Question: It has been several weeks since I found myself in a fog that has blocked years of studies. I barely understand the words. If it weren’t for the group, I wouldn’t be here anymore. No matter how much effort I make, nothing can bring me out of it. What should I do?

Answer: This shows that you have made a profound effort. You probably participated in the convention and our collective states, you received an enormous amount of Light, and now in this Light you see that you don’t merit the revelation of the property of bestowal. Your desires (Kelim) don’t need bestowal yet, and they subconsciously reject it.

Thus, we are dealing with the state of fog, fatigue, confusion, helplessness, and unwillingness. Everything is clear except one thing: Why I can’t assert myself above all these feelings, these psychological obstacles? Why am I unable to detach myself from it and determine what is happening to me? After all, this is how a physician diagnoses a patient as well.

If you examine yourself thoroughly, you will see that you are going through the correct state, the right stage on the spiritual path. In fact, our sages tell us that one is never lowered in spirituality, rather one is always elevated.

And yet, how long will it take you to awaken from your slumber? That is up to you. Are you hastening the time? Your condition is favorable for advancement, but you must detach from it and move on as soon as possible.
[29134]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/8/10, “Introduction from The Book of Zohar, Article “Mother Lends Her Clothes to Her Daughter”

Related Material:
The Perfect Formula For Spiritual Ascent
The Benefit Of Pretence

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Inner Work, Q&A - 1 Comment →

Question: Is there a sign to help me see whether or not I’ve managed to awaken the friends in the group? Will they appear happier?

Answer: Only children can feel happy without a reason, but an adult cannot. He can only rejoice when he has completed his task: reached the goal of adhesion with the Creator.

If you read King David’s Psalms, you will see that he doesn’t stop talking to the Creator; he is either crying and asking the Creator for help or blessing Him. These are two opposite states, and a person must remain in both of them. On one hand, he is screaming and crying, begging the Creator; on the other, he is happy that he has the need to turn to the Creator, to demand from Him, and that the Creator has given him this opportunity.

His body or ego suffers, but his soul rejoices in knowing that thanks to these states, it receives the privilege to ascend to spirituality and connect to the Creator. Therefore, the book of Psalms is the most holy book since regardless how King David feels, good or bad, he experiences adhesion with the Creator.

But how can there be adhesion when one feels bad? After all, if I am in adhesion, I am supposed to rejoice. Why is he crying then? He is crying because he is lamenting his uncorrected desire while his intention is in adhesion with the Creator.

This is something that we are still unable to comprehend or to act accordingly. We are still acting like little children. When something doesn’t go our way, we fall into despair or, on the contrary, when we become happy about something, we forget about everything else. But we are unable to stay in both of these states at the same time, and it’s a shame.

This means that a person cannot control himself because he cannot correctly connect the events he is going through. On one hand, he has to undergo these unpleasant states, while on the other, he has to feel a connection with the Creator, the One who sends these mishaps, confusion, and problems.

But in the group, where there is a connection between the friends, this can’t occur because one friend is in a state of ascent, another is in a descent, a third friend is asleep, and so on. Thus, a person perceives all of these states simultaneously and is included in all of them.

There are those who are strong and others who are weak, but everyone, in accordance with their personal attributes, receives problems, traps, and difficulties from Above. Each person undergoes them; the only question is how quickly the states give way to each other.

We are given an opportunity to “take off” a 1000 times faster than what is happening with us today. And this means that we can reach spirituality not in a thousand years, but at this very moment!
[29121]
From Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/3/10, Writings of Rabash, Letter 24

Related Material:
Why Wait For The Blows?
Manual: How To Bring Joy Back

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Inner Work, Q&A - 1 Comment →

Write down and learn what the intention has to be during the lesson: to merge with one another as one man with one heart, inside the system of our interconnection called “mutual guarantee.” On one hand, every person feels himself, and on the other hand, above this sensation he feels such a strong connection with others that he is unable to perform even one free motion. That is how devoted a person has to be to the group.

