It is impossible to check and judge our states according to our feelings. A pregnant woman may not feel so good sometimes, but does she want to abort? On the contrary, she wants to continue! The goal is to be a mother, to have a child and hold the baby in her arms, and that compensates and justifies all the pain and discomfort that she feels.

The body suffers; the whole period of pregnancy and giving birth is not easy and may be tragic, dangerous, and critical. If an alien from outer space who knows nothing about our life on earth would see this, he would be shocked by the torture the poor woman is being put through, but we are happy and delighted by the whole process of pregnancy and the birth of a baby.

We are advancing towards the birth of a new level, so what do we lack in order to be glad in every state? We should see “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my adversaries,” as it says in Psalms 23: “my enemies,” who are in me so that they will see it. I don’t want to reassure them by that and vice-versa, rather, to tease them and to praise the goal.

If you don’t feel a greater impression than you felt yesterday, it means that you lack the support of the group. The whole group lacks the force of unity in order to empower each individual and everyone together, in order to survive the current state.
[124517]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/31/13, Lesson on the Topic: Preparation for the Convention

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Question: Many people watch our programs on TV but they have never contacted us and have never attended a convention. Should they do so? Perhaps what they experience when they watch our programs is enough for them.

Answer: I receive many emails with such questions every day. There are hundreds of thousands of people in Israel and all over the world who watch our shows on TV or on the Internet. How is this kind of participation different from actual physical participation?

You can judge by the last events: A group of friends got together and decided that they have to develop the new method of education. As a result, they delved into the educational process and grew more and more excited as new horizons opened up before them. Eventually they were excited about the potential they found in the wisdom of Kabbalah since education is the essence of changing a person.

The still, vegetative, and animate nature have developed for ages. But here we are talking about very rapid and meaningful changes, the transition from the animate level to the human level.

Compared to the previous form of evolution, these two levels come one after the other in the opposite order of evolution. This oppositeness is fulfilled by the Light that Reforms, and it is possible when people connect if they are together, if they touch one another, if they are in a circle breathing the same air, otherwise it won’t work.

So I turn to all those who are used to watching us on a screen and especially on a TV screen. According to the data the cable companies have, there are hundreds of thousands of such people in Israel. You are our loyal viewers; you are the ones who spend a lot of time watching our programs. I warmly recommend that you don’t miss this opportunity. It’s possible to go through a whole level by one leap, as it is said: “a person who attains his world in one hour.” Come to the convention in February and you will be able to feel and to discover what you have been hearing for quite a while now but don’t feel and don’t understand yet. It will truly be something new, a revelation of a whole world. It’s a pity if you miss this opportunity.

I turn to you as a one who understands what can be acquired in the two or three days that you will spend with us. We hope that you, the viewers of channel 66, will also be with us in Tel Aviv on February 5 – 7, 2014, together with the thousands who will come from all over the world.

I also turn to our friends all over the world, of course. Hurry up and buy a ticket and come. You can also participate in the Arava convention, in the education convention and The Zohar convention. We are expecting you. The preparation has already started and we will support it and undoubtedly fulfill everything that we have heard. It’s actually happening now. Let’s hope it will happen for everyone.
[124342]
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/30/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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We should speak about the greatness of the goal in the group, about our desire to rise above our nature, which we cannot remain in any longer, and about the need to reach connection between us. We have enough troubles. If we want to improve our lives in this world, we have to draw positive forces, a positive attitude regarding our connection.

I turn to all the friends so that together we will discuss how we can reach this connection. We have to do our best to imagine the good connection that existed before the breaking of the vessels when there was one soul, one vessel, one thought, and one feeling for all, so that everyone will feel the others as if we belong to one body and are in it, which is called “as one man in one heart.”

Everyone, even if he feels himself, will perceive the others as cells in one organ, and that each cell gives to others and bestows upon them so that the whole body will function properly. If we understand that this should be our inclination in order to attain a state in which the Creator is revealed, Godliness, the Upper force, spirituality, then all the means and the opportunities are in our hands. The Creator puts our hands on the fate and says: “Accept it as goodness.”

The whole world supports us in this work to such an extent that life is becoming hard and meaningless. However, on the other hand, there is a new illuminated road that opens up before us and a delightful and special opportunity. Thus we build an ark in which we can save ourselves and perhaps even the whole world from the flood that is approaching and which is rising higher and higher. In the meantime, this flood only scares and threatens us from a distance, but it’s already felt here and there spreading chaos and helplessness.

