What is the end of correction? Let us say that I need to fix my car to go somewhere. I take it to a shop, and the mechanic fixes it. Once the car is fixed, this means that I have completed the correction. Now, in a fixed car (or, if it is us we are correcting, then with a corrected common soul) we begin our trip upwards.

However, we do not speak about this. We only speak about the way to attain correction. Kabbalists do not say what happens to the corrected soul. They only hint about the things that await us there, but this is an even higher reality, above all the worlds, above the World of Infinity.
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From Lesson 8, World Kabbalah Congress 2010, 11/11/10

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Question: If I engage in inner work and ask for help, how do I recognize the answer?

Answer: In order to give us clear answers and, in general, to talk with us and maintain a constant communication which can be verified, identified, and felt, the Creator has given us a group and resides in it. If you unite with the group, you will find Him there. When you meet Him one day, you will see that He can be found only in very heart of the bond with the group.

The Creator is hiding behind them all and seems to be telling you: “All right, now you’ve united with everyone, and that means that you’ve united with Me.” He broke the Kli (vessel) so that by reuniting the pieces we would finally find Him. By bringing together the broken vessel, we reconstruct and compose the image of the Creator before us.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/12/10, Shamati #26

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The Zohar, Chapter “BeShalach (When Pharoah Sent),” Items 466-467: “And Aaron and Hur supported his hands.”… When he raised means that he raised the right over the left. By that, it meant that when he spread his hands, Israel prevailed, Israel above, ZA. “And when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.”

The right refers to Hesed (the quality of mercy), and the Light of Hassadim (Mercy) is what we need most. First and foremost the Light of correction, the Light of Hassadim, must reign within us for that is what binds everybody together.

It reigns inside our desire (Kli), covers it with the intention to bestow, and then, to the extent the Kli is corrected by the intention to bestow, the Kli can be clothed by the Light of Hochma (Wisdom), which is the Creator’s presence, His sensation and revelation.

But before the Creator is revealed, we need equivalence with Him. This is done by the Light of Hassadim, the Light of bestowal and mercy (Hessed), filling us at our request.

Therefore, the entire war between Moses and Amalek (Amalek is an abbreviation of Al MenAt LEKabel, “for the sake of receiving”) amounts to Moses initially demanding the Light of Mercy, the force of Hassadim, which is the force of Aaron who supports him from the right. Then Moses begins to raise his heavy hands, called “the hands of faith.” Why are they heavy? It is because his desire to enjoy is great and constantly growing on account of Amalek.

When the desire to enjoy is awakened in a person, his hands, “the hands of faith,” the symbol of bestowal, are lowered, and the intention for himself overcomes him once more. What follows is the necessity to support Moses’ hands.

Hence, the Upper Forces come out against Amalek: the right, Aaron, and the left, Hur, while the Light descends from Above and clothes one’s desire, corrected by faith, the Light of Bina. Then Moses is able to defeat Amalek, his egoism.

This takes place in many situations in our work: The desire to enjoy grows, and we must wage war against it.
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From 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/15/10, The Zohar

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Question: What does it mean to ask the Light for correction, to turn to the Light?

Answer: We need to understand that the actual correction does not depend on us. We are the desire for pleasure, and if we are able to do anything, it is only to evoke the action from Above.

Our entire work is the raising of MAN, the request for correction, but the Creator does all the work. This is why our path is called “the Creator’s work.” We exert efforts in the group and studying only to convince each other of the need to develop a single aspiration described as: “Israel, the Torah, and the Creator are one.”

We should not forget for even a second that we must ask for correction. Everything is only given through a prayer, an appeal, the uncovering of the need. I do not just want something abstract: I want to correct the Kelim (vessels), I want to be like You, I want to be big.

A child looks at those who are older and instinctively wants to grow up. So I also want the same, but I do not just want, I demand it. After all, the force of development comes from the Creator. We will not grow up without asking Him for help.

The problem is that we consider ourselves to be actual participants. We think that we can make things happen on our own. But in reality, nothing depends on us except for the revelation of the desire.

So how do I reveal it? Through uniting with others. They, too, don’t have the strength, but they have desires, and this is all I need.

The desire I receive from my friends is far greater than the one I had initially. Imbued with this desire, I strive to unite with them, and I do not succeed. Now I can finally turn to the Creator.

Through our collective action at the Convention, we have discovered that we are unable to unite. It has never been this clear before. A wall appeared clearly before us, and our efforts broke against it. Now all that we need to do is turn to the power of the Light for it to break this wall. And we really can appeal to it.

We must demand correction while studying, especially when reading The Zohar. You can ask and receive an answer right now, right this moment.

Your ego is in the way; you have frozen like a rock: “Who else should I ask? I don’t see a Creator around here.” That’s true, so demand to Him to reveal Himself and make it clear for you to whom and how to ask.