It’s as if I am weaved into a spider web through which all of my incoming and outgoing signals pass. I don’t have anything of my own in the mind or the heart. There is just one point remaining, which constantly yearns toward this net with all its strength, wishing to give itself to it.

This is self-rejection. To the degree I give myself to others, the Upper Light influences me and makes me a part of the common net. Then I feel how on one hand I am devoted to it, and on the other hand, it is all mine.

It’s the same as how a mother gives all of herself to the child and they both feel that the child is hers. One does not exist without the other. It says about this in the Song of Songs, “I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me.” That is how we must work.
[29231]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/9/10, The Zohar

Related Material:
Place Of Residence: The Group
A Clear Criterion
My Contribution

Filed under: Collective Soul, Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Inner Work, Prayer and Intention, Unity, Zohar - No Comments →

“Introduction from The Book of Zohar,” Article “The Rose”: “Katnut [infancy/smallness] is called “a rose among the thorns,” since her bottom nine were emptied from the light of Atzilut and remained as thorns. Gadlut is called plainly “a rose” or “the Assembly of Israel.” This is why it was said, “There is a rose, and there is a rose.”

Question: What advice would you give a new student who finds himself at a Kabbalah lesson for the first time?

Answer: Our Source is called “Infinity” (Ein Sof). From there and through the World of Adam Kadmon (AK), the Light descends to the common Tabur (navel). Below are the Partzufim of the World of Atzilut: Atik, Arich Anpin (AA), Abba ve Ima (AVI), and ZON (Zeir Anpin and Nukva). Below them are the Worlds of Beria, Yetzira, and Assiya (BYA).

We study what is happening in the World of Atzilut. For us, it’s of utmost importance for here is where governance is conducted, where the past, present, and future are contained. It is concluded with the Parsa (border, separating line) which restricts the diffusion of the Light of Hochma (Wisdom).

Below, in the Worlds of BYA, there are the broken souls, whereas our world is all the way at the bottom, below the common finishing (Sium) line which stems from Infinity. Here, we exist in our bodies until we are awakened spiritually.

The souls raise their desire, their appeal for correction, to Malchut of the World of Atzilut. She utilizes her connection with Zeir Anpin and raises the souls’ desire to him.

To the extent that Zeir Anpin connects to Malchut, they become a joint Partzuf called ZON and ascend to AVI. Zeir Anpin ascends to Abba, the fatherly Partzuf, while Malchut ascends to Ima, the motherly Partzuf.

ZON obligates “father and mother” to give them all the necessary Lights, corrections and fulfillments, and then return to their places. There, they become “big,” acquire the adult state of Gadlut. This helps us clarifiy the meaning of the two states of the “rose” or Malchut: Katnut and Gadlut.

In the first state, she represents only the point of the Upper Sefira, Keter, whereas its other nine Sefirot are below the Parsa. Also here are the forces of filth (Klipot, shells). This is the meaning of the phrase, “a rose among the thorns”: Malchut among the Klipot. It is Malchut’s first, smallest state.

In her adult state, Malchut elevates her lower nine Sefirot, makes a Zivug (mating, coupling) with Zeir Anpin by unifying with him, and thereby becomes a genuine rose, blossoming to its full beauty. Malchut can become this way only when her “thorns,” meaning Kelim (vessels) that are unconnected and unfulfilled by Zeir Anpin, ascend to a Zivug with him.

All of this is evoked by the broken souls when they unite together, and it is they who bring about the correction of Zeir Anpin and Malchut. Herein lies our entire work: to bring about the correction of ZON until they reach their ultimate state.
[27910]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/28/10, “Introduction from The Book of Zohar,” Article “The Rose”

Related Material:
Invitation to The Bride’s Chamber
Working With The Light
The Only Desire That Attains The Goal

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work, Q&A, Zohar - No Comments →

Question: In reality, I don’t like my friends at all. What states can help me recognize the Creator in the group?