In our first meeting with a group or with the public, we have to explain that spirituality is totally based on the power of mutual guarantee. It is purposeful that we first feel distant from one another, opposite from one another, hate and are repulsed by one another. It is on purpose that we are all at the foot of Mt. Sinai in a state of mutual hate, like the students of Rabbi Simon.

But it’s a good state, since by overcoming it, we can acquire the Godly attributes. As created beings, we can only feel a state of “the advantage of the Light from the darkness.” If we have these two discernments, then in the contrast between them we can see and feel one another. We cannot see only Light or only darkness. But we can see the Light in contrast to the darkness or the darkness in contrast to the Light. Therefore, the Creator has arranged this state for us so that we will be able to attain, feel, understand, and attain Godliness.

This is the goal of our first gathering. This is where a group begins. If we want to start the spiritual path, we have to know that it starts from attaining the first condition: the attainment of mutual guarantee. The attainment of mutual guarantee is also divided into several stages: first we should understand and accept things and then start fulfilling it gradually until we reach mutual guarantee. This is actually the first phase.
[124254]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/30/13

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Question: The air is always full of love during our conventions, how can we intensify the feeling of love before the convention in February? How can we maximize it? How can we absorb the warmth that envelops you and be filled by it?

Answer: There is only one way to do it: preparation. The creation itself is an indication of that. I am equipped with a desire, with excitement, I worry because I want to fulfill the most important thing, and not only in this life but in all my reincarnations. I have already come to this world so many times that I don’t want to be born again and live here. Even egoistically without an intention of in order to bestow, without any connection to the Creator, but simply. So I have to see this as an unprecedented opportunity, a unique irrevocable opportunity.

What will I gain from this convention that cannot happen anywhere else? There are no such events in our life that can push me so strongly forward along the spiritual path.

Question: What should our preparation focus on? What should my yearning focus on?

Answer: On mutual connection. Through this connection, I will receive what everyone attains and gains. I envy them, I envy the friends who prepare this whole event for us, and I yearn to be incorporated.

It is said: “There is a person who attains his spiritual world in an hour.” So I have come here in order to attain everything the friends have attained. This is possible. In spirituality, like in connected vessels, the abundance is poured from one vessel to another. If I connect to someone who is great, I am also great. This is the rule, so let’s do it.

This is how I want to work and this is the only reason I am coming to the convention. We have another month of such intensive preparation. A person who wants to will be ready to attain his world.
[124264]
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/30/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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It is desirable for the word “Arvut (mutual guarantee)” and all the terms of this concept to became closer and as clear to us as possible. Therefore, we must begin to work on this more and reveal the connection it assumes between us.

Everyone should be above the others in order to take care of them and set the right example. Everyone should feel below others in order to get an awakening and inspiration from them because a person will not have the strength to advance without this. And everyone should be concerned that we are absolutely equal, no more and no less—absolutely equal!

On this path, we will start to feel each other internally. I will not see a friend as a material body. I’ll suddenly cease to distinguish his face; it will disappear. I will not notice his clothes and external features. Then, I will even stop seeing his qualities, his character, the habits which first constituted his image for me. I will not relate to an external image, not to his character, behavior, and qualities derived from birth or acquired throughout life.

I will not see his clothes, his physical body, or character traits, but only the innermost point that is called the opposite side of the holy soul. Of course it is still uncorrected, but yet it wants very much to draw itself to the Surrounding Light so that it becomes corrected.

This point is called the point in the heart. The connection between our points, the mutual guarantee, is the means for drawing the Light. This is how we need to see every friend instead of bodies, character traits, or demeanor. All of this is given to a friend from Above and makes him act in this way, or I see him like this “to the extent of my own flaws.” But the main thing is to see the inner point and the desire to unite with it.

The connection of these points into one whole is called a Minyan. It is a union of points in the heart that are ready to act and apply all possible efforts in order to achieve similarity with the Upper Light. It begins to shine on them to the extent of their similarity and yearning for the property of the Light. The Lights always exists; the movements occur only inside the desire.

Everything depends on the connection of the inner points in the heart that attract the Light, on its strength and quality, the reason why we want to connect, and how we overcome obstacles. As soon as we fulfill the required measure of efforts (Seah), we obtain a sufficiently strong desire to unite; the Light completes our first action of unity and brings us to the first adhesion (Zivug), the first contact with the Creator.

