billions of different variations, and accordingly only gets a partial response. But at the end of correction, all will transform into one huge question that will be answered by one gigantic response—complete adhesion (Zivug a Shalem).

Question: What kinds of questions should we bring to you and which ones have to be clarified in the group?

Answer: It’s better if you come to me with a collective question. If you have a question that involves the entire group, please refer it to me.

Comment: So far, when I find answers to my questions in the group, I feel that they are correct.

Answer: Indeed “so far.” It is this way for every level, for me and for all. Answers that were right at this degree become incorrect when we reach a new level because the Keter of the lower Partzuf appeals to Malchut of the Upper.
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From a Lesson in Russian 2/10/14

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Question: What is the right intention we should have when we open The Book of Zohar?

Answer: The Book of Zohar was written as a result of the connection between souls and so it operates and influences us in the right way if we connect. Even if I read it by myself, it will affect me by pushing me to connect. But it is impossible to understand this book unless you are connected with other people.

It isn’t just an intellectual understanding, but a revelation.  I feel how I overcome my ego and begin to feel the others in my connection with others. I feel new powers and new attributes in the connection with others, and so I discover the upper world.

The Book of Zohar gives me the feeling of the others by revealing a force field of love and bestowal between us which is the spiritual world. This is the right outcome that we should expect from studying The Book of Zohar.
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From the World Zohar Week “World Zohar Convention,” Day One 2/5/14, Lesson 1

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Question: How can the lower hasten his own development and compel the upper to constantly operate on him?

Answer: On one hand, everything that happens to the lower comes from the upper, as it says “I am the first and I am the last.” If He is the first and He is the last, then what do I have to do? How can I bestow upon Him?

The only way to bestow upon the upper is through the group and not by oneself. I cannot do it by myself. The group is my upper and if I awaken the friends, I also awaken the Creator this way. This is our only work. If I want to hasten my advancement, my development, and improve my state, I can only do it through the group.

As long as I am by myself, there is no way I can bestow upon the Creator. When I am by myself I remain passive in my relationship with the Creator, just like the still, vegetative, and animate parts of nature. If I try to connect to the Creator by myself and study the wisdom of Kabbalah in order to do so, I still remain on the level of the still, vegetative, and animate.

If I want to awaken the Creator and force Him to take care of me, I have to do it through the group because the vessel of bestowal upon the Creator is in the connection between people. The same thing happens in the transition from one level to another. On the next level, I will have to attain a connection with everyone “squared” compared to the previous level. On additional levels the connection grows in the third degree, fourth degree, etc.

This means that each time I have to awaken the Creator by my own power, which is more tightly connected to the group. If I don’t increase it each time, I remain by myself, and then I am completely operated by the Creator, by different illuminations, which is the level of the still, vegetative, and animate, just as He operates all of nature and the people in this world.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/14, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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Question: Is the process of the descent of the generations still going on or is it already over?

Answer: The process isn’t over until we begin the correction. But there is another question: Is it possible to start the correction if there is still room to decline? After all, we know that the ascent and the correction have to start from the bottom.

The point is that we correct the last part of the desire by hastening the process. This is the uniqueness of the “days of the Messiah” that we can use the drawing force and correct these vessels during our ascent. By raising a request, MAN, for correction, we discover a deficiency, the necessity, since in order to correct ourselves we need to feel the same deficiency, and this is possible only by the Light.

Suppose I have to feel a blow in order to appreciate the greatness of the Creator. This blow can be revealed in very difficult states in which I try to overcome troubles and do something. I build and destroy, delve into problems and fight them for a long time so that eventually I will give up and surrender and say: “That’s it, I can’t go on any longer; it’s impossible to advance this way.” This is how we learn by suffering.

But I can go through the same suffering and the same study and reach the same outcome much faster if I learn how to connect and to draw the Light that Reforms. Then I also feel sorrow, but it stems from the lack of connection, from the fact that I am not in vessels of bestowal. It’s a much more qualitative sorrow. In the first case, the sorrow belongs to the corporeal physical bodies with all their problems, including hunger, murder, etc., but now I choose another sorrow instead. We cannot do without sorrow; we have to feel a deficiency, a need, since otherwise the Light will not be revealed, but this is a sweet deficiency when I lack the love of the Creator, the love of the created being, the attraction, and the urge to attain a general connection among everyone.

These sorrows and suffering are on a spiritual level and not on a corporeal one. It’s one thing when millions of people suffered for a hundred years and another when I raise it to a spiritual height, and then a small group is enough. I hasten time this way, and now there is no need for a hundred years and for millions of people to suffer. Instead, this small group does it in a short time. Thus we change the corporeal clarification to a spiritual one.

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Question: I feel that everyone is already united and connected; whereas, I have not succeeded in attaining this in any way. How is it possible from that emptiness that I can ask for the friends and what exactly do I need to request?

Answer: Without your active participation we don’t attain anything. You need to ask in all kinds of words, to be included together with us in the collective system. And we need to show that without you we don’t attain that harmony that is imperative for us to discover the Creator. If the Creator chooses a particular amount of people to participate in the collective vessel within which He wants to be discovered, then we need to do this.

The spiritual system is built according to the principle of mutual acceptance and balance flowing to the end of correction. There are all kinds of components in it that complete the system. But in spite of it all, if the person is linked to us in some form, then we must show him that without active participation on his part we cannot attain anything, we need him.
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From the World Zohar Week “Integral Education Convention” Day Three 2/4/14, Workshop 5

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