A door, an opening, and an entrance appear all at once in spirituality. So don’t expect to see a door from a distance, then approach it and open it. When you see a door, it immediately opens! This is the law, and accordingly, if it is fulfilled, it will happen.

It is only if my vessel becomes similar to the Light—which happens suddenly like the exodus from Egypt, which was in a hurry—do I suddenly see a door that immediately becomes an opening, and I enter.

We can perform such an action in complete faith which means if I put a Masach (screen) of “in order to bestow” upon my vessel, and I become equal to the upper level.

Baal HaSulam, Letter 26: That power, to heed the word of the sages in this reality in Dalet, is called “faith”…

A person who wants to get closer to the opening must work according to the faith of the sages. To the extent that he is adhered to the greatness of his teacher and the group, he receives power by his dedication and can approach this door. He doesn’t have any powers of his own. This is how it is arranged in our world, and a person is given a teacher, a group, and the study, in order to summon the Light that Reforms, which can bring a person closer to the entrance, to the spiritual world.

…is called “faith,” as it is not established at once, but through education, adaptation, and through work.

This is what integral education is meant for, so that, by using it, people will receive the Light that Reforms that will change them. This is the difference between integral education and ordinary education that doesn’t summon the Light that Reforms and doesn’t change a person. Therefore, it is so important that every guide and teacher of integral education who works with the public should be strongly connected to the group and the study and only then to go out to disseminate.

It is similar to the tutoring of a child, who would be like an unturned stone were it not for the tutor who rears him. This is why this work is generally called “a robe,” as it is an overcoat, “beyond” human conception…

That is, above the mind of that child.

In the corporeal world, there are children who don’t have a mind yet, who are ready to annul themselves before the grownup so that he will take care of them. This is how it is naturally arranged in corporeality. If a person were born as a grownup—with a developed mind, with his own feelings and opinions—it would be impossible to take care of him. Only when he annuls himself like a baby does he allow others to do whatever they want with him. Only when he lowers his head, believing and knowing that he totally depends on you, will you be able to do something for him.

Can you imagine whether it is easy for a grown person to subdue himself that way? However, this is what we actually must do. We must take an example from this world when it comes to the phase of conception, Ibur, suckling, Yenika, and mind, Mochin. Otherwise, you will not be able to advance.
[123025]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/13/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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We have reached a state in which the Surrounding Light already begins to affect all of humanity. Now it all depends on the person. We have completed the first phase of our evolution that was determined by the Light alone.

This was the phase in which we developed on the levels of the still, vegetative, and animate nature. This was the period that lasted until the time of the Ari when we had no choice; we had to fall in order to be mix in their desires.

But from the time of the Ari onwards began the ascent, a period of correction, until the time of Baal HaSulam, who already states that we have to start this work of correction and understand that all the preparations from Above have ended. This means that the descent of the vessels and the incorporation of the vessels under the influence of the Surrounding Light have come to an end. Now we can use the Surrounding Light in order to rise above it by our work and determine the time by ourselves.

Everything is ready for our correction! So there is no need for accounts as to which Mitzva (commandment) is light and which one is severe, what are good times and what are bad times; everything depends on us now, on how we organize our work. Then we will rise above the concepts of time, motion, and place, above what we experience, and we will determine our fate by ourselves by the power of our growing connection.

It is written: “Be careful with a light Mitzva just as with a severe one.” This means that we have to ascend above all our states; we don’t know what we are rewarded for. In order to achieve the reward we must simply connect and then we will determine our ascents and descents, the pace of our advancement and each and every state by ourselves. We will begin to perceive and feel all the states as more effective and more beneficial and we will justify each state more until we will finally justify everything!

Thus we will reach a state that is completely day, a state of the eternal Light that shines all the way until the world of Ein Sof (Infinity). We will discover that we have always been there and that we only had to change our perception, our attitude, to correct our vessels in order to see that.

We must never forget that every correction is only in the connection between us that is constantly growing stronger in quality and quantity.
[122279]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/4/13

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Question: There are people who know how to organize processes well and if the person takes a responsibility upon himself, he carries it out to the end. But with us in the groups there are many people who are what are called, “creative people.” In what way is this creativity expressed? You see, on the one hand, we require freedom and on the other hand, supervision and control; these things are contradictory. How is it possible to work with people like these?

Answer: It is clear that creative people are unique types of people who must be held in some kind of framework because without this, if they are not sufficiently linked to a goal, they could digress somewhere. On the other hand, they need freedom. But when they are found in the framework of some project, where areas for work have been prepared for them from the start on the basis of a system with an agreement, then the person cannot sit at home in the agony of creating or stroll along the beach, writing something for himself, he must go and “push” materials; in other words, there is always an internal conflict with “artistic freedom” here.