Thus we realize our mutual guarantee; that is, we are “together,” so much in guarantee for each other that we turn into one whole. This is the first spiritual degree in which we reveal the upper world, the upper force, the true reality that is above the one in which we are now. This world appears illusory to us like in a dream.

The first correct attitude is to exit oneself from one’s body and garments, all egoistic desires, thoughts, and habits, all innate or acquired qualities. I feel only the point in the heart and want to glue it to the friends. This means that I am going towards the mutual guarantee, the first point of unity.

Thus connected by the Upper Light, we reach the first vessel. All our points are opposite to unity, but our pressure, the tension created between these points reveals to us how much we are inherently not able to connect, and at the same time we want to.

Baal HaSulam describes this state in “Letter 19” in the example of the relationship between a man and a woman who deliberately separate and cannot connect, but at the same time, feel a great desire to be together. As a result, this leads to an explosion of the connecting force overcoming the force of separation, and then we reach unity. “And his seed is for the good,” this is our first spiritual state called birth. In our world, children are born as a result of the connection between a man and a woman, and in the spiritual world, the result of our adhesion is the birth of a new state.
[124351]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/31/13, Preparation for the Convention

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Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,”: Thus, the Thought of Creation itself necessarily dictates the creation of an excessive will to receive in the souls, to fit the immense pleasure that His Almightiness thought to bestow upon the souls. For the great delight and the great desire to receive go hand in hand.

The purpose of creation is to benefit. Whom? To anyone who wants to get this benefit. To what extent is it possible to bring him benefit? To the extent he wants to receive it. It turns out that the Creator needs to create in the created beings the desire, matching His benefit. If the Creator wants to give the created being endless pleasure, to bring him unlimited fulfillment in all directions, then it’s necessary to create such a being that could understand, comprehend, and feel endlessly.

But that does not mean just to be fulfilled. The goal is in another thing so that the created being constantly wants more, without limit, without end. How can we get this ability? How can I form the vessel of desire that will always want more and never be filled? Is this possible?

Comment: It’s necessary to be integrated in the group.

Answer: Well, I integrate in the group, put myself under its influence, and adopt the friends’ desires. But eventually, the end will come. Can we imagine an infinite desire?

Comment: We need to take fulfillment beyond the limits of desire and then it will become unlimited.

Answer: Correct, this is already a solution. Fulfilling myself in the end I always “become closed.” We understand that in order not to “close” the vessel of desire, the opposite approach is necessary, which is based on bestowal, love. Striving to get outside, being out of myself, it can then be unlimited in my senses.

And yet, isn’t this vessel unlimited? After all, I give others what I have. Even if I obtain their vessels, desires, I fill them with what I have. This already imposes a limit.

In essence, here is a question of whether it’s not enough to love only created beings. Why do we have to achieve love of the Creator, mutual bestowal with Him? Indeed, this is the condition: In order to do good to His created beings, they have to enter into relationship with Him, which is based on bestowal – reception.

Meanwhile, we cannot imagine what the infinite love of the Creator is. We have nothing infinite inside and that is why these words tell us nothing. Even the entire universe is not limited, as it has been discovered. In fact, there is no true concept of infinity in our world. “I love you immeasurably,” we say. But it means, immeasurably for the time being. We cannot comprehend true boundlessness; it’s not manifested in our senses.

On the contrary, we feel that we exist only due to limits because of restrictions. We perceive our existence; see ourselves and our surroundings within this framework. But in boundlessness, everything will immediately disappear, and it’s a terrible sensation. It’s called the “illumination of Malchut,” which is revealed in the form of a dark abyss. There’s nothing worse than it.
[124182]
From the 4^th Part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/29/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: What can I say to a person who wants to “attain the world in one hour”?

Answer: It is said: “There are people who attain their world in one hour.” In one hour means by one action. One action can only refer to connection. Attaining one’s world in spirituality refers to a certain revelation of the true reality in contrast to our fictitious reality. The stronger we can connect, reaching not just a quantitative change, but a qualitative one, the sooner we reach great success and discover a new world.

We are preparing for a great convention with this motto. Although it doesn’t mean that this motto should actually be written, this will be our intention: to fulfill this opportunity and to attain the spiritual world in one hour. At the congress, we will meet people who are distant from us, people who have had no contact with us, those who have learned about the wisdom of Kabbalah via our TV channel or the Internet and do not know each other.

