Question: If everything depends on our desire and work, and not on the Creator, why do we ask Him to help us connect?

Answer: We try to attain additional desires for connection, we make an effort, we search. And when we turn to the Creator, this says that we activate yet one more deficiency, and then the Light acts on us with this additional deficiency. This is even though the Light itself is constant, like constant voltage in an outlet.

If I have a socket with a voltage of 220 volts, then I can connect devices of various resistances and intensity there; so accordingly a different current will flow in them, more or less: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Haya, Yechida, according to the desire that I connect to it. It is as if I have an electric stove and I turn the knob, change the intensity of the heat: 1, 2, 3, and every time I activate a new spiral in which a new light is revealed: 1 – small, 2 – greater, 3 – even greater. The “voltage” of the light is constant, but the “intensity of the current,” this is to say, my “NRNHY” depends upon the strength of my resistance.

Outside, nothing changes; there is a power station full of infinite energy there. Connect to it anything you want! From the world of Infinity to our world, the voltage is graded according to the levels, like in our world, where there can be different voltages: 380 volts, 220 volts, 110 volts, 24 volts, 12 volts.

A scale of voltages goes out like this but at every level the voltage is constant, and everything depends on this, how you connect to it: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Haya, Yechida. You finish this level, you have used all the divisions of the switch on your “stove,” and now you can move to a new “stove.” But there are no changes in the outlet; it gives you everything that you need.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/19/13, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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We are now revealing the broken world. In other words, in our world we have descended nearly to the very bottom of the application of our egoism. If even one deeper layer were revealed, we would not get out of it. After all, there are truly horrific conditions awaiting us in which we lose the human form.

It is said in the Prophets that this is possible if we follow the path of time, and everything occurs in its time. In general, the Tanakh (the Torah, Prophets, and Writings) describe the path which awaits us if we do not “cooperate,” if we do not adhere to its guidelines. In particular, the Prophets write about terrible, unspeakable disasters.

Baal HaSulam also indicates that in the worst case, we would become a global village filled with weapons of mass destruction.

What is the essence of the fall that we are experiencing today? In fact, it brings us closer to this darkness which needs the greatest Light for correction.

But how can light and dark be combined?

For this we need the group, the teacher, and the sources in the center of course. However, there is still something missing.

Here, the Sulam (Ladder) commentary to The Book of Zohar comes to our rescue. It provides the group, everyone who wants this, with the connection to the Light. It describes our inner state along with the external one, which is described in The Zohar. As a result, we can connect the two worlds with each other: the internal parts of perception with the external images. This allows us to cling closer to the text, not forgetting that it ties us with spirituality, and explains what is inside of us. Gradually, this understanding is manifested inside a person.

That means that we cannot do without either The Book of Zohar or the Sulam commentary because together they connect us with the greatest Light which corrects the entire human egoism.

In reality, The Zohar is capable of much more. In our world, in the depth our egoism, we do not show the spiritual desire, just the “animal” desire. By ascending the spiritual degrees, we reveal increasingly deeper desires each time. This world is in the middle point of all the worlds, and in order to rise, we must first descend. So, The Zohar is intended for those high degrees that are preceded by descents. And this world is just a grain of sand in comparison with them.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/23/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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If we don’t implement the wisdom of Kabbalah in practice in the group, in our relations with other people, then I float in the air misinterpreting it and not even feeling that I am wrong. Together with the friends, we must decide that it is time to correct the mutual relations between us.

We are standing around the mutual hatred, unable to cope with it, or simply disrespect one another and cannot correct it. I don’t care about the friends; I don’t want to think about them, and even if I want to think about them, then it usually leads to repulsion and disgust and not to positive feelings. In short, we have a basis to work on, and only in the general circle can we reach unity.

This is the only reason we turn to the Creator, and this is the only thing that we demand from Him, even if it is daring and tough: “You have promised us, You have to keep what You have promised!” No problem, He will be glad to do so as long as you demand that He corrects the mutual relationships between the friends.

So the question is what do I need all this for? Theoretically, in order to delight Him, but who is He? I don’t know Him. I don’t understand what it is all about. What does it mean to delight Him?

It means that when working in the group and really expecting connection, we discover that what is missing is the help of some force, a force that will glue us together and connect us. We are powerless by ourselves. So where is the force that can connect us?

