Baal HaSulam, Shamati #99, “He Did Not Say Wicked or Righteous”: Now we can understand what is written, that the Creator says, “Return unto Me and I will return unto you.” And Israel say the opposite: “bring us back, Lord, and then we shall return.

We want the Creator to first perform His action. But He tells us: “First you return to Me, and then I will return to you.” It is as if we argue about who will be the first to solve this difficult situation. In every state there are two such discernments: on the Creator’s part and on the part of the created being.

The work is done as usual: through the teacher, the books, the group, the study, and dissemination so that all of this will influence a person in every state. Otherwise he will not be able to exit his state and will remain “himself.”

Imagine that I am in a certain state now, as if I stop time with a stopwatch. It is my current state on my present degree. How can I change it and do something with myself, operating within that state? I will never be able to do anything. I need some external force to push me from behind by suffering or to pull me forward by pleasures.

These are all the tools that I have. But where can I get them in every state? I need to arrange them in advance, and so I have to make sure beforehand that in every state there will be the teacher, the books, the group, dissemination, and the friends’ meetings, which will not let me relax and forget, so that I will not fall without anyone knowing about it. Even if I live in the North Pole, isolated from everyone, I still need to “buy” friends who will care about me all the time, who will call me, and do something with me. This is the only way I can advance.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/12/2012, Shamati #99

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Question: How is it possible to make independent decisions and at the same time to annul oneself before nature?

Answer: It is the same thing. To annul yourself, meaning your egoistic intention, and to implement the Creator’s commands with all your heart and soul means to be independent.

A person needs to ponder about why this is so. This allows him to call himself “a free nation in its own land” since he ceases to be a slave to his desire (the word “land” or “Eretz” comes from the word “desire” or “Ratzon”).

He wants to be a slave of the altruistic intention and that is called to be a “slave of the Lord.” He sells himself to be a slave of bestowal since in the meantime, he is not able to bestow independently. But this is already his first step towards independence, and afterwards he will become completely independent.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/11/2012, Shamati #9

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The Creator, nature, is everything, and we exist within it. However, because of the concealment that was made for us, we have the ability to see ourselves and nature in a very strange way, as if we exist independently from it and are able to decide and act on our own.

It is a complete illusion. Both we and the world, all of our actions, thoughts, and opinions, all of it is a total fantasy, the mirage in the air. All of this was done to give a person a beginning point from which he would be able to advance truly independently. Otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to build the foundation for being “human,” Adam, which means “similar” to nature, the Creator, in all its height.

But if we want to grow correctly, we need to constantly remember that we exist within nature that determines everything for us: the thoughts, the desires, the intentions, relations between us, everything that happens—all our lives. Nature controls us completely, and we are not only governed by it, but don’t even exist.

We live in this lie, in the illusion that we seemingly exist, like in a dream or some kind of legend. However, if we try to focus our attention, thoughts, and perception in order to rise above our ego, above our present nature, where all of this dream and fantasy is, then indeed, we will be able to try to break through this dream and reach the truth.

This is why we act: We gather in the group, study, and implement all the recommendations of Kabbalists. Indeed, they want to pull us out from this illusory existence, from the life in a dream, as though withdraw from the fog, from the deep hole that we are stuck in, and to save us. Thus they give us various advice on how we need to concentrate on perception of reality in order to dissipate the cloud and see the truth. This is what our entire work is about.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/11/2012, Shamati #9

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Even in order to exist in corporeality we need the Light: a slight illumination (Kista de Huyuta), the smallest spark of the Light that broke through from spirituality as a result of the Big Bang and created all the matter in our world, which is actually imaginary and exists only in our perception. But that was only the beginning, and the rest of our evolution is in building the real matter, meaning the desire. The matter that we see in front of us is ephemeral and nonexistent. Physicists have also discovered lately that the matter of this world does not exist, that it’s not particles, but the energetic field of forces, which appears like moving particles to them.

In order to discover the real matter, the great desire to receive in all its different fashions, we need the Light that created, made, begot, all these forms of matter in four phases of HaVaYaH (Yod–Key–Vav–Key), or in the worlds of Atzilut, Beria, Yetzira, and Assiya, which stem from the world of Adam Kadmon. This is called “the lower half of Keter,” while the world of Infinity is “the upper half of Keter.”

We begin to advance in spirituality if we receive the Light from Above that develops matter. In order to hasten the development of our matter, the desire to receive, we were given the wisdom of Kabbalah that can help us consciously perform different actions, instead of waiting for many stages of our development to go by, and only afterwards to begin to understand what’s going on. Even then we’ll not understand it until the end. Does a person at the end of his life understand much of all he has been through? After all, he doesn’t understand the reasons for different events, the connection between them, or the depth of creation. Nothing is revealed to him, and his life just passes by.

