Baal HaSulam, Shamati #58 , “Joy Is a Reflection of Good Deeds”: Even if one evidently sees that one will soon fall from one’s degree, He still sentences one where one is. It means that if one has now made up one’s mind to take upon himself the burden of the Kingdom of Heaven for eternity, it is considered wholeness.

However, if one takes upon himself the burden of the Kingdom of Heaven and does not want that state to remain in him forever, this thing and this deed is not considered wholeness, and naturally, the Upper Light cannot come and rest on it.

This is a basic question: How do we decide whether it’s for eternity or not for eternity? It’s about what a person sees as his goal and his future.

There are many organizations in the world, many groups and societies, that require a certain dedication and connection from their members. You can take any example you like starting from the stock market, a football team, a military unit, or alcoholics anonymous. Every organization requires dedication and commitment since otherwise there cannot be a connection.

But attaining a spiritual state requires dedication while understanding that it’s impossible to attain this goal without mutual connection and that it’s actually attained in the connection between us. The Creator is an image that we establish from our efforts to reach mutual bestowal upon one another. So dedication here is the same matter, the same carrier, the same way of yearning, the gladness, and the effort that the soul is built of; this is why it is called self-sacrifice.

I now give everything that I have in my desire to receive, the whole filling by which I want to revive it and to ensure its existence, all the energy, the gladness, the effort, the hopes, to the collective money box of the group. When everyone does that we build the collective infrastructure by our collective efforts in which the Creator is revealed, by the connection of “Israel, the Torah and the Creator are one.”

I in regard to the group is I in regard to Israel, and then we as “Israel” turn to the Creator in order to find Him there among us, our general force of bestowal, by connecting everything into one whole. So a collective effort is required. We can measure whether this effort is correct or not according to the level of our gladness. It’s impossible to follow the right path and not feel joy. Otherwise I cannot devote myself to the general spiritual vessel that we are building together.

So gladness is the major parameter for good deeds, like a mirror. We have to work on this in order to feel spiritual elation, an awakening, energy, power, gladness, uniqueness and a feeling of the blessing. These are external signs according to which we can imagine the veracity of our inner actions. If our action is correct it will summon in us elation, joy, hope, the connection between us, etc.

But if we haven’t reached the right action in the connection between us, then accordingly we will lack all these feelings: the gladness, the elation, etc. It’s very easy to check if there is gladness. A person cannot cry and claim that he is glad at the same time. You must feel gladness in your whole entity, as it says, “Until all my bones will tell.”
[110547]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/20/13, Shamati #58

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The Book of Zohar, Introduction, “The Donkey Driver,” p. 85: The donkey driver who is leading the donkeys behind them is the assistance to the souls of the righteous, which is sent to them from above to raise them from one degree to the next. Had it not been for this assistance, which the Creator sends to the righteous, they would have been unable to rise from their degree and ascend higher. Hence the Creator sends a high soul from above according to the merit and degree of each righteous and it assists him on his way.

It can be said that this assistance is the same Light that Reforms. And the “Creator” is the general Light of infinity that sends a person vessels (desires). After all, rising to the next degree requires new “clothing,” which in our case, comes through the teacher.

Either way, each request rises to infinity and the Light comes only from there even for the smallest corrections. There is nothing in the intermediate stages because all of them, all the worlds, are in the state of Hafetz Hesed.

As for those who raise their request, they are called “righteous” and they receive help from a special higher soul—from the “donkey driver,” i.e., desires.

Thus, a righteous person is the person who desires to rise from the current state to a state of higher bestowal. Depending on his level, he gets a special soul to help him, intended specifically for this action. Other messengers come from the Creator for other purposes. The Kabbalists metaphorically described this as “letters” or properties that the Creator replaces to perform a special task.

But in any case, “the donkey driver” is a high soul through which the power of the righteous desires performing ascent is combined with the qualitative essence of this ascent, with the level at which the work is performed. That is why every time a person is sent a different soul. Every messenger is for each action.

In the beginning, the righteous does not know that soul at all. It seems to him that it is a very low soul which is accompanying him on his way. This is called “the impregnation of the righteous’ soul.”

It seems to us that the group and the teacher are not so important. We neglect them, in other words, we ignore the special, only means that was sent from Above. Over time, this means is more lost in our eyes; it seems more primitive and insignificant. Indeed, who considers some driver? What do we care about the taxi driver driving us to an important event?