Then we can demand and raise “the prayer of many,” since it is actually the Creator who has created this problem for us. Why? So that we will establish and consolidate our attitude towards Him, so we will delight Him in everything that we do.

Why? Because then we will achieve equivalence of form with Him, we will reach connection and adhesion.

We have to fulfill this not just during the lesson but when we connect together  and focus correctly on the goal during the lesson. Then our collective desire works.

Studying alone doesn’t lead to anything.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/18/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: Can we say that by delighting the teacher I am delighting the Creator?

Answer: It depends on how you calculate things. Just like the group that reflects your inner structure and serves as an imaging instrument so that you can practice and fulfill the correction, so is the teacher for you in this world so that in the mutual relationship with him you will be able to clarify your inner correction. Instead of the Creator, there are the friends in the group, the teacher, and the books before you.

How can you delight the teacher?

Let me put it simply: In order to delight someone, you have to know what he desires, what his deficiency is, and then you can fill his desire. I delight someone if I give him what he wants.

So what does the teacher what to receive from you? He wants to see how you connect with the friends. So you can practice working on the connection with the friends and show the teacher, like showing a kindergarten teacher what a “good boy” you are in the group, and thus delight him.

The teacher doesn’t need any presents, rewards, or favors from you, this is enough.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/18/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: How do we correct the wicked when they are discovered? What is there to do if they persist like permanent problems without solutions?

Answer: Static states do not exist because at every moment new Reshimot are discovered, but a person doesn’t see them, doesn’t notice the changes taking place. These changes of Reshimot occur with infinite speed, but we with our limited feelings only discover every tenth Reshimo, every thousandth Reshimo, or ten thousandth.

We are not prepared to grasp the changes of a state with such a high frequency or to distinguish the tiny changes that take place in them. This is like an infant who hardly perceives anything of all that is happening around him, but the more he grows, he begins to discern and discover more, to be stimulated and enjoy more.

Writings of Baal HaSulam, Letter 5: I rejoice in those revealed corruptions and the ones that are being revealed…. This is why I’m happy when they come out of their holes because when you cast your eye on them, they become a pile of bones…. But I do not settle for it even for a moment…. that when the buried wicked appear, although they haven’t been fully conquered, their very appearance is regarded as a great salvation.

This essentially is our work, there is no more. Concentrating on it can greatly reduce the time. And the main thing is to not lose our enthusiasm and good mood. But if we don’t prepare ourselves for revelation, then we get a descent. But this is not necessary. It is possible never to descend but to go from strength to strength if we prepare ourselves correctly. And then we won’t feel the blow. In prepared Kelim (desires), it will not be perceived as a blow but as an honorable achievement, attainment, and good discovery. Everything depends only on preparation.

This is what the world is missing because the world was not ready for this discovery; now we are beginning to teach about it, but it must still pass through many ascents and descents. And we must understand that as long as we have not advanced them, we have not advanced ourselves. Baal HaSulam writes that he asked that his spiritual degree be lowered so he would be able to educate people.

Every Kabbalist who is a conduit for others, depends upon them. This is because he can’t advance more than he can take care of others. Certainly there is a huge difference between their levels, but in spite of this, if he takes upon himself the mission to be concerned about others and to take care of them, he cannot rise as high as would be fitting regarding his effort, rather he is left below in order to take care of the lower ones.

We relate to the world exactly as the teacher relates to his students. And if we want to advance, we have no choice but to advance the world. And even though there is a very great gap between the levels, in any case, we must rise together in parallel. If we don’t rise and don’t lead and pull the world after us, we cannot give satisfaction to the Creator.

We see even from the example of our world, that people who give birth to children begin to be more concerned about and involved with the children and are less immersed in their own advancement. They turn themselves in the direction of the children, “small states,” and don’t yearn to develop themselves and be great people. We must learn from nature, that specifically in this form we advance. After I passed the stage of embryo and the small state (Ibur and Yenika) and attained maturity (Mochin), I can achieve great abundance only through taking care of the small.

That is how the spiritual ladder of levels is built. If I don’t raise a prayer, MAN, from the lower ones, I cannot myself receive Light from above, that is, to clothe in the Light of Hassidim, which I pass to the lower ones. Attainment and discovery are possible only when you don’t look for greatness for yourself, but want to develop those who come after you. That is how it is arranged in our world as a copy of the spiritual, and that is how advancement in the spiritual levels is done. Therefore, the time has arrived for doing acts of widespread dissemination, whether we want it or not, because without this we don’t advance.