We invite everyone and we hope and expect them to reach a feeling, an understanding, of what spirituality is by being incorporated with us. We can do this in a short time during the days of the convention or even in the few hours that a person will attend the convention with us. Therefore it is said: “There is a person who attains his world in one hour.” A person a long the journey of his life doesn’t know where the greatest treasure that can give his life meaning is. We, on the other hand, do have a special book, The Book of Zohar, which we want to open for everyone.
[124160]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/29/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: What is a correct effort?

Answer: Our level of spirituality is outside of the boundaries of the spiritual realm. Our level is unique because of the possibilities it offers and is much more important than all other spiritual levels, since only at our stage does the miraculous combination of the desires to receive and to bestow exist. No other levels have this.

Only at our level, playing as children, can we become more intelligent and mature. It is similar to a child in this world who doesn’t have developed senses, an intellect, any understanding or knowledge of the way big systems around him work, and yet, all of a sudden the child becomes intelligent. In other words, a child runs these systems unconsciously without any idea that they even exist, without a clue which particular state he is supposed to achieve. He doesn’t know or see anything; all he does is play because he is driven by his natural instincts to grow up.

We lack this kind of natural aspiration; other than that, we are just like children. We have all the means that allow us to attain this desire. If we are permanently warmed up by our surroundings and if it kindles our envy, lust, ambition, and a desire to be better than others, we start aspiring to some goal that is yet unknown to us. We have no clue what we want to receive; however, it seems to us that others have something that we don’t.

We already have all qualities and desires that were given to us by nature. All we need is to organize these qualities and desires correctly, to build a system of relationships between us so that our friends keep inspiring us with the greatness of the goal, and we are worried that others are already ahead of us.

Later, they show me an example of how to help each other, suggesting that this attitude is extremely important and leads to spirituality. Envy is the main thing here! Our egoism is ignited by envy and suffers greatly. If we tightly connect ourselves with the surroundings and happen to understand that there is nowhere to run, then even though envy is a negative sensation, by nature it doesn’t push us behind, but rather, pulls us ahead and leads us to success.

Getting this desire is already a success. The desire is not ours. We receive it from the group as a reward for not running away from them, but rather for bowing our head in front of them and clinging to them. All these methods can be purely material to the extent that we can even pay money to our friends for the desire we receive back from them, as Rabbi Zushi who hired street musicians so that they would inspire him. Or, we can cook a meal for our friends, thus inputting our exertions so that they eventually influence us back.

We receive a spiritual aspiration from our friends, but, in fact, it is still a desire for material success, since all we want is to become more significant, smarter, better in everything. No matter how much we try, we just cannot think of spirituality since we are still in egoism, at this side of Machsom. However, it is already strong enough to attract the Light that Reforms.

It turns out that at this level we have a chance to work and influence the next step that is above us and to attract the Light from there as a magnet that draws things that are in another room through walls.

Really, how can the Light influence us if we are not adapted to it? We are opposite to the Light as if we are in anti-worlds. And yet, everything is set up in a way that the transition between the two stages, between us and the closest spiritual step from which we receive the sparks of the Light, is just a hindrance. The Light can impact us and change us in accordance with its nature, with the desire of the Upper level. So, we can agree with It and start entering this higher level, as a fetus enters a mother’s womb, and then grow first to a small state and then to a “big state” (Ibur – Yenika – Mochin), until we completely merge with it.

That’s why we should value the state we are in at this time and use the level that is called “this world” correctly: all of humanity, our loved ones, our neighbors, our studies, our groups. There is nothing we actually need more than that. We already have all essential things at our disposal; we just have to organize them correctly.
[121674]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah lesson 11/27/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Efforts that are required for our advancement are beyond human powers because the desire to enjoy alone cannot free itself from egoism. However, we can act in a way that we move towards correction to the best of our ability in the circumstances that were prepared for us by the Light.

So far, our exertions are associated with our current level; that is, they are at still, vegetative, and animate levels. However, if we make all the necessary efforts at an animate level, the Upper Light will start influencing and changing us. The quantity of efforts needed will be breached and the Upper Light will finish the work as it is said: “applied efforts and found…”

However, if the Light rules everything there is and influences our desires, how can we possibly make any efforts, even the tiniest moves? There is nothing but the Light and the desire that opposes it. The third, additional force that allows us to act is a result of the shattering of the desire.

It means that there are multiple splinters of the desire around us that are detached from each other because of their egoistic nature. If we acted at our “level” and tried to become closer together with others, we would “change” under the influence of the Light. This world is the last and the lowest step in the Universe that allows us to act against our own will. That’s why one is able to unite with one’s friend as if they were brought closer together by the Light. This isn’t really real; desires do not change because of our actions, and yet our impact on the Light does change and that’s why the system works.