And only later we become aware of his role …
[110504]
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/21/13, The Zohar

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We have been organizing conventions for over ten years. The first convention that was held in Israel was initiated by the Moscow group and since then the tradition developed when friends from different countries come together. So, we are more familiar with our brothers who live around the world.

However, so far, we have not used these conventions in the form that should be revealed in the end. A convention is a general gathering, the place of the revelation of the general desire, the collective intention and the interaction (Zivug) with the upper Light to which we are drawn.

We must consider the next convention in St. Petersburg as new, the first of its kind. Its feature is full-fledged preparation. We are not going to a festival, not on a holiday with an easy and enjoyable program. Of course, I am not against “lightness,” but I am against frivolity.

We must prepare for this event extremely seriously. This does not mean that you should walk with grim faces. On the contrary, we all need to be in great spirits but at the same time together feeling that we are just about to gather the forces needed for that general special power by means of which we will be able to realize unity with the upper Light to the extent of our similarity with it, even minimally.

We want to generate at least a bit of bestowal from our part, which the upper Light will be able to correct by giving it the correct form. Then, after the correcting light of AB-SAG, the filling light will be revealed, and we will know the Creator, and all this is in order to bring Him contentment.

The main thing we need to build in ourselves is confidence. It all depends on the preparation, and the result of the preparation and during the action itself, so to speak, there is nothing to do. Figuratively speaking, you have for dinner what you have prepared. It is said, “He who did not labor on the eve of the Sabbath, from whence shall he eat on the Sabbath day?” That is why the main work is carried out not at the convention but before it.

Eighteen days are left before the convention in St. Petersburg. It promises to bring a record number of participants. In addition, it follows right after the convention in Krasnoyarsk, and never before have we had such a dramatic difference between the properties of vessels that are revealed by these two meetings.

In short, we have precise work. We must do the same thing as in Krasnoyarsk but in different internal and external conditions in another layer of the general desire. The difference is clear to us and we understand that we need to neutralize it. If we manage to create the same atmosphere in St. Petersburg, the same unity, the same transparency, as in Krasnoyarsk, we will be awarded a great revelation.

However, I repeat: Preparatory work from every individual and all together is required. If we had a device that measured the level of preparation, I would have put it at the entrance to the convention hall and would allow inside only those who meet the requirements and would send the others home. Everyone should understand that if he does not participate correctly in a common effort, he causes harm that comes back to him to the extent that he prevents everyone else.

This is a very harsh law. So first of all, we must thoroughly check all the participants as to whether they are prepared for the convention.

Besides that, from this day forward, we constantly need to discuss the upcoming meeting, to prepare and distribute materials to create a general online territory where everyone will be able to ask questions in various languages. We will translate these questions and answer them. We need a committee to deal with all the concerns in the framework of the spiritual preparation for the convention. The groups of St. Petersburg and Moscow take care of the physical and organizational preparation, sparing no effort, and that is why we need to help them in other areas.
[110605]
From the Talk About the Preparation for the Convention in St. Petersburg 6/23/13

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Question: If love is bought by presents, then what kind of gift can a person give the Creator?

Answer: We are in a system of fixed laws that connects matter (the desire to receive) and the Light (the attribute of bestowal). They are two opposites by nature. The desire to receive typically enjoys the light of separation and hates the light of adhesion.

So the question is: What should we do with these two opposites? Which should we prefer? How should we grow stronger along a way that is hated and so unpleasant to such an extent that we cannot follow it and we subconsciously push it away?

This is what all our work should be about in order to ascend above the current feeling to the level of thought.”Everything becomes clear in thought,” so we first must sustain ourselves in thought and not feeling. The thought constantly must examine and study the feeling so that eventually we will understand which feeling we must reach.
[110599]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/19/13, Writings of Rabash

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Question: Why does it say that love is bought by actions? What about the intention or is it only with regard to corporeal love and not spiritual love?

Answer: Both spiritual love and corporeal love are bought by actions; our world is the world of actions. If we perform actions, even if we don’t have the right intention and the right feeling, these actions draw the Light that Reforms that changes our feeling and our understanding.

There is no other means! If our matter, our desire, and our intention are focused only on ourselves, we cannot do anything that is the opposite. The opposite is done by the same means that is called “this world” in which we can perform actions. Although these actions stem from our desire to receive and from the intention to receive for ourselves, on the level of this world, it is like bestowal, which means that I give to the other.

I want to receive for myself and I also give to the other because I want to receive for myself, but if I arrange and organize the giving according to the advice of Kabbalists, then the giving works! It is said that the sages of the Talmud made a certain preparation that allows us to use the means of the Light that Reforms instead of torturing ourselves physically, instead of working directly against our desire and our intention.

