Entries in the 'Kabbalah Study' Category

Deviations Are Impossible

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, “The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah”: Thus, one should wonder how is it possible for Kabbalists to use false words to explain the interconnections in this wisdom? Also, it is known that there is no definition through a false name, for the lie has no legs and no stance. Indeed, here you need to have prior knowledge of the law of root and branch by which the worlds relate to one another.

Hence, we can understand that the wisdom of Kabbalah is one hundred percent authentic. In chemistry, for example, they use very long formulas that define the composition of a substance. The name itself describes the material, its components, and the relationships between them. However, the formulas and names display only their external qualities. In order to understand formulas, you first have to study the language they are written in. If any other scientist, who is unfamiliar with the accepted nomenclature of modern chemistry and doesn’t know the latest research in this field, begins to explore the same phenomena, he would describe them in his own language and would use quite different terminology.

It means that there is no authenticity in our regular language, even though it also is given to us from Above as is anything else in this world; however, this is a different issue.

On the other hand, when Kabbalists do their research in order to find truth, or when they explore a phenomenon, or investigate its outcome, they go to their roots. The upper Light turned the desire into a black point and then expanded it into two directions: Hassadim and Hochma, in other words, upward and downward, to the left and to the right, forward and behind. We observe various phenomena, their consequences, words, letters and combinations thereof. We start at a single point of creation; everything is defined for us by the connection between the Lights and the vessels: shapes, arrangement of letters, combination of words, and even the way we read them.

This is why Kabbalah is an ideal and unambiguous wisdom that doesn’t depend on any subjective factors that are contingent upon any particular person. It doesn’t get identical medications that are named differently only because they were made at different enterprises. We attain truth, perceive genuine phenomena that are of an internal nature, and learn how to express them in a way that is unchangeable and independent.

In other words, one attains the Absolute to the extent of the correctness of one’s desires. This is the only limitation there is. To the degree to which we associate ourselves with the Creator, we become similar to Him in our properties. It happens in accordance with the only law that works in nature. We discern the world and discover new things that can be described orally or in writing in real terms.

In general, it is what we call “the language of branches.” This language has its own specifics. It contains certain words that are built of spiritual elements, but all in all the names are taken from this world. Why? Because on our way to spirituality we discover that the worlds impact one another, making a chain that goes from top to bottom; this influence reaches the “lowest” state, the very last step. Accordingly, we pick up authentic words at this step, trace their connection with the roots, and assign names in accordance with the branch they belong to.

Naturally, it can be done only by those who see the connection between the root and the branch.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/19/12, “The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah”

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A Handmaid Devoted To Her Mistress

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot,” Item 33: If one’s faith is incomplete, and he does not engage in the Torah or in the work only because the Creator commanded him to study, then we have seen above that in such Torah and work the Light does not appear. This is because one’s eyes are flawed, and like a bat, turn the Light into darkness.

Such a study is no longer considered a maid of Kedusha, since he will not acquire Lishma through it. Hence, it comes to the domain of the maid of Klipa (shell), which inherits these Torah and work, and robs them for herself.

Hence, “the earth doth quake,” meaning the Holy Divinity, called “earth.” This is so because those Torah and work that should have become to her, as possessions of the Holy Divinity, that evil handmaid robs and lowers them to be a possession of the Klipot (shells). Thus, the handmaid is heir to her mistress.

At some point in life a person living in this world asks himself: “What is the meaning of my life?” This question gives him a certain connection with the Torah, the wisdom of Kabbalah, and he starts studying it, feeling that this can give him an answer to the question about the meaning of life, its secret.

If he studies the Torah specifically for the sake of this, it is a correct attitude. But if he does so only because “the Creator commanded it,” it is called Klipa, an impure intention. It would seem why is that, if he fulfills the Creator’s order? But the fact is that we are egoists by nature, motivated by the desire to receive pleasure, to fill ourselves, and to win. If a person says that he studies the Torah only because it is the Creator’s commandment, it means that he doesn’t have a real desire for it and his approach is erroneous. The true desire that could lead him to the purpose of creation hasn’t awakened in him yet.

However, if he studies because he wishes to find out why and for what purpose he exists, what the meaning of his existence is, what the purpose of life is, then it is a useful, natural, inner desire, need, to reveal the secret of his life. And hence even by studying with the egoistic intention, being confused, and mixing in various other goals, he nevertheless can come to a result. Most important is that he has an inner, true desire.

Even if the correct intentions and pure desires, the aspiration for bestowal and love of the other, of the Creator are non-existent, it’s not terrible: He is already on the right path. The Book of Zohar calls this state a handmaid who tends to her mistress.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/26/2012, “Introduction to TES

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Weakness At The Great Moment

Once, on the eve of the Sabbath, ARI told his students, “Let’s go to Jerusalem. I know where the ashes of the red cow are hidden. Let’s pour them on us and purify ourselves from evil, and build the Temple since I see that this hour is the end of exile.”

One said, “How can we get to Jerusalem if it’s more than 30 parsaot away?” The others added, “We are ready to go, but, first, we want to notify our wives so that they won’t worry about us.”

Then, the Rav exclaimed, “From the time of the Rashbi (the author of The Book of Zohar) until today, there was no other time so suitable to correct the world (from egoism), but we lost this chance!”
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Straightness Along The Path

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: You’ve said that being naive helps us greatly. At the same time, the study of Kabbalah expands our minds by a million degrees. How can we connect this contradiction?