We are egoists and we will not break the Machsom on our own. When egoism becomes an unbreakable wall, we ask the Creator for strength to rise over it.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, The Zohar, “Introduction to The Zohar”

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When we turn to the works of Kabbalists, we can either study the science or the Torah (the method of correction). “Science” implies regular sciences such as physics, chemistry, history, geography, and so on. This is what academics think of Kabbalah. According to them, The Zohar was written in Spain in the Middle Ages, and not 2,000 years ago in Israel.

Scientists are trying to draw knowledge and information from Kabbalistic sources. They discuss the style, analyze texts, and try to draw a correlation between the text and historic events.

This rational approach has nothing to do with “studying the Torah.” This is because the Torah is a method of correcting our nature and becoming similar to the Creator in our properties. The Creator becomes revealed within us to the extent of this similarity.

The purpose of all the “holy” books is to reveal the Creator to man. However, primary sources like the Five Books of Moses, Talmud, and Mishnah are narrated with an earthly, material language; they describe the Upper World through corporeal images. It is difficult for us to see spiritual actions in these narrations.

But the language of Kabbalistic books helps to avoid deviating from the direction towards correction and similarity to the Creator. This is because it speaks of correcting yourself through unity in order to reveal the Creator.

This is why the language of Kabbalah is most appropriate for the attainment of the goal for which the Torah has been given. It is written: “I created the evil inclination and the Torah because the Light in it reforms.” For us, the Torah is a method of correction; it is not a science, but the Light that Reforms.

It is written that one must bless the Torah before studying it, otherwise he will receive a curse instead of a blessing. This means that one needs to concentrate on correction. “To bless the Torah” means to thank the Creator for giving you the opportunity to correct yourself with the help of the Light that is hidden in it.

The Zohar describes our correcting the connection, that which was broken between us. This is why we must strive towards unity when studying it and wait for the Light, the force that corrects our connection. Only then, to the extent of our unity and the mutual guarantee, the Creator will become revealed between us.

So let us “bless the Torah”: Think about the creation of the collective Kli as we turn to The Zohar.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, The Zohar, “Introduction to The Zohar“

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Question: If there is none else but the Creator and I do not exist, then how can I ask Him to become like Him?

Answer: You ask the Creator to become like Him precisely because you do not exist and for now it is all Him. Consequently, you will also reveal the point of your “I.” You only have one independent point, the point in the heart, which He gave you to begin building your independence with it.

Your independence is precisely in your requesting the Creator to make you similar to Him. When you begin to ask, demand to become like Him, possess His powers, then everything that you receive from Him will be on your account. After all, you gathered this desire and realized it. This will be your "I." And all your corporal desires and properties do not count at all, as if they never existed.

Question cont.: But in order to ask the Upper One for help, I must know who He is. How do I build the image of the Creator, which I must turn to, within me?

Answer: The image of the Creator is built with your questions, requests, and contradictions. This form is opposite to the Creator, and His image gradually becomes revealed in it.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, The Zohar

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Question: Since after the Convention, while reading The Book of Zohar, I feel as if I have fallen into a black hole. What should I do?

Answer: You should try to climb out of it! Be like a frog that dabbles in the milk it fell into and whips it with its legs until the milk becomes cheese. Then the frog is able to jump out.

There is no other choice. It is written: “Whatever is in your power, do it!”
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, The Zohar

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If on our path spiritual fulfillment would become available to us as everybody is asking, it would block our desire for spirituality. This is the greatest obstacle on the path.

Hence, I am given a wall that blocks my way. I stand before it, anticipating the wonders awaiting me on the other side. Yet, if such a wall has been revealed to me, it means I am already equipped with a force of resistance so that I wouldn’t quit advancing, but rather would break through this wall.

Even though I cannot accomplish it in one blow and must apply a few more strikes until I break it, the wall will keep cracking and will finally crumble. But I already have the necessary breaking force, the power of attack, or I wouldn’t be shown it.

If we now see the wall standing before us, the wall we have within, in our hearts, it is a sign of our ability to break through it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t show since “obstacles are not placed in front of the blind.” I thought we were able to overcome it, and this is why we made a step toward unity.

Now, we just have to unite thanks to studying and the rest of the work that we do and gradually collect, crumb to crumb, all our efforts in one collective breaking force. We need to do it in order to probably discover again that this force is insufficient to break through, and we have to unite even more.

And thus again and again we will gather more strength and increase pressure until the wall falls. That is the stage of the exodus from Egypt, the very end. This is why it brings joy.

The problem is that right now everyone experiences this wall on their own. Meanwhile, we have to feel that this wall is common for all, and to the extent that we do, we will feel that the force that we are trying to employ to break through this wall is collective as well. In that case, it would be not one person but the group standing against it.

It is similar to fleeing from Egypt: one night, one Pharaoh, one threat, same plagues for all Israel unified as one man with one heart. Nobody is counted separately from the others, and everybody unites together. This is how the group must feel. In that case, despite the frightening height of the wall, we will still overpower it.