I once studied the biography of “free artists” a bit and I know that they all work according to orders. It seems to us that they create from suffering. But in fact everything is done realistically for the sake of a slice of bread, for the sake of covering various expenses, etc. All creativity is done by order and under pressure. Therefore, in spite of the genius, they need to be in a framework.

Question: How does one construct these frameworks?

Answer: There must be a program! If I work with the masses, how can I get along without a program? They obligate me.

Question: But this person cannot put a program together….

Answer: This is another matter.

For example, the famous violinist Oistrakh was always floating in the clouds. At the last moment the Minister of Culture, Furtseva, would contact him and would say, “A person is coming to you now with an airplane ticket and will take you to the airport, you are flying on a concert tour.” And that’s it, he would take his violin, they would take him to the airport, and he would fly. But in spite of it all, he flew according to a program because otherwise he would need to cover large fines for breach of contract, and so forth; that is, there could be no objections or reservations. We have to work according to a program; there is nothing that can be done about it.
[122415]
From Kab TV’s “Through Time” 9/22/13

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Question: If half of our group consists of so-called creative people, how should we organize them? It is possible to understand how our instructors get tired of spending so much energy on them.

Answer: It needs to be mutual work when we are all connected to one harness. Each one is an expert in his field, but all of us are focused on one goal. The society specifically needs to be above all of this. To the extent that I bend before my friends, I am great in spite of all my creative pursuits.

But in our business there can be a state that a person suddenly “falls” for a day or two. He isn’t able to speak and is immersed in inner worries, the inspiration deserts him. One needs to understand this and to come to help, replacing him with someone else. But this is only an exceptional case.

Do you think that when I go to a lesson that I don’t have internal searches, experiences, inner downs and ups? But I don’t speak about it, my students don’t see it unless I am sick or have fever. But it seldom happens, and no one can ever determine my inner state according to how I look. And believe me it is one thousand times more difficult than your state. One needs to have control of that. In the beginning it is very difficult, and afterward it is easier. If a person would genuinely say what the problem was, then you would understand him. But this should not become a system.
[122413]
From Kab TV’s “Through Time” 9/22/13

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When I give a friend presents, I bring myself closer to the Creator because I perform the same actions of bestowal that the Creator performs regarding the desire of the friend, and I thus buy him, as Kabbalists advise: “Buy yourself a friend.” I work with his desire to receive and don’t look at the person. I don’t see a person before me but only a desire to receive. His face and his character don’t matter. What’s important is that there is a spark in him that yearns for the Creator. I have to have a partner who has the same spark that I have in order to reach the Creator. So I have no choice because he was sent to me from heaven as my partner and I have to accept him and work with him.

This means that “the Creator puts a person’s hand on the good fate.” This means that He brings him to a group and says: “Take it!” So I take, since I simply have no other choice. Here the rigid laws of nature work, like in physics: I have to use these forces in order to reach the desired result.

We have to connect at least two sparks, two Reshimot (reminiscences), two yearnings for the Creator, but the friend’s spark, just like my spark, is wrapped in a thick shell of egoistic desire. I can penetrate and reach this spark only if I buy his ego. This is very simple: I have to know what he wants and start bestowing and giving him one present after another. Thus I bribe his ego and he will stop rejecting me. The result will be that our sparks will get closer to one another.

My goal is not the friend, but the Creator! And although our intentions are totally Lo Lishma (not for Her sake), at the moment, the Light reforms us. The Light shines on us and begins to work between us. By giving the friend a present, I don’t only neutralize his ego, but also evoke and draw the Surrounding Light that begins to operate on my spark and on his spark. As a result our sparks get closer.

Our egoistic desires also get closer. We see that we can delight one another and fill one another even with our corrupt desires. Together we will feel better and things will be easier! We build a center by our common efforts and arrange everything in it and serve one another. It’s worthwhile. Everything is arranged that way in order to facilitate the first steps along the spiritual path for us.

Our world wasn’t created artificially or by chance. It was created as a result of the shattering of the vessels and therefore it is arranged that way in order to enable us to rise from this specific state to the world of Ein Sof (Infinity). We have all the means we need here, but we only have to follow the advice of Kabbalists.
[122890]
From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/11/13

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We operate in the system of forces: reception and bestowal, and that is why any action should be calculated in terms of the law of the effect of force on matter. Then, there will be no doubts whether it could happen or not. The result will be determined precisely as by the laws of physics of this world.

Knowing the active force and the matter on which it acts, we can calculate everything in advance and evaluate the result. Similarly, we make calculations of some mechanism and are sure that it will work.