We, however, can advance in life by putting ourselves in motion by ourselves, when we understand what’s happening to us so well that we can check and change ourselves and put together the parts of this creation. Then we’ll be able to see and to study how by putting things together in different ways we can get different results and by that learn. We acquire the upper spiritual knowledge in the mind (Daat) of our Partzuf, which is gradually revealed to us. This is called “the Light of Hassadim in the illumination of Hochma.” Thus, from the bottom up, we begin to attain it and by that become real scientists who compose creation of all these particles.

Where can we get the mind, the feeling, the discernments, and the intentions for how to carry this out? From the simple upper Light that descends upon us. Then we’ll begin to develop. We don’t know what we lack, in which directions our mind and feelings should expand, and in what way our brain and heart should cooperate in order to “weave” the right vessel for us.

Let’s hope that by reading The Zohar we’ll be able to draw this general Light, and it will prepare the understanding and the feeling for us, by which we’ll eventually be able to participate in the creation of the vessels. It says that “the Creator creates the worlds and destroys them, and the righteous correct these worlds,” working with Him like partners.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/11/2012, The Zohar

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In general, we don’t use adapted materials. The only exception is the text of Zohar L’Am (The Zohar for All), which we prepared not for ourselves but rather for the people. We see that it does help to create a close contact with the source. So as part of the help that we have to offer humanity that is sinking in the crisis, we must turn to the masses.

Baal HaSulam even went to Poland in order to become acquainted with the workers’ uprising movements. In general, he made great efforts to create a dialogue with the world: He published a newspaper, wrote The Writings of the Last Generation, tried to get closer to the people, spoke with Ben Gurion about the necessary changes in society, in education, and so on. Therefore, we, who are following Baal HaSulam’s footsteps, must promote and bring the masses even closer to the method that Baal HaSulam and Rabash left us.

Of course, we can’t write the right materials by ourselves. After all, we are not on a level that will enable us to fill them with the Light that Reforms. We have no connection with the upper Lights as did our teachers. But in order to serve as the link, the pipe that passes the Light to the people, we should try to be “Israel,” which means with the help of our teachers, to yearn as much as we can straight to the Creator (Yashar – El) and also to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” with regards to the world.

Therefore, we should try to adapt a bit the materials, written by our holy teachers, for the public—to adapt them externally, changing the inner content as little as possible, to the extent that we understand it. This will certainly be a corruption, but by that at least we start correcting something. Eventually, the world may begin to read the writings of Baal HaSulam and Rabash in their original form.

Therefore, we adapt the articles that appeal to a person and talk about his internal work, about his connection with the group and about getting closer to nature, to the Creator. After all, the Gematria (numerical value) of the word “God” (אלה-ים) is the same as “nature” (הטבע). We hope that this will help people come closer to the method of correction.

Let’s hope that the public will use these texts. They don’t repel the reader because they have been adapted so there is nothing that may seem religious, related to some sect or nationality. It’s about the balance between man and nature in our days, which is an essential precondition for saving humanity from the crisis and total collapse.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/11/2012

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While advancing toward revelation, we have to understand how to collect broken vessels (desires). Baal HaSulam writes about this in Igrot (Letters), Pg. 70: “However, because of the breaking of the vessels, all the Otiot (letters) were ejected to corporeal conducts and people. When one corrects oneself and reaches the root of one’s soul, he must collect them by himself, one-by-one, and bring them back to the root, to holiness.”

With the breakage of the vessels in the spiritual world, a coarser layer of desire was formed called “this world,” which is where we find ourselves now. Everything that happened at that time of breakage is now being revealed in our world in a corrupted form, between corporeal people.

And if a person realizes that everything happening between him and others is a result of the shattering of desires, he then takes all the connections with other people and returns them to the root, corrects them one by one. That means he “sentences himself and the entire world to a scale of merit.”

“The matter of the unification of the Creator and Divinity that one induces when he has had his fill of yearning and longing is precisely like the underside coupling, applying in the birth of a corporeal body. It too extends necessarily by cause and effect, meaning the hardening that is a certain measure of longing and yearning, called hardness in the corporeal tongue. Then, one’s seed is also blessed…” (Baal HaSulam, Igrot [Letters], Pg. 70).

A person reaches unity with the Creator only when he ardently longs for it. We possess a desire toward spiritual attainment, but it’s given to us from Above and doesn’t belong to us. Everyone was brought into a group at some point of time, and he comes to study because he is being awakened from Above. Everything he does is guided from Above; his actions are not yet his own, but the work of the Creator on him.