This Light operates on us if we perform actions according to the advice of Kabbalists: yearning for the love of friends, giving presents to the friends, trying to connect between us, and studying together from Kabbalistic sources.
[110596]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/19/13, Writings of Rabash

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Question: What is love of the Creator? What is the difference between love of the Creator and love of friends?

Answer: Love of friends is the work that is done by the Light that Reforms in order to connect our vessels. It seems as if they are distant from one another and that we have to bring them together, but in spirituality there are no distances. By working on our vessels, we acquire attributes that are similar to the attributes of the Light, and so we can discover what is already in us.

It is like a person who has lost his sight and by certain healing methods can rehabilitate it. This means that Kabbalists give us advice as to how to revive and rehabilitate ourselves in our current state.

This means that you remain at the same level and nothing changes but your ability to feel. This level of sensitivity is called the spiritual ladder, the levels of attainment, revelation.
[110593]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/19/13, Writings of Rabash

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Question: We say that we should feel pleasure in the friend. Suppose a person loves power and revels in his power in the group. Do I have to enjoy this flaw in him?

Answer: If he were a member of your family, your child, would you enjoy the fact that he behaves in this way?

Comment: I would reprimand him.

Answer: A reprimand should be given not directly but by implication, carefully, so that he understands that he needs to behave differently. This would be better for him and for the others.

If he really brings so much harm that it disturbs the group and brings foreign thoughts, foreign ideas, and if he starts to proclaim a new path, then he has no place in the group. Then the conversation is short—expel him from the group.

There are only two reasons for excluding a friend from the group:

• If he goes against the general flow of the group, against the primary sources or teacher and this spoils the collective work
•  If he disturbs the unity of the group. In this case, the worst thing is if he separates families.

I have heard that these problems do exist and I strongly warn that this must not occur. Do whatever you want but the friend’s family is sacred because the family is the basic unit of the corrected society; it should be corrected, and there can be no excuses.

The violation of these two principles prevents us from progressing because the family is the cell of the group and our ideology is the vector of the group.

Basically, these are spiritual laws. So, keep in mind that if these things take place, then they need to be eradicated soon with no questions or discussions, this is not negotiable.
[110584]
From the Conventions in Krasnoyarsk 6/16/13, Lesson 5

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In the first half of the 20^th century, Baal HaSulam wrote about the unity of the world and the crisis that humanity would have to go through. There were serious times then. Two world wars were looming over the world. In general, the picture was obvious and that is why Baal HaSulam pointed out that starting in 1995 the wisdom of Kabbalah would be required by the masses, that people will study it seriously and in great numbers.

Naturally, it is a long process. It was not exactly in one year that the “bell rang” and everyone rushed to Kabbalah as into the open doors of a store. But still it just happened.

In anticipation of future events, Baal HaSulam wrote his works on the further development of humankind. Of them, the main one  is a very interesting collection, mostly a notebook, which is called “The Last Generation.”

After Rabash I inherited Baal HaSulam’s archive—that which had survived, had not been stolen or lost. I found the fragments of this archive in the basement in such a shape that perhaps not everything could be restored, but some parts could be. Based on them, we created the book, The Last Generation.

In this book, Baal HaSulam describes the basic principle of the life of future society. It consists of sketches and individual records that are grouped in one way or another. Extensive research work was done to collect them. Of course, we do not add anything to what was written there, but in the end we make our own conclusions.

Overall, from this book and other works of Baal HaSulam such as “The Mutual Guarantee” and so on, we understand that there is a need in people to change their world when they become disappointed in their own forces, in their ability to do something with it. When many are overcome by lack of understanding, then comes the time to explain everything to them.

We find ourselves in this state. Every year the world realizes more and more hopelessness, helplessness, purposelessness, and so on.

Accordingly, there are several reasons why we should go out into the world, first, as the Kabbalists point out, because this is the desire of the Creator and we cannot invent our own goals, intentions, and excuses. If it is stated, it is done.

By nature, I would be happy to sit in my office quietly exploring various works and write my own. This is my character. However, life forces and it can’t not be done.

When I wrote my first three books in 1983, Rabash began to treat me differently. He really saw that I not only studied diligently and was constantly with him as a student and assistant, but I made efforts in dissemination. It was a good sign for him. It was not easy in those years. I republished those books in 1990 in Russian in Novosibirsk. They were sold. The fourth book was Attaining the Worlds Beyond and other books followed.