The same applies to a person’s internal spiritual work. Although we do not know all the laws of human psychology, determining desires, intentions, impressions, and reactions, but the wisdom of Kabbalah gives us a clear understanding and explains the principle of action of a human being as a mechanism, in which the upper force of nature operates.

We need to take part in all these actions and use the power of the Creator acting on our desire to enjoy. If we know how we react on the action of the force of bestowal, then we will be able to calculate all our reactions and actions; we will be able to plan in advance how we can attain the same force of bestowal like the Creator.

To create a group, we need to connect with the desires of others. We can do that by influencing each other with the same force with which the Creator acts upon us, that is, the force of bestowal. But a person does not have this true desire to bestow yet and he acts out of his egoism.

He just heard from the teacher and read in books that he needs to connect with others because only inside this connection the place for the revelation of the Creator can be formed. Therefore, he wants to act altruistically with respect to the other, although he has neither altruistic properties nor love for the other, but wants only to use them.

But it is possible to do because we live in our world in such special circumstances when we can act mechanically even against our desire. It turns out that one affects the other and thereby attracts the Light that Reforms. By my good attitude toward a friend, I produce in him a particular reaction on me. Every gift to a friend seemingly makes an opening in his heart. As a result, he begins to pay attention to me and react, although at first he was completely indifferent to me.

It will definitely happen because I use the laws of nature: I give to him, bestow, and thus buy a friend with my gifts. Gifts are my good attitude, my attention. Thus, I cause the same response in him.

First, this can produce an opposite reaction in him because he does not want to owe me anything. Instinctively, he can distance from me, become afraid that if I give him gifts, then I want to use him. In our world, we are used to in our world that there are no unconditional services. But time will do its work, and gradually the friend will be imbued with my care and will begin to answer me in the same way. Both of us will begin to treat each other nicely and thus will build a relationship between us. Developing it, we will create the place that the Light that Reforms can affect.

This will be our common Light that will build between us the area, which did not exist in this world previously, the area of our mutual bestowal! It will not be an influence of one egoist on another. Acting together, we attract a different Surrounding Light, goal-oriented, and it builds the area between us in which it will be able later to be clothed as the Inner Light.

It all works in this way. We can act on the degree of this world, at first even without a desire. But later, this desire will be changed by the influence of the Light that Reforms. Due to our connection with each other, at least two people, we will create a special area, as if we will be covered with one blanket. This “blanket” cover will become our common screen within which we will be able to obtain the revelation of the Creator and reach a spiritual degree.

We understand all the stages of this work based on the immutable laws, using the known forces. We just need to use all this correctly, like in any science, where I know that if I do not meet all the conditions, then there is no point in waiting for mercy. Conversely, if I have done everything correctly, then the result must be in the expected place and in due time as an outcome of my efforts.
[122826]
From the Preparation for the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/11/13

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There could be a condition where a person remains within a group physically, comes to lessons, participates in all kinds of activities and events, but in fact has already left the path and his heart is found in another place… .

Question: How is it possible to be careful and guard against this?

Answer: Only through humility and bowing the head. The ego burns in everyone, and therefore, my first action is nullification to the teacher, the lessons, and the group. First of all, I am not at all the wisest person among the students; rather the opposite, I want them to determine my way of life. For if I determine this myself, I will be carrying out the will of my ego exactly. And then I am no longer in the group. The moment that I get off the “train,” I am immediately found under the dominance of self-love.

In general, you have only two “authorities”: the group, which includes the Rav, the friends, the books, and the Creator, which comprises a complete unit; I and the world.

Question: I can “submit” myself externally. But how does one submit internally? What do I do with my thoughts and emotions? Can the person subdue them in a group?

Answer: There are two “scales”: On the one hand, the group that attracts the Ohr Makif (Surrounding Light), and on the other hand, the ego and the external world. So what is more important to me?

Certainly I cannot  guarantee my tomorrow for myself, but if all the possibilities that are found in my authority are used, then I can tip the balance to the right side. There is no other way.

Question: If I see that my group doesn’t sufficiently match the spirit of Bnei Baruch, how can I submit myself to the friends?

Answer: Try to “submit yourself to them” except in what you must add to them.

Parents subjugate themselves regarding their children, not because they are beginning to listen to their opinions. Rather, their submission is from concern and caring for them. A mother serves her small child with what he needs and not with what he wants. He can scream: “Give me!” but she won’t give it to him, and in this way, from her side, she is serving him faithfully.
[122770]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Generally it is hard to find within one person all the good, desired qualities. However, when two or even three people are engaged in integral dissemination they complement one another. Then a new form is created that includes all these qualities. And this is good.

The optimal number of people in a team is three. An odd number is always better than an even one in decision making. However, this does not apply to the tens group where the mutual work is directed towards assembly and tuning between the friends.