We must understand these things, agree with them, and realize them. And then we will see that it is specifically this work with the people that helps us to understand, feel more, and advance.
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/18/13

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The Kabbalists who left writings, books, and textbooks for us are teaching within them some general rules about the right way for people to connect in a Kabbalistic group.

The first condition is nullification of the self. We must nullify ourselves and show this to all the others as if we are proclaiming: “I am ready for everything in order to make a complete zero of myself. Do anything you want with me. In no way do I want to command anyone, to be the leader, to pressure anyone. I want to be a complete zero in a group and am ready to do everything necessary for your benefit.”

The second condition is greatness of the goal. Our advancement depends on the greatness of the goal in our eyes, on the importance of the characteristic of bestowal, love, and unity between us. This must be the most important thing for me and I must show this to everyone. I must speak about this, even if this is not that important to me personally because the friends will return that stimulus to me and we will impress each other. Our obligation is to elevate the group, for it has a lofty goal. I must speak about this with the friends, all the time elevating the importance that the group is everything. This will help me to nullify myself.

The third condition is bestowal to the friends. I must try to give them some gifts. By the word “gifts” I mean bestowal to the friends. I go to the kitchen and wash the dishes, clean, do something for them. I try to serve them, like an adult serves the children, helping them in whatever way possible, to give, to add to every situation in the group. On the other hand, I must feel myself as small, wanting to receive influence, education, and bestowal upon myself.

That is, on the one hand, I am great, I bestow to the friends all the time, exalt the goal in their eyes, and care about them. On the other hand, I am small, ready to receive everything from them that can fulfill only me.

A dual relationship like this regarding the group is very important. The larger the gap between these two polar relationships: I am below – the group above and I am above – the group below, the closer I will be to the goal.

We also need to include some of our particular problems that we need to raise to solve them.

All of this is realized in that I am always concerned for my friends that it will be good, happy, and pleasant so they will have complete confidence of attaining the goal and they  remain with great energy through the connection between us. And this energy must be pumped through the group so that all of us are “cooked” in it, in the good sense of the word. It will warm and throw us around so that we will shake all of the ego out of us and accumulate a completely different force, the power of bestowal and love. That is what we need.
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From the Moscow Virtual Convention “Unity Without Boundaries” Day Two 12/14/13, Lesson 4

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Question: The Israeli nation waited for the Messiah during the time of exile. How should we work with the same deficiencies that are revealed in people today?

Answer: We live in a generation that is waiting for everything but the Messiah. We live in a generation that only wants materialism, and matter covers us over our heads.

Our generation is starting to reveal the domination of corporeality and it is in this generation that the desire that is aimed at the worst and lowest basic existence, that which is totally meaningless, is revealed.

It is from this lowest point in this world that we can actually discover and start the way back to the goal of creation.

Even if we descend along the way, these descents are already additions of the Light that show us how opposite we are from it…

Baal HaSulam says in the “Introduction to The Book of Zohar“, item 63: Thus, in our generation, although the essence of the souls is the worst, which is why they could not be selected for Kedusha thus far, they are the ones that complete the Partzuf of the world and the Partzuf of the souls with respect to the Kelim, and the work is completed only through them.

This is because now, when the Kelim of NHY are being completed, and all the Kelim, Rosh, Toch, and Sof are in the Partzuf, full measures of Light, in Rosh, Toch, Sof, are now being extended to all those who are worthy, meaning complete NRN. Hence, only after the completion of these lowly souls can the highest Lights manifest, and not before.

The vessel has to be as deep as the height of the Light that is dressed in it.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/19/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Baal HaSulam, “A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar“: Throughout the generations those who ascended and were rewarded with Dvekut were few, but in the generation of the Messiah, everyone can reach Dvekut and attainment.

The restrictive conditions throughout history in every generation, in every state and circumstances where Kabbalists lived, didn’t allow them to reach the end of correction, and so their attainment and revelations were not complete.

The one exception in history is the case of Rabbi Shimon and his students. This small group was especially allowed to reveal all of reality, the process, and the goal so that they would pass these basics from the beginning of the exile, from the state before the destruction of the second Temple, from the corrected Israel to the nation of Israel that is totally corrupt and dispersed. Thus we will be able to get back on the path that will lead us to the good state.