Apart from a desire, there is also yearning, and that is a special notion: an addition to the desire. It comes to me not from the Creator, but from the environment. When I connect with others, I receive their yearning toward spirituality. It’s an addition to the desire that I get from working with the environment. Only this yearning is counted in spiritual work, meaning only the additional desire that I gained with my own efforts, and I advance accordingly to it.

A simple desire toward spirituality can be great, and a person may be ready to study around the clock and to disseminate. But that’s not his own desire. He’s being wound up from Above like a windup toy; when you turn a key, it starts jumping. And a person can do a lot, but the question is whether this can be attributed to his own earned desire or to a desire given to him from Above.

Looking from aside, it’s impossible to know what’s the case. Only a person himself can examine and discover that. And in so doing, he won’t be able to complain about studying for so many years, learning so much, but not receiving a revelation. This is because the desire he is working with is not his, but belongs to the Creator who created it. He has to receive an addition to this desire that is called spiritual yearning.

It’s very important. However, many make the mistake of working with the original desire thinking that everything is fine: “Look at how much I do.” But only an addition that I earned with my own efforts is counted in spirituality. Everything that was given by the Creator is not counted because it existed in the world of Infinity. This is not why the development of the worlds and the breaking of Adam HaRishon took place. Everything already existed in the world of Infinity.

The only thing that didn’t exist in Infinity and that is required for us to start ascending from below upward is a spiritual yearning, pressure, and our own awakening. This is called MAN, a prayer.

We have to take this additional desire that didn’t exist in the world of Infinity from the environment. We have it thanks to the shattering! This is why I feel all the others as strangers. If they are separate from me, I can receive an impression from them. This impression is called “envy, lust, and ambition lead a person out of this world.”

I envy what others have and thereby increase my desire. This addition to my desire, which is called yearning, pressure, or perseverance with which I realize this desire, is what helps me build my spiritual vessel.
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From the Arava Convention 2/25/12, Lesson 7

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The fundamental difference of a new life that we have to build now is in the fact that in the past we advanced instinctively because we were governed by the force of reception alone. I was searching how to receive more in any place.

And now I have to develop an approach that shows as much empathy for others as possible, to connect, to complete, to unite with them. Then, the two forces will begin to work within me together: the one that I am developing now, which is the force of bestowal, connection, mutual participation, and love, and the old force of reception within me.

The force of reception does not die. It does not remain the same, but continues to grow and develop along with the force of bestowal. Now these two forces complete each other at the human degree, and this gives me more room for creativity.

This development is no longer blind; I no longer move in the direction egoism pushes me to, when I obediently run to each bait, rushing in all directions. Now, I am developing with understanding and feeling, consciously and critically evaluating what is happening. I make corrections by combining these two forces, supplementing them with each other, and joining them so as to reach a more balanced state all the time.

There is balance in every atom, molecule, or living organism. Then, on top of this balance, we discover an additional desire and achieve balance at a higher level. Thus, we evolve from a perfect state to a more perfect state. This is the process we have to go through.

The main objective of this process is to develop our consciousness: What are we for, and in what system do we truly exist? Then, penetrating into the depths of our nature by balancing our two internal forces, we begin to feel the concealed layers, forces, and spaces not accessible to us now.

Then, we will enter the system of forces that are above time, space, and motion. We will reach realizations and inner fulfillments in our feelings and mind, which have no connection whatsoever with the existence of our body. After all, this takes place only in spiritual attainment, in new consciousness that we obtain. Our body is only a carrier for the initial instinctive forces necessary to reach the human degree.

That is why we should appreciate this period and these transitional states, understanding how unique our time and conditions are. We have approached the moment of our birth as a human being, Adam, “similar” to nature. We have before us a nice and kind development that includes personal understanding and attainment, which takes us to a wonderful life without any restrictions.
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From KabTV’s “A New Life” Episode 12, 1/10/12

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Question: It is written in “Purpose of Society (1)” by Rabash: “We have gathered here to establish a society for all who wish to study and follow the laws of nature.” What are these laws of nature?

Answer: “God” (אלה-ים), is “nature” (הטבע) according to Gematria. Studying and carrying out the Creator’s will is the same as studying and carrying out the laws of nature.

The world is in a crisis that has no solution, and we have to know what is happening. Why are we not able to get along with nature? Why do we bring new disasters upon ourselves every single day? Animals and vegetation are disappearing; there is deforestation; people are dying from contamination…. Briefly speaking, we are destroying nature. And you see yourself how it responds to this.

And finally, what is happening to my wallet? Even if I have several million in the bank, I do not know what to do with them. Today no one can tell me where to invest it to make sure it is safe.