The miracle happens at the level of this world that is so low and minor that it is completely opposite to spirituality. On one hand, this world is totally detached from the spiritual realm; on the other hand, it presents to us a wonderful chance that allows us, through physical and external convergence and false actions to influence our internal desires. Our internal desires impact the Light that Reforms, which in its turn begins secretly influencing us until it truly changes our desire.

It means that even though we dwell in this world and have not advanced too far beyond monkeys, we still have an internal possibility to grab the end of a thread that is extended to us from Above, which will pull us out into the world of the Upper Light. If we use the remedies that are given to us and if we understand that they are granted to us from Above, we will trigger the vital awakening from below (itaruta de-letata) that will in its turn elicit the awakening from Above (itaruta de-leila).

To achieve it, all we need is a clear understanding of the sequence of work to be done: what exactly we have to achieve and what the Light actually is. This kind of understanding will protect us from making mistakes and from false expectations about salvation coming without our preliminary exertions and thinking that with time everything will be organized all by itself. One should never be misled to think that there are people who can easily overcome all stages, and who do not have to go through the “four hundred (400) years of exile.” They just don’t exist. We should keep in mind that we have to do everything ourselves and work hard to build a group, attain unity, and mutual guarantee and reveal the power of connection between us.

If we realize that we are given every possible remedy to achieve the result we aspire for, to implement the purpose of our life, we will not be despaired; rather, we will proceed with our work and achieve success. Besides, after all calculations are done, we will have to rise above the results and understand that the mere opportunity to apply efforts is in fact the reward we seek!
[121656]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah lesson 11/27/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Rabash, “Love of Friends”: The most important thing is to always remember the purpose of creation, which is known to be “to do good to His creations.”… In other words, the purpose of creation is not necessarily for a select group, rather the purpose of creation belongs to all creations without exception. It concerns not necessarily merely the strong and skillful, the brave people who can overcome, but all the people.

See the “Introduction to Talmud Eser Sefirot,” Item 21, Midrash Raba, Parashat “This is the Blessing”: The Creator said unto Israel: “Regard the whole wisdom and the whole Light are easy things. He who fears Me and does deeds of Torah, the entire wisdom and Light are in his heart.”…and do not despair mid-way and flee the campaign, but rather believe that the Lord can even help the person as low and ignoble as I am. It means that the Creator will bring me near Him and I will be able to attain adhesion with Him.

The main thing is patience, perseverance! Anything, just don’t run away, and eventually you will reach fear. Fear begins with the usual animal fear of blows. Gradually, it becomes more and more clarified. Thus, we come to the blows by our egoism, pride. Then there will be blows of envy, similar to those that we received yesterday when we heard about the extraordinary achievements of the group that is now working on the program of integral education.

This news deprived many of sleep, but it is useful because this helps us to make a good discernment. Now, we understand a bit better what envy means on the spiritual level. I just needed to turn this envy from “Why don’t I have this?” to the opposite, as much as it is possible, to push the friends forward to success. This is very difficult.

Everything depends on the concern, fear for the common well-being, to the highest states. Each of these experiences includes many feelings: fear, envy, greed, and ambition. At the beginning, they work as negative factors, but then it is necessary to take them from zero, to move them to the positive side.

There is a beautiful, positive form against any negative quality. But it is awakened in a person only accordingly to his love of friends. Thus we can turn malicious envy, poisonous hatred, into something constructive, for useful advancement, etc. One property exists against the other: nothing disappears. If a person is advancing correctly, then all the basics are constantly growing, continuing to burn in him more and more.

There is a type of hatred which is called “hatred in service of the Creator.” That is, I care about the success of the Creator’s army, all my friends. I do everything for their support, like a mother who is worried that her children are healthy, strong, steadfast, and loving each other. My heart aches for all of them.

I begin to distinguish between myself and my egoism. For the time being, my egoism still has its power; it helps me to fight for my connection with the group, for its support. This is our work until the end of correction. Our egoism will grow and prosper, helping us to reveal all fine details one against the other.

Otherwise, how can I find out? There must be positive jealousy, negative ego, and altruistic fear. Otherwise, I will lose the flavor. We cannot “just love” or “just envy,” we have no system of measurement if two points do not exist simultaneously.
[124097]
From the Preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/29/13

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