So in every generation, there were only certain individuals who attained the spiritual world, while in our generation anyone can. There are no limitations from above and everything depends on a person’s ability to connect to the friends. The individual is powerless and incapable of anything, but he can connect with the friends in the group and thus reach the goal.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/19/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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The soul is the one and only vessel (Kli) in which we feel ourselves as a single whole. In the spiritual world nobody feels himself separately because we all feel the unity, feel the sum result of the connection.

In that we lose ourselves individually, each one of us finds himself specifically in total unity, and this is an indescribable feeling. There is no need to fear losing yourself, for we acquire an eternal and perfect existence here and not a miserable, egoistic, temporal, and wasted existence.

And besides this, from the eternal, glorious and infinite world, we see our cocoon and those people who still exist within it, as in a dream, like blind people trying to exploit everyone to their own detriment and not understanding it. Each one wants to pull the blanket over himself and thinks that with this he will get something good, but in the end all of his attempts only bring suffering.

So how is it possible to come out from this cocoon? We do so only by way of the group. In what way is it possible to begin to do something within it? For this a very interesting state is given to us, existence in bodies. Therefore our inner feeling can be both within the cocoon, in our egoistic body, and outside of the cocoon, outside of our body, in an altruistic state.

People who already exist with their feelings outside of the egoistic cocoon still can live physically in our world because our body has no connection to the spiritual world. This is simply some physiological entity, an imaginary component that is portrayed for us as existing, but essentially this entity is completely imaginary and doesn’t exist. Physicists have also already spoken about this, not just Kabbalists; science is gradually approaching this fact.

In other words, the Kabbalists can exist simultaneously in the upper world in a spiritual form and in the material world within the physical body, returning to the material image that appears in our world to leave their impressions for us, to teach their sensations, perceptions, and experience that they received by going out from our world to the upper world. They tell us how they worked in a group, united with it, learned the fundamentals of the states of the group and with its help gradually passed to the upper world.

We must use their advice, recommendations, and instructions to follow after them as after guides that show the way. So we also call them revolutionaries, pioneers, and we go after them. If not for them, we would not know how to organize in a group in a precise form in our world. But even if the group is organized in the right form, this is still not enough.

Besides this, we must be involved in learning about the upper world and about those laws of reciprocal cooperation of bestowal and absolute love that exist there with bestowal above reception with constant overcoming of our evil inclination. On the other hand, we also must be involved in external dissemination in order to bring all the rest of the parts of the one collective soul after us until we attain complete adherence, coming together, connection, until we attain a state like this that will be completely similar to the Creator in all characteristics.
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From the Moscow Virtual Convention “Unity Without Boundaries” Day Two 12/14/13, Lesson 4

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Question: If there are stages in the development of the human ego, are there stages in the development of the group ego?

Answer: The movement is only forward. There is no other movement, not in nature and not with the person.

So don’t think about the ego and you don’t have to think about the group ego. It’s necessary to yearn only to advance towards group unity. Then in a natural way you will pass this group egoism. Very big problems will appear among you in unifying, in understanding, in general, in how to endure the friend who is next to me, and so forth.

But in any case, the yearning must only be forward. You don’t need to think about “how will we discover our ego as quickly as possible.” You should only think about positive discoveries, not the negative ones.

The fact is that all of Malchut is latent within us, the entire immense ego, the enormous intention for the sake of my beloved self. But we begin to yearn for unity and not in any way for anything else!

When I yearn for the right side all the time, then my ego grows on the left side in a different form parallel to it. And in a manner like this it follows that at the moment I rise to a particular level, immediately a negative intention “for my own sake” appears simultaneously. In the end, I include the negative component within the positive component and thus I create my Kli.

From the positive component I have a “screen” (Masach), and from the negative I have an inner desire that I transform into positive, and in this way I grow all the time.

It’s said: “Everyone who is greater than his friend, his desire is greater.” Therefore my main foundation (1) must be yearning for unity that grows (Σ) all the time. And the ego, that is the intention for myself, will always be secondary (2), and it will not disappear; don’t be concerned about it.

You ask, “How in a group can we discover its entire ego?” You will discover the entire ego of the group when you reach the higher line, the completion of correction. But in spite of it all, you will advance towards this upper line only with the “middle line” in that you always yearn for the right first, only for unity. And the “left line” will inevitably appear in you.

[123208]
From the Moscow Virtual Convention “Unity Without Boundaries” Day Two 12/14/13, Lesson 2

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