Entries in the 'Kabbalah Study' Category

Every Lesson Is A Contact With Ein Sof (Infinity)

Dr. Michael LaitmanIf during the lesson you hold on to the right intention, you would feel a great spiritual filling during this time. It is all according to the customer’s desire: What you want is what you get. A great Light is revealed during the lesson and it is a pity if you don’t use it.

A spiritual filling indicates that your previous raw desire is being attracted to spirituality, like GE. Then it connects with the desires of others, with AHP, that portray the Creator for me so that I will fill Him. This is what fills me; I am filled by bestowal. Just like a mother who is happy when her baby eats, wiping his round cheeks with pleasure. The fact that she filled him is her filling.

It is the same with me; I have no other goal in life but to fill the friends. By filling them, I fill the Creator. I use my vessels to fill their needs, to provide them with what they want. They want to advance towards the goal, to feel its greatness, and I provide them with that. I only evoke them positively: increasing the greatness of the goal and of the Creator by acting like the Light with regards to the vessels.

You should leave the lesson with great joy for having been in contact with the eternal infinite system, in contact with the Creator. Even though, in the meantime, this contact is unclear and unexamined, I still come out with a plan of what I am going to do from this moment onward. We should renew the fixed plan each time so that it will be relevant for each specific day. I have to decide what I am going to do every day until the next lesson.

I change my plan according to the new awakening, the new attitude, both the physical and the internal. Try it and you will see that it is a varied change, which takes place in a different manner each time. Every day is different from the next and not like it seems today. We will be impressed by every point in our advancement, each time as if it is the whole world.

I must pass all the personal awakening I received during the lesson to the society so that it will grow to the size of the whole society. I want to pass all this in the form of my gratitude and love to the Creator. If I do that, it will return to me and will increase my desire even more, the awakening will be greater in order to bestow upon the friends again.

This work is in the thoughts and our desire. I don’t need to run after every friend trying to wake him up physically. Internally I must simply explode and externally I must work very calmly so as not to harm the friends. Externally I have to dress in the state of the friend, in his desire, in order to do what is good for him and not what I want.

Even internally you will later relate to yourself and work with the vessels of the others because you will treat yourself only as a machine that serves others. You will have no other interest in yourself.

How can you check if you are working correctly? If you want to awaken the greatness of the goal in the group—general bestowal and love in the group, in all of humanity and love of the Creator in order to delight in it yourself and to make others happy—this is enough to test.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/5/12, The Study of the Ten Sefirot

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General Mobilization

Dr. Michael LaitmanOnly our persistence in feeling the necessity for connection can save us. Stop playing with other things hoping that something will change with time, enough of dealing with other things. All the related activities are necessary only in order to support the main thing: understanding the need for connection.

Here there must be an unceasing collective effort until we succeed. We mustn’t run away or divert from this goal in any other direction. Whatever we do is only meant to reinforce our efforts to connect. We should feel concern that goes from heart to heart, until we succeed. There are no concessions here and the conditions are known: constant fulfillment of the Reshimot (informational genes) according to the principle “I have labored and I have found.” If we can, we overcome, and if we can’t, we don’t. It must be a clear goal before our eyes and we must all mobilize for the mission.

There are new students who don’t understand yet and do not feel total despair; there are old students who have grown too weak and have found themselves caught up by routine. But on the whole, we have to strengthen one another. The prayer can only be for connection; otherwise, it isn’t heard. If we don’t yearn for connection, for mutual bestowal, to bestow upon the Creator, then everything else is all the “potion of death.” We must clarify this thoroughly.

The main thing is the general concern. Even if I don’t actually feel the concern in my heart, I must still show it to others. Even if I don’t feel enthusiastic about the goal of creation at the moment, I must still act before others. Otherwise I must not be part of the society.

It must be the main condition: A person is in the society in order to strengthen the hearts of the friends on the way to attaining the goal by increasing the importance and the greatness of the goal. If he doesn’t do that, there is no room for him here. It is better that a few people reach the goal, since otherwise what is the use of all the millions around us if they don’t attain anything and if the spiritual force doesn’t rule the corporeal level?