Answer: Naivety doesn’t consist of our becoming smarter and exceeding everyone else in our comprehension of the world, the universe, and the upper governance. In this regard, we are ahead of the world, but I’m not talking about this.

By “naivety,” I mean straightforwardness. I’ve put a spiritual goal before myself and nothing can deter me from this path. I move forward, and this is the most important thing to me. I call the straightness of the path naivety.
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From a Virtual Lesson 11/25/12

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You Don’t Learn Through Intellect

Dr. Michael LaitmanThrough the discovery of the upper world, we begin to understand what the Kabbalists wrote about. All the texts we study become absolutely clear. They are grasped by us as some kind an incredible novel of great feelings and great attainments, a great revelation of the world of Ein Sof (Infinity). We acquire sensations and intellect a billion times greater than what we have today. Thus, we begin to feel the upper world. Our world isn’t considered as existing at all according to the upper states.

On one hand, there is no other possibility of attaining the purpose of creation except through the study of the wisdom of Kabbalah.

On the other hand, there are no previous conditions required in order to study this wisdom. Therefore, anyone can study it, regardless of one’s previous education, character, or origin. None of these have any meaning at all, including the knowledge of the Hebrew language.

In principle, this wisdom reaches a person from such a level that he needs only to invite its actions upon himself. This means that the wisdom itself is found in the upper Light. It reaches you at a certain frequency. It works and influences you. You need to place yourself under its action and influence, and, then it will create in you the needed vacancies. It will begin to fill these vacancies with sensations and intellect.

Thus, all the corporeal characteristics that we have today don’t mean anything. You can be a clever or gifted person, in Kabbalah, it won’t help you.

In the wisdom of Kabbalah, only one thing helps, and that is naivety, when you go straight to the goal and don’t make any other calculations. That is the primary thing for me, and all the rest is secondary. If you are directed in this way, then you will attain the goal.
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From a Virtual Lesson 11/25/12

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Uncovering The Poisonous Lie Of The Ego

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: How should I make sure that the study does not become a “potion of death” for me?

Answer: We have to reach the state in which the study becomes a “potion of death.” In order to do that, I have to discover that I am immersed in my ego and that I hate everyone including the Creator. I see that I don’t want to connect with anyone and to bestow upon anyone. But I know that this is the goal of creation and I have to attain it. This means that I already discover two lines that contradict each other.

Along with my inner understanding of the necessity to reach bestowal, I discover that my nature is opposite from it. Then I discover that it is the “potion of death.” I have to find out that receiving for myself and using others are deadly for me.

I look at the friends’ faces and understand that I want to use them all: I want to be more clever than all of them, more beautiful, more strong, and more successful.

If my approach to each of them weren’t like that, I wouldn’t feel and see that anyone exists at all. I wouldn’t discern him in my sensory organs, since behind my sight there is my ego, and if I don’t intend to use a person for my benefit, I don’t see him at all. He doesn’t exist for me!

So it is a high level if I discover that I am in a state of Lo Lishma (not for Her name) and that I want to use everyone, but understand that it is the “potion of death,” which means the opposite of what it should be. After all, I want the truth, but I exist within this lie. It is a result of a great Light that comes to a man and illuminates on him showing him the real corrupt state he is in and enables him to understand it.
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From the 1st part the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/30/12, Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot” 

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The Biggest Egoist

Dr. Michael LaitmanAs a rule, only people with a high level of egoism study Kabbalah. Other than that, nothing fulfills them. Science, technologies, arts, family relationships, jobs, hobbies of any kind, lots of money…nothing brings them contentment. They are torn apart by one question: What is the meaning of life?

They don’t believe in religion since they have already exceeded this developmental stage and lost the ability to blindly follow any trends. They don’t see any value in this world since they regard everything around them as a regular “animal” existence and nothing more than that.

Naturally, they don’t have a desire to hug everybody, dance, or do any childish things like “sitting in a circle, drinking and eating together, singing songs.” They consider it weird and odd, and they are right.

Their egoism is above average. Thus, they strive to reveal the upper; however, they are forced to behave “immaturely” and childishly. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about it.

They join a group that is already in the process of advancement and has more or less revealed and understood the methodology of growth. They enter a group that feels, recognizes and acknowledges (at least studies) the necessity to bond in order to discover the properties of the upper world through the connection among friends. This is because the qualities of the upper realm can only be revealed in unity.
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From the Georgia Convention 11/6/12, Lesson 4

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Questions About Listening To Recorded Lessons, Knowledge, And Dissemination

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Recently you said that when you studied with Rabash you would hear the lesson you recorded three times a day. Do you recommend your students do the same if possible?

Answer: At least once.

Question: Also, for those who participate in the workshops, is it be worthwhile to revisit this group action and listen to the recording from the focus group if time permits?

Answer: No.

Question: “Dear Mr Laitman,

After taking several BB courses and reading your blog for more than two years, I have this question:

Why do you always say: “I do not think so…. I think this will not happen…. I think this is not the right way…. I think that the Creator will not accept this….. Among so many thoughts inside you, is there any room left for knowing?”

Answer: Everything comes from the knowledge of Nature, the Creator; this is true knowledge.

Question: Professor, I have doubts. You are a scientist, right?! You follow an empirical path. Is this particular way of disseminating the science of Kabbalah your scientific inquiry? The question itself is wider, but this is its thesis. I’ll accept an answer-thesis.

Answer: What does not match what is said in our sources?
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Fundamentals of Kabbalah – 12.02.12

A Virtual Lesson on Fundamentals of Kabbalah 

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