Dissemination is the most important moment for the Creator. He does not consider a person who thinks only about himself. He ignores him; moreover, He despises him.

Conversely, a person who invests strength in dissemination receives special help from Above. After all, he opens the path to others through himself, similar to Bina working to correct the lower Partzufim. That is why he receives everything for everyone, the light, knowledge, and strength pass through him.

Thus, dissemination is our main activity. If we are talking about love and bestowal, what kind of realization of the principle of love for the other as for oneself could be if not through dissemination and teaching the wisdom of Kabbalah?

This is necessary, no doubt. However, this is only for a small group of people who have the point in the heart, the embryo of the independent spiritual vessel (Kli) and independent part of the soul. You will see the system of our entire created desire. Each organ contains these particles. They are few. In essence, it is you and I, as well as all the previous generations of Kabbalists.

However, it is a very small part. Similarly, every point of the body has a tiny piece of the brain that receives and processes information. Every organ has particles that provide communication with the control center and the center itself is in the head. It is such a small “pea,” practically a microprocessor that deals with everything that happens in the body as well as all sorts of connections known and yet unknown to us. Its representatives, scattered all over the body, are the most important for any organ because they activate it.

Thus, we are these parts, and that is why we should not expect that there will be many of us. So, as it is written in the Torah, “You were the smallest of all nations.” It is important to remember that the Torah refers not to the Jews. The Torah refers to Israel and as we know “Israel” means “straight to the Creator” (Yashar El). These people are few.

So, the International Kabbalah Academy and Education Center will develop further, but you should not wait for a lot of people to begin lining up at the doors. However, in any case, we must develop this system and support it. It is desirable to teach everyone who wishes to study. This is evident.

We do not check people as to whether they have a point in the heart. You want to, study; you don’t want to, don’t study. A person attends a couple of lessons. He did not want it and left. It does not matter; he has something. The doors are open to everyone.

However, only we can carry out the most important dissemination, those who have the point in the heart. We are scattered around the world as in the organs of the human body. We are the “particles of the brain” in its various parts. We were given the task to manage the correction of humanity and we must do it and we must build a new society. We are pioneers, the first generation that studies in order to teach others Kabbalah and integral education. The world needs both.

This is what we need to do, not neglecting our task of studying in order to know and share our knowledge with others in the form in which they want it. As it is written, “Teach the boy according to his way,” that is, according to what he desires. If he does not want to study the system of the upper world, then do not teach him it. However, if he wants to improve his state, his earthly everyday life, this is good. In this vein, it is necessary to teach him.
[110305]
From the Convention in Krasnoyarsk 6/14/13, Lesson 4

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Question: In order to reach the “point in the heart” of a friend, it is necessary to open the heart and in order to open it, I need to feel the person. Why does fear appear regarding opening the heart? What creates this? After all, in the past as children we knew how to trust each other and now we don’t.

Answer: We do not have to open our hearts to others not even to a friend. You simply need to be within him and this is all.

Question: And if his heart is closed?

Answer: This is not important. He cannot shut out anything from you. It makes no difference how he reacts, how he behaves, you must be within his heart, within his desires, within his longings. You must help him, wish him well, and identify with him. You want him always to be happy that things will be good for him. This is how a relationship should be in regard to the other. This is a purely spiritual movement.
[110578]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk 6/16/13, Lesson 5

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Question: There are concepts like fairness and bestowal. If I don’t know how to give and bestow materially, can I at least know how it is to bestow spiritually?

Answer: Spirituality and materiality are integrated with each other. If I cannot bestow materially, I will not be able to bestow anything spiritually either. This is because everything is established through desire. It oversees my material activities: I extend my hand, I return my hand, and so forth. It’s the same thing in spirituality. Therefore, in the material world if I harm someone, certainly I am not bringing any benefit in spirituality.

If I will learn to bestow on the physical level, then with this I take a step towards spirituality. However, this doesn’t mean that I enter into the upper world yet because I must be properly organized for this, especially between me and everyone else. And this is what we are teaching humanity.

People can bestow and give to each other, we know about the altruism of individuals and Utopian societies from history, but nothing came from this. In general, clearly this ended in bloodshed because the Light didn’t come among them and disappointments, bitterness, and mutual recriminations came in response to their efforts and expectations. Therefore, it’s necessary to teach people how to unite correctly, and then their movement towards each other will be desirable and will end well.
[110497]
From the Convention In Krasnoyarsk 6/14/13, Lesson 4

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