So the society should demand from everyone: You either keep your obligation in strengthening the friends as to the greatness of the goal, the greatness of the connection, or you leave. Just like that.

As for beginners, the mission should also be clarified to them to the extent that they can perceive it, since other than that there is nothing.

Many years go by before a person begins to hear to some extent and to perceive the message. But we have accumulated enough experience, powers, knowledge of the sources, and exertion in order to fulfill it. What is more, the external reality demands that we do it.
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From the Preparation for Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/5/12

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Fundamentals Of Kabbalah – 09.23.12

A Virtual Lesson on Fundamentals of Kabbalah

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The Priceless Science

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot,” Item 5: This is so because there will no longer be fear lest one might not sustain one’s merit and trade the wisdom in the market, as no one in the mob will buy it. The wisdom will be so loathsome in their eyes that neither glory nor lust will be obtainable in return for it.

Hence, all who wish to enter may come and enter. Many will roam, and the knowledge will increase among the worthy of it.

For generations, the science of Kabbalah was considered as mysticism, like Tarot cards, blessings and curses, black magic, spirits, devils, and all that the human imagination is capable of producing. For centuries, people believed that these tools allowed one to control the world, to win, to become wealthy, to dominate, etc. So, many people wanted to know, to understand, and to master the supernatural forces that are supposedly hidden there. Everyone dreams of succeeding and excelling over others, that is clear.

That is why the wisdom of Kabbalah was treated accordingly: “Jews possess secret wisdom that gives power…” Freemasons and sects of all kinds; there were plenty of inventions, but Kabbalists hid the truth. Thus no one knew that in reality the essence of Kabbalah is the science of unity between people.

Today, as we better understand what the science of Kabbalah is, humanity is gradually parting with its mystical aura, and as a result no longer needs it. “Why do I need it? To unite?! I was hoping for some trick, fortunetelling, success in trading, the drug for all diseases, miracle-making. But unity between people, keep it to yourself, I don’t need this, even if you pay me.”

So, people reject this wisdom, and here the moment of truth is shown because our egoism actually rejects the science of unity, does not accept it. This is the natural attitude: A person avoids others, disdains the news of unity, hates and despises it as something disgusting. But then he sees that he has no other choice. He will be led towards it by various factors: our dissemination, problems, and understanding that it is possible to get out of the crisis only through unity.

“But how can it be done? Where can we get the forces? What is the order of actions?” It is then that people will reveal the science of Kabbalah as the wisdom of unity in its correct and true form.

The revolution, connected with this science, should happen today, and we must accelerate the pace of development. And general contempt protects Kabbalah so that only those who really want to unite and apply effort, everyone according to his ability, become attached to it. So form the outer circles around Kabbalah.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/20/12, “Introduction to the Book, Panim  Meirot  uMasbirot”

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Revelation Always Happens Unexpectedly

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Does the Light affect a person more when he understands what he reads or when he is totally confused and applies efforts to hold the intention?

Answer: It’s impossible to know. The Light influences all the time, but a person can feel this effect not immediately but over time. Perhaps in two weeks, or even in an unsuitable moment, suddenly a revelation happens. You can’t know how it will happen because there are so many internal and external conditions that consequently lead to such disclosure.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/11/12, The Zohar

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The Ladder Of Kabbalists

Dr. Michael LaitmanBaal HaSulam, “Messiah’s Shofar”: And because of that, Rashbi permitted himself and disclosed the wisdom of the hidden in his books, The Zohar and the Tikkunim. However, it was with great care, since he only permitted Rabbi Abba, who could disclose with intimation, so only the sages of the children of Israel would understand, and the sages of the nations would not understand.

A Kabbalist who attains the spiritual world is like a scientist who discovers something great. If you ask him to explain his discovery, he’ll not find the words for it and not be able to find a clear coherent definition. In order to do that, we need methodologists who pave the way for people to the summit of knowledge.

So if we are talking about the first convergence, Rabbi Abba could rewrite the words of Rabbi Shimon so that they illuminate even for beginners, for those who are at the foot of the wisdom of Kabbalah, and help those who advance in the spiritual levels to ascend. He arranged the material in such a coherent way so that there can be a