In places where three people (as a minimum) work, it is possible to make a decision by a majority of votes: two against one. In this case it is impossible to tell who is leading them.

Therefore, teams which consist of three people or more, like five or seven, are the best. They will be able to organize between themselves the necessary connection to the upper layer of the group and work with the general public.

They should be equal. Otherwise, they will be unable to achieve an altruistic, integral charge which they have to carry to the masses.
[122876]
From Kab TV’s “Through Time,” 9/25/13

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Baal HaSulam, “The Teaching of Kabbalah and Its Essence”: Whereas in the first discernment everyone receives equally without adding or subtracting, like Adam, in understanding the reality of this world. In viewing it, all are equal, but this is not so in understanding it—some evolve from generation to generation and some regress.

Question: What is the difference between a descent and regression?

Answer: We can describe our advancement like a electrocardiogram (EKG) with many ups and downs. It doesn’t matter if I am up or down as long as I advance.

Descents are part of our way since they are also aimed at the goal. My heart beats and it draws this curved line and it is normal. This is our life, a continuum of ups and downs where one cannot exist without the other. As long as I hold on to the intention to advance, both the ascents and descents are in a general flow forward.

It is just like a spinning wheel where each part reaches a maximal height and then begins to descend. What is more, at a certain moment it seems to be moving backward instead of advancing towards the goal.

The moment a person discovers that, he cries out for help. He sees that he is moving backward and that he is not advancing, and so he needs the greater support of the group.

On the whole society’s movement is forward, and accordingly, I am in the back part of the ring and my friends are advancing by moving forward. So when I am connected to them in my heart and soul, I feel that I am part of the whole that continues and advances forward.

But if I am disconnected from the friends, I am not the lower part of the general wheel and I am not in a state of descent, but am actually on the outside in regression. I am not part of the general process of the advancement forward anymore.

This means that the main thing is to be adhered to the friends. Then we all advance forward and I understand that even the descents are beneficial and that they are in order to ascend. When I descend, the others ascend, and thus we constantly change places.

We are like a valve, like a piston, and all these movements change alternately. There cannot be a change if it doesn’t include the two movements, backward and forward, backward and forward. There cannot be only a movement forward, there has to be a contrast, and it is only a matter of amplitude.

Therefore my connection with the environment is so important. If I am incorporated in everyone, then the common vector is clear to me.

Question: It says that there is no lacking in spirituality and that nothing disappears. But in a state of regression everything that you had is taken away from you…

Answer: This isn’t true. Regression refers to the revelation of a new level of the shattering. We don’t regress but rather discover a new vessel that isn’t corrected at the moment.
[122732]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: How can I appreciate the friend’s efforts?

Answer: The only way I can appreciate the friend is in faith above reason. It is because I don’t see the friend before me but actually myself and my attributes. It is written: “One judges by his own flaws.” I see only what I want to see in my ego, so I will always see that one is more stupid than I am and that another is lazy, another is absentminded and another is occupied by his own thoughts and doesn’t know what is going on at all, etc.

When I look at the friends, I see my inner state. We don’t see the world but our inner replica reflected on it. So I have to accept the fact that I am in the world of Ein Sof (Infinity), that everything is corrected, and that everyone is at the end of correction (Gmar Tikkun). All the corrections that are left are those that I have to go through, as it says: “And I shall eat that which is ancient,” and I will see that the world is changing because I am actually changing.

It is the same when it comes to the friends and the group. It isn’t they that have to change but I. It is hard to perceive this but it is the truth. So in order to explain it simply Kabbalists don’t tell us about it as if it happens inside a person but as the world is used to, saying that the world is changing, that it is in a crisis, and that it goes through different states and processes.

Kabbalists explain this artificially although they don’t feel comfortable doing so. A Kabbalist prefers to see things as he sees them internally. He sees the world of Infinity, himself, and the corruption between them. This is called help against him, as his ego comes between him and the world and because of which he sees the world of Infinity in the form of this world or in the form of some temporary spiritual level, which is one of the 125 levels he is on now

But a Kabbalist cannot explain it this way to others since it would mean that he would constantly be talking about himself, about his corruptions, and would be discussing the corruptions in his internal systems. He would speak from the side of the corruption and not from the side of the correction, and so they don’t speak that way. It is better to explain things as is accepted in this world, by speaking about the fact that the world is corrupt and that we have to connect in order to correct ourselves and the world. It is a special style of conveying a message in which one moves from the internality to the externality.

There is no other choice. Otherwise the explanations will not be understood. But in fact when a person thinks about this himself, he has to see himself in the Light of the Infinite that fills all of reality and only because of his corrupted vessels and attributes does he see the level of concealment and the level of revelation, and this is what determines the height of his level.
[122716]
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/13, Writings of Rabash

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