Today, people are increasingly worried about their well-being. Essentially, every person in the world can be provided with all that he or she needs, but we are unable to accomplish this. Even the richest and most powerful people don’t feel absolute security and fulfillment that can be accomplished by the collective love: mutual guarantee. It will be possible only if we take care of each other.

Humanity thought that material wealth would satisfy it, but the American dream, the society of consumers, has ruined itself. We have reached the need to change our attitude to life. The sensation of goodness, peacefulness, and completeness is not defined by how much I own. We can’t be satisfied with any fulfillment.

True contentment will become possible only when the Light starts flowing between us. But to achieve this, we have to open the way for it through our mutual caring for each other. While thinking about others, I unblock the system, thanks to which contentment will definitely fill them and me. We need this contentment to realize Arvut (mutual guarantee) so we may start worrying about how to fill the Creator.

At first, we think that our exerted efforts will simply result in our feeling good. And only when everyone starts truly thinking about everybody else, annulling individual egoism, then our intention will switch to altruism. Thus, from Lo Lishma, we arrive at Lishma, in the measure of our realization of mutual guarantee.
[23674]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/8/10, “The Arvut”

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Question: How do I give guarantee to the group? What do I need to care for?

Answer: You care for the friends, eager to give them a feeling of confidence. In all of reality there isn’t any lack except for our desire aimed at the mutual interconnectedness.

The Light is willing to fill all of us, but we stand in its way. I don’t think about you; I even hate you, thereby blocking the channel through which the Light has to come to you. It turns out that your problems exist because of me and alike: I don’t allow infinite abundance to reach you.

This, in fact, is the broken system. The Creator created the World of Infinity, all souls, and the channels between them and entrusted us with these channels. But I, with my hatred, block all the channels for everybody. And so does each of us.

Now, the Kabbalists say, the time has come when we must, together, open the channels to the flow of the Light. Thanks to the collective effort, the Light will start spouting in them again, and everyone will realize that he doesn’t feel any lack. This is the law of the closed system of nature. And we, in our world, feel its negative effect more and more.

There is no choice: The channels connecting us were blocked from Above, and we must break through these plugs with the individual effort. After all, these channels represent our egoism, despite which I wish to expand the plugged-off channel. By exerting effort, I draw the Light and allow it to work, flow in the channels in a thin stream, and revive the entire system.
[23677]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/8/10, “The Arvut”

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All of Israel are responsible for one another (Sanhedrin, 27b, Shavuot 39).
(Continuation of How To Stop Thinking About Myself, Part 1)…

7. If in the group everybody thinks about all the others, the group becomes a perfect system that exists in the state of Arvut (mutual guarantee) or one soul. All the friends rise above their desires and enter a unified interconnection between them, thereby becoming guarantors in bestowal to each other.

Each person detached his “point in the heart” from his egoism and connected it with the “points in the hearts” of the others. Thus, the desires remained “below,” and the connection occurs between the “points in the heart.” In such connection of mutual bestowal, there act essentially different, altruistic laws. A new world opens its doors before a person.

8. Once a person has risen above his egoism, correction of his connection with the others begins by means of the previously rejected desire. At first it happens in “bestowal for the sake of bestowal” and then in “reception for the sake of bestowal.” All relationships are carried out solely to delight the Creator. This collective spirit that is present among the friends manifests in everyone; they are now able to detect and aim their intention solely at it.

There appears a sensation of interaction neither with oneself nor with the others, but with the unified whole. The relationship with the Creator Who is being revealed in the unified whole emerges from this unity.
[23179]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/8/10, “The Arvut”

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Question: Is there a difference in the efforts that I’m required to apply when I fulfill the conditions of the mutual guarantee for the first time and when it happens for the second time?

Answer: The difference is in a sensation of a lack, in that I now intend to achieve the second degree on the basis of the first. The first degree stays in me as a Reshimo (internal record, imprint), a state that I have experienced but could not preserve because of an additional desire to receive. I must now overcome this additional desire in order to attain the next degree. The previous degree helps me to reach the next one.

These are not degrees of a descent, but those of an ascent. In other words, even if I fall, I understand why I have fallen and know what I have to do. Based on my own experience I already know how I managed to reach the state of a mutual guarantee on the first degree, and now I am going to do the same on the following degree.

This is called “a person’s soul teaches him,” meaning that I have gained experience and I know what to do. It is clear to me now that my descents are not states where I simply lose myself. I realize that I am in a descent now and that I lack strength (contact with the Creator).

It is already a realization that I am in darkness, that I have lost touch with the Creator. In other words, the point of awareness of or contact with spirituality is preserved, and that is very important. Now I begin my work from that point instead of a state completely detached from spirituality.