So, tomorrow is in the dark. I do not know what I am preparing for my children and grandchildren, I do not know whether we will have anything to eat and how we can provide for ourselves. We all want certainty and fulfillment, and no one promises me fulfillment tomorrow. On the contrary, everyone says that there will be a collapse.

Why? Today it is clear that no one knows the reasons why. We have decent comprehension of the crisis situation and we have discovered that there is not a single sage in the world who could explain to us what is actually happening.

In this case, it is necessary to turn to nature and learn from it—if it is possible, of course. And so I am told that there is a science, opportunities that will give me the necessary knowledge to provide for a better future for myself. And then I begin to study; maybe things are not that complicated after all? It’s the same way a businessman turns to a consulting firm that can give him the right advice, for example, to buy gold or quickly sell his factory.

This also refers to simple things: I want to be healthy, have a place to live, provide for my family, give a good education to my children, and be safe and well off in general. This is a normal and rational level of one’s demands. But today it is unattainable because of a total multi-crisis.

So how can we come out of it? We need to study the laws of nature in which we exist. After all, we do not know enough about it and man. Possibly, human beings have qualities and faculties that can help us to make it less bad, destructive, and harmful. And this will make the world better.

Indeed, it is clear that only man is the source of all the misfortunes. Everyone agrees with it, but it is followed by a sacramental question: “But what can we do?” So, there is a science that explains how to correct man. Do it and everything will work out.

Otherwise, we are following the path of the dinosaurs. Species are disappearing fast, and we might end up “back at the bottom of the ladder” in the coming years. And we are not even told everything to avoid panic in the society. And really, why should people know all the truth if it will make them lose their minds from the impending threat? We often are sincerely willing to close our eyes to an impending disaster, if we do not know the ways to prevent it. It is written regarding this: “We will eat and drink since we will die tomorrow.”

And this is why it is necessary to disseminate the message about the method of correction and make it clear, pleasant, and accessible to everyone. If we become acquainted with the laws that operate in nature and in man, if we understand the way they interact, the key to good changes will be in our hands. And if not, the crisis will continue to spread. We will not be able to end it; on the contrary, things will only get worse.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/11/2012

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Even when a person finally begins to hear what is being said about different kinds of bestowal that need to be attained, there is still a big difference in what bestowal he wants to enjoy. And then it is important with what bestowal he wants to bring contentment—changes also happen there. After all, he begins to understand that there is egoistic bestowal.

And this is what we reveal in the group. We enjoy getting together, it lifts our spirits and we feel inspired—so why not unite? Besides, we think that it helps us advance spiritually. But let us think: What are we are advancing towards? It is pleasure, even though it seems to be due to bestowal! Is this already spiritual pleasure or not yet?

However, in either case, we exert efforts and the Light affects us, clarifying our desires. As a consequence, we begin to better understand the different types of reception and bestowal—for whose sake they are performed—until we finally begin to perceive new flavors, which happens only with the help of the Light that Reforms, only by the group effort.

Now a person is able to distinguish between “strong spices” and the “food” itself. On one hand, he needs his desires to receive as “spices.” But on the other, he does not enjoy them, but the real “food” whose flavor they bring out—his degree of bestowal. One is built on the other.

And one does not need a lot of pepper, salt, or mustard to bring out the flavor of food, even though you cannot manage without them either. The same happens with our efforts to add our own aspiration to the work of the Light. It does not need to be big; a big effort is not required of us. But this effort is necessary and it helps us “find.”

This is why we need to try to evaluate every state we experience: Whether our states are really spiritual and stand for spiritual advancement? Or perhaps these are additives with an opposite flavor: pepper, salt, and mustard, and not the flavor of the Light and bestowal. These additives help to separate the form of bestowal, the Light that comes to us, on their background—the form that is expected of us from Above.

But this work is very important; it is necessary for preparation of spiritual vessels. Our work is to make efforts, which leads to a “finding,” as it is written: “I have labored and found!” This is the main principal of spiritual advancement.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/1/2012, Shamati #117

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Correction occurs from the easiest to increasingly more difficult. However, the due correction seems difficult to us on every degree, and we cannot imagine anything bigger and harder. Every person perceives it according to their own degree.

Yet if we look at the whole spiritual ladder, it is certain that the higher we rise, the more difficult the desires we work with are. But with the experience that one has already received and the partially corrected desires that he has previously reached, it is easier for a person to overcome these hardships and advance.

It is written that “wisdom comes with experience.” Thus we perceive corrections with more ease, they become clearer to us. The key is to conquer the first degree. The most difficult thing is to open your eyes.

Let’s hope that we will accomplish it very soon. It depends on the world and us since we are inseparable from each other.
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From the Preparation for the Lesson 3/9/2012

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