Answer: You don’t like the Creator to the degree you don’t like your friends. In order to reveal the Light, you need the vessel of love. I connect with the inner point of my friend, with his spiritual desire.

If he is in the group, it’s certain that the Creator brought him here. The Creator gave the point in the heart to my friend, and this is why we are together. I have to connect to this inner point all the rest of the properties which I see in my friend and in myself.

These properties have to become the support, the ground for the growth and development of this point. All our desires will be building a new spiritual Partzuf around it.
[27904]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/28/10, “Introduction from The Book of Zohar,” Article “The Rose”

Related Material:
Give Yourself To The Friends Without Leaving Out Anything
My Beloved Group

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Inner Work - No Comments →

Unlike in our world where faith is called some assumption taken as a fact, in the wisdom of Kabbalah, faith means the sensation of the Creator. Faith is Bina, the property of bestowal. When we acquire it, we reveal the common force which fills the world. Then we feel it, exist in connection with it, and attain it. This is called reason.

In this case, why are we talking about faith above reason? When I exist in the egoistic nature, I have some knowledge or opinion.

In order to rise to the spiritual level, I need an external power which will transform me, and as a result will lift me to a new level of perception above egoism to the property of bestowal. This perception is called faith, the power of Bina. Meanwhile, our corporeal knowledge is received inside us, in the property to receive, in Malchut.

If I have achieved bestowal, faith, the Light of Hassadim (Mercy), then I become filled with the Light of Hochma (Wisdom) or reason. Once I become filled with reason (knowledge), I exist in the next state, in Malchut.

Once again, I have to rise to a higher degree. How do I do that? I do it with the help of faith, the power of Bina, the Light of Hassadim, bestowal. When I have the Light of Hassadim, I fill it with the Light of Hochma again. Then again I have reason (knowledge).

This way I advance by using faith above reason. This is precisely the lever that allows me to rise more and more each time.
[27898]
From Kabbalah for Beginners, “Faith” 12/24/10

Related Material:
To Believe Means To Feel
The Great Property Of Bina

Filed under: Inner Work - No Comments →

The wisdom of Kabbalah is particularly the science that explains to us how to change ourselves. Then, accordingly, our world turns into a different, upper world in which various changes begin to take place.

Kabbalah tells me that I am situated against the Light, but I don’t feel it. Instead, like in an x-ray picture, I see my own qualities in front of me. In other words, if I see people, stars, or the whole world; all of these are my qualities against the Light.

How do I begin to change at least something in me? I want to make sure that this picture truly is a result of my inner world and that it is not coincidental. So, I begin this game. I change myself in some regard, and the picture around me also changes. I change a little more, and again the surrounding world changes slightly. It truly is an interesting game!

In the article “The Creator’s Concealment And Revelation,” Baal HaSulam writes that to a person who has a particular perception of reality it seems at first that some people are successful, others are miserable, and others are ill. However, after he changes himself, he sees that the same people are completely different. Those who seemed stupid, suddenly become smart, poor people become rich, and successful people suddenly lose everything.

In order to change your qualities and control reality through this, we are given a teacher, books, and a group in the present reality. If we use them to reveal the Light or Creator, the qualities of bestowal and love, we rouse the Light that exists outside of us, and this Light influences our desire, changes it until it becomes equal to Him, the Creator.

It turns out that if I desire to change something, I only need to change myself.
[27892]
From the Introductory Lecture Series, “Perception of Reality” 11/23/10

Related Material:
X-ray Of My Ego
It Isn’t Just A Game
Appealing To The Creator Together

Filed under: Inner Work, Perception - No Comments →

Question: We are talking about a line and a circle, but I am missing some additional shape. It seems that there should be a cone also, not just a line and a circle.

Answer: Just like there is no one except the Creator and the created being, there is also nothing except a circle and a line. A triangle, a square, a hexagon (the unification of two triangles, an upper and lower one), and a diagonal line are artificial, temporary forms in the process of correction.

Only lines and circles exist in nature, and they turn into one whole in the World of Infinity. Where the intention is only for the sake of bestowal, the line becomes equal to a circle. The round Light of the World of Infinity spreads out in the form of a circle, passes through a line, and achieves a round shape again. Then, it comes down again through a line and comes to a circle again, and so on.

All the circles are connected to each other with lines, and the line segments interlace with circles. There are lots of such garlands. Atik, Arich Anpin, and YESHSUT consist of a multitude of such wonderful systems. Sometimes, space is depicted this way.

Each of us consists of such structures, and there isn’t a single detail that is not built from circles and lines. This is caused by the fact that GAR (the upper three Sefirot) of each degree consists of circles, and ZAT (the seven lower Sefirot) consists only of lines. Thus, both are present in each Partzuf and its part.

In other words, you have a connection with the World of Infinity through the circle, and through the line, you have connection to the line. Thus, you consist of these two shapes.
[27889]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/19/10, Talmud Eser Sefirot

Related Material:
At The Center Of All Circles And At The End Of The Line
Geometry Of Feelings
Stretched Out Into A Line By The Light

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work, Q&A - 1 Comment →

If you gain what you so passionately desire by going through a lot of pain, you give thanks for the bad like for the good. Obviously, it isn’t the path of Light, but such is reality. We, however, have to advance only by way of the Light, as it is written: “In Your Light, we shall see Light.”

Why can’t I feel this evil long before it hits me? Why can’t I run ahead of the blow? I know it is possible! If I enter the group, I receive an awareness of my evil from the friends. It isn’t the Light that comes from Above which reveals it to me, but I discover and recognize it on my own.

Making efforts to unite with the friends, I see how unable I am to do so and feel my total uselessness. At the same time, however, I receive the greatness of the goal, cry to the Creator for help, and advance.

Having received the Surrounding Light, I turn to the group again, only to feel resentment once more, and cry out to the Creator again. He provides the Light that Reforms. The Creator draws me closer to Himself and holds me up. I begin to feel, understand, and attain more, thereby moving ahead. Then, the cycle repeats.

This is a non-stop, unbroken action that must be performed at an infinite frequency, and you are to be constantly in it. Moreover, your plea to the Creator and to the group, as well as receiving the Surrounding Light, occurs automatically. One follows the other.

You simply “press the pedal” to move in the right direction. As to how all the “cogwheels” spin in the “engine,” you are not interested in that. So, why wait for the blows?
[29022]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/3/10, Writings of Rabash, Letter 24

Related Material:
Building The Vessel Of Love
A Clear Criterion

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Group Work, Inner Work - No Comments →

Question: Why did Nekudot de SAG descend below the Tabur of Galgalta? What do they bring to the lower Partzufim?

Answer: Nekudot de SAG are Bina that descended under the Tabur of Galgalta in order to merge with Malchut (NHY de Galgalta) and fill it, thereby finishing the entire correction since the Sof de Galgalta is Malchut of the World of Infinity.

The end result of its attempt to fill NHY de Galgalta is the World of Nekudim. It collects all of the unfilled desires of NHY de Galgalta and all the forces of Bina, and builds a Partzuf from all of this, the World of Nekudim in its adult state (Gadlut), which breaks.

This outcome was impossible to predict, but now, as a result of the breaking of the screen, Bina includes all of the records of the breaking in it. Using these Reshimot (reminiscences, spiritual data), it can start working with them beginning with the lightest and ending with the heaviest in order to carry out the creation’s correction program correctly.

Hence, we see that it is impossible to correct something unless it’s broken first. It is written, “There is no righteous in the land who did not sin first.” It cannot be. If someone thinks that it is possible to perform corrections without getting involved in the breaking, it is unrealistic. What is there to correct without it?
[29042]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/7/10, Talmud Eser Sefirot

Related Material:
We Have Discovered Pharaoh; The Creator Is Next
Does The Process Itself Exist?

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Inner Work, Q&A - No Comments →