Expressed differently, you do not lose your previous level due to a “sin”; rather, you fall from the first degree because you have been given a desire of a second, higher degree. The magnitude of the uncorrected desire of the second degree, the sin that is being revealed to you now, overshadows the corrected degree, although the first degree stays inside the second in the corrected form.

It is actually an ascent, and not a fall; you have achieved the first degree and have now revealed the second degree, its opposite side. In the AHP of the Upper One, you feel yourself as “fallen,” a “sinner.” However, it is the way you define yourself from the perspective of the corrected first degree.

It exemplifies the saying “a person’s soul teaches him” because I already have a soul. Indeed, the first degree is my soul. Afterward, I will develop a soul of a magnitude that corresponds to the second degree, then the third, and so on.

Each time higher degrees will be emerging inside me; they will conceal the previous degrees to a greater extent, but I will always have the strength, the connection to the Light in order to ascend. I always discern each subsequent degree of an ascent based on the degree which I have already achieved. It means that I will have an opportunity to correctly diagnose what is happening to me and how to draw the Light that Reforms.

My state doesn’t resemble anything more than that of an unconsciousness patient because I am constantly equipped with the force of the mutual guarantee. I already signed its conditions, I am observing them, and I’m in a state in which I do not lose it, although from a personal perspective it may still happen. And then I suddenly realize that I am “drilling a hole in the boat.”

I have not yet drilled it all the way, I have just started, but in a moment it will be complete, and at that precise instant it begins to dawn on me. This is the revelation of egoism of the next degree. However, the previous degree, the bond between friends, remains inside me and is called “one is elevated in sanctity, and never lowered in sanctity.”

Therefore, Baal HaSulam writes that the real stumbling block is attaining the first degree. Until it happens a person feels completely confused.
[23208]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/11/10, “The Love of the Creator and Love for the Created Beings”

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Question: How can we realize the correct connection between us? Do we need to perform purely spiritual actions?

Answer: No, we have to perform various actions aimed at connection in this world: in the group and circulation. We have to present the world with a new approach to children and adult education, to the way people relate to each other, and to show that all of our relationships have to serve the spiritual goal: the Creator’s revelation within us.

All these actions are called commandments, and we need to carry them out so as to correct our egoistic desire until the Creator becomes revealed to us in full force. The broken desires, all the mutual hatred between us, are called “anti-commandments” or anti-Creator. By transforming hatred into love, I perform commandments, meaning actions that bind us together. I perceive the forms of the revealed connection that demonstrate how each desire has to connect with the others as the Creator’s image.

That is, the Creator is the correct connection between us! We perceive Him as the correct, binding network that connects us and incorporates us into this system. This is what is called the Creator, and I need to reach this state. For this reason, He is called “Bo-reh” (come and see).

This includes physical actions as well: work in the group, friends’ gatherings, conventions, and joint study. However, these external actions need to be supplemented by inner work, genuine inner corrections (corrections of the soul) since the Creator demands the correction of the heart.

These actions are called “material commandments,” although they are not carried out with hands or legs. These are spiritual actions which I can perform only by having the Light that Reforms. I don’t do it by myself! The three of us together – I, the group, and the Creator – perform various transformations. Only together! Not a single correction can be performed by one element; all three of them have to be present.
[23938]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/17/10, “The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence”

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Question: How do we find a correct balance between Kabbalah circulation and inner work in the group?

Answer: These are two opposite lines of work, which at the same time support each other. On one hand, we need to connect in the group as cohesively as possible, be exclusive, and follow the group’s statute written by the Kabbalists, the rules and laws described by Rabash. Inside the group, everyone must comply with the rules. On the other hand, we need to be absolutely free and open to the outside world and explain everything in the most simple and delicate manner.

We need to connect as strongly as possible and preserve ourselves so as to advance by a narrow, straight line toward the goal! This is the work "in a line." And regarding the outside world, we are a circle: There are no differences or limits, no top or bottom; everyone is equal. Take what you want, without any pressure.

These are two contradictory approaches, and we need to be aware of them.
[23935]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/17/10, “The Teaching of the Kabbalah and Its Essence”

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The Study of the Ten Sefirot, Part 15, Item 139: When Mochin of Aba ve Ima enter ZA, Aba has Hochma-Bina and Hesed-Gevura, and opposite them Ima has the same. When falling to ZA, Hochma and Hesed de Aba attach to Hochma and Hesed de Ima and clothe in his NHY. And Bina and Gevura de Aba attach to Bina and Gevura de Ima in her NHY. Thus AVI regroup to MA and BON.

Initially, the Partzuf Aba has Hochma and Hesed, Bina and Gevura. The same is true for Ima. After that the process resembles genetics: Hochma and Hesed de Aba and Hochma and Hesed de Ima unite together and form MA de AVI. Bina and Gevura de Aba and Bina and Gevura de Ima unite together and form BON de AVI.