That is because when people unite, they discover that they lack the Creator’s presence among them, and without Him, we cannot do! He will become the very force of this breakthrough that will ruin the wall.

Pharaoh himself will assist us. After all, it is he who is chasing Israel out of Egypt and then follows and guides them, as The Zohar describes. A person keeps trying to go back, whereas Pharaoh throws them all out of Egypt as he is a faithful assistant of the Creator.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose”

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Question: What should I do if I am constantly finding new flaws in myself while being on this path, as if I am running a lengthy marathon?

Answer: Think of it as a sign of advancement! There are criminals who take pride in their transgressions, and we should learn from them and be proud that we managed to discover these flaws within ourselves, that we are indeed criminals! If I find that I am such in order to assist my advancement toward the goal, I have to rejoice in it.

It is similar to being a scientist who is studying himself and keeps discovering how much is yet unknown and what enormous field of work lies ahead of him. So, he is glad that he has an opportunity to advance and a place to work and explore. We should view it as work in the internal laboratory.

You work as a scientist who is making discoveries and corrections, and you are moving into Infinity, unaware of the final destination point, constantly discovering something new. Treat this process constructively and creatively for you are building new worlds while you are uncovering and reconstructing them from the broken parts!

Do you wish to quickly earn a little money and retire?! Such folks don’t get to know spirituality for it is not meant for this sort. We have to be persistent as true heroes are. A hero isn’t the one who beats another to a pulp but the one who breaks his own ego. It happens specifically by overcoming all unpleasant states thereby finding an opportunity to spiritually evolve and become a human.

I understand that it is frightening for it is written that Moses feared Pharaoh greatly. He fled from Egypt and was afraid to return there until he reached the degree of Bina when the Creator revealed Himself to Moses in the “burning bush.”

Clearly, we have the same fear. But if you are in the group, there is no evil that may rise in front of you and be worth fearing longer than an instant. At first, I get scared when I unfold something unpleasant that I didn’t expect to find in myself.

But if I am connected with the environment, then in an instant, I realize that it is a spring board which helps me to leap forth toward the goal. Alternatively, if you don’t view the evil as purposeful and instead start digging into it and “eat” yourself, it means that you don’t have a connection with the external force, the group.

You see this journey as a lengthy tiring marathon? But that’s what your life is given to you for! You are in this world to begin and finish your correction.

Don’t think that you can get everything done in a year or two, after which you will rest in your spiritual retirement and enjoy the illumination of Shechina. Indeed, it is written that the righteous live in the joyous presence of Shechina, but they are able to do so because they are constantly engaged in spiritual work, raising such powerful Reflected Light, the Light of Hassadim (Mercy), that Shechina can tirelessly shine on their “heads,” their intentions.

They work restlessly, as it is written that “the righteous don’t rest in this world or the next one.” What rest can there be if you desire to bestow? There is no greater punishment than being unable to bestow, which is similar to the pain of the mother who cannot feed her child.

Bestowal is the greatest reward. So, do not seek rest.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/16/10, “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose”

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We have done a great job! In the upcoming days, weeks, and months, it will become clear to us what a substantial leap we have made. Never before have we raised such questions and spoke so openly about unification that has been the theme of the recent convention. For the very first time, we have tapped upon the essence of our correction, the wisdom of Kabbalah, and our soul.

It has been a truly radical change, and we will never be the same as before. Now we are mutually connected, but we must keep working at it harder and harder, until we get to see that the Creator is filling us more and more by the minute and that all cosmos, including this world, is permeated with the Upper Light, and we are dwelling in it.

All of the worlds where we are bonded, mutually intertwined like a grid-net, are starting to clearly emerge. We will come to that!

There is the time of giving and the time of receiving. Giving from Above exists and has to manifest itself; all we need is just a little bit more sensitivity to feel that the Creator is filling the world, the air between us, and the entire reality. A bit more subtlety, enthusiasm, receptivity, and openness toward the others, and we shall see that we are living the revelation.

I think everyone will begin to feel that it is possible, that it isn’t some fantasy. Rather, it becomes true thanks to our individual efforts in seeking and finding the Creator.

Try to bring out your inner empathy. What is faith? Faith is a sensation of bestowal. The book Faith and Hope says that “faith is a subtle predisposition, the attribute of a delicate and sensitive soul.” It is what we need: a subtle inclination of an empathic soul.

We must get to feel that this Upper Force truly dwells among us. It is as if we are trying to see something and when we finally manage to get a glimpse of it, we become convinced that it exists and are surprised at how we couldn’t see it until now. If you withdraw your glance yet again and lose focus, it becomes harder for you to find it next time, but at least now you know that it is real.

The difficulty lies in getting to see it for the first time. We have to adjust our vision or, rather, our heart a bit.
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From Lesson 8, World Kabbalah Congress 2010, 11/11/10

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