The resulting formations relate to one another like ZA and Malchut. As a result of these spiritual forces, we observe this process in our world in virtually everything: Some parts stem from the male organism, others from the female, they unite together, and make a new body.

The consequence of this process manifests in myriad phenomena and all sorts of connections on all levels: the still, vegetative, and animate. Meanwhile, The Study of the Ten Sefirot explains this process on the “human” level, the level of souls.

Moreover, ZA himself has parts of MA and BON, just as Nukva has MA and BON since there cannot exist a Partzuf that doesn’t contain both parts, MA and BON. Accordingly, there cannot be an organism which consists of only the male part (MA) or the female part (BON), but everyone must include both the male and the female components, for the Light cannot exist without the vessel (desire), nor can the vessel (desire) exist without the Light.
[23308]
From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/12/10, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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Question: The convention will host people from more than 50 countries whom I will be seeing for the first time. How can I pray for somebody who’s a stranger to me?

Answer: I don’t differentiate between friends and strangers: I see only their spiritual points. Every one of them has an egoistic desire and also a point in the heart which wishes to break through and reach the Upper world.

In outward appearance a person may be white, black, red,or yellow, but what difference does it make to me? All I care about is the point in his heart for that is what is called a soul! Whereas the body with its five senses pertains to the animate level. You can transplant its organs, remove its parts, and replace them with artificial ones, and none of this would affect the soul. The soul is what is important because we unify on the level of souls.

The point in the heart is independent of a person’s appearance. We’ll be receiving guests from all over the world: black from Africa, red from South America, white from Europe, and yellow from China. But we know that their skin color does not affect their points in the heart. Our differences extend to our corporeal qualities and mentalities, but not to spirituality.

So why should unifying with everybody be difficult? We will come together and unite, reveal the Creator between us, and the prayer of the many will elevate us to spirituality!
[23539]
From the Kabbalah For Beginners, “Prayer Of The Many,” 10/11/10

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Question: If a person cannot agree with the external form of the group, the way it appears to him, will he be able to build the kind of attitude where the group will raise him?

Answer: It is erroneous to think that I cannot demand an awakening from the group because it seems uncorrected to me. We are talking about different levels of creation. To my egoism the friends may seem like criminals who do not wish to unite and who are indifferent to everything.

However, on the other hand, why are they here? The Creator is holding them here from Above, even if they are incapable of anything on their own. He chose them and brought them to the group. He knows that they are ready. In His eyes they are worthy of advancing.

And since the Creator gave preference to them in particular, I must accept this. I value the friends for the fact that they are chosen by the Creator rather than for their personal qualities. How dear can they become to me? They can become as dear as my own children. I experience natural, “animal” love for my children, without any connection to their merits. It is the same with the friends: If the Creator chose them, I can develop the same kind of attitude to them as well.

Then the next stage comes, the group becomes stronger, and I begin to “sell” the importance to the friends. Then together, in a mutual guarantee, we can work on mutual realization of each other’s importance. Now I understand: The friends influence me, and for this reason they are 100% important in my spiritual fate. I assign them the uppermost importance, like to a judge who can sentence me to a lifetime in prison.

I no longer despise or curse the friends. They may be unpleasant in my eyes, but they are important nonetheless, and this is already a completely different attitude. After all, I have no choice. The Creator placed the group in front of me. If I manage to get along with it, the Upper World will be revealed to me, and if not, I will be sentenced to life in this world.

Now you decide how you treat a judge. He could be a chief mobster who is set out against you, hiding under a judge’s gown. But I cannot raise a finger to him. Proceeding by faith above reason, I need to justify my friends who are chosen by the Creator. And who knows, they may be completely unlike how my egoism presents them.

If I exert effort, and I am willing to selflessly flow into the group, I will feel that I acquire a special Kli which will allow me to demand a mutual guarantee. Thus, by turning to the friends with a demand, suddenly I will see that, in essence, I am appealing to my own desires which seemed foreign to me. My whole work will turn inward, until my friends and I become one whole.
[23422]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/13/10, “Hezekiah Turned His Face to the Wall”

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The attribute of mercy (Hesed) accompanying the entire process of evolution is attained from all the bitter, opposite states experienced by the created being. These states are exactly what compel us to rise above ourselves and embrace mercy and judgment, bestowal and reception.

The creature is an accumulation of an infinite range of shades that lie between reception and bestowal; with their help the creature reveals the Upper force that preceded and created it. To be a creature independent from and similar to the Creator, to attain Him in full, it must contain its own system and that of the Creator, in a way that both of these systems completely coincide with each other.

The creature is a complex mechanism, but its complexity is the result of its imperfection. Perfection lies in simplicity. The Upper Light is simple; it is the pure quality of bestowal. However, the creature itself cannot be equal to the Creator except in its outer form, while within, it remains the desire to be filled.
[23292]
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/12/10, “The Matter of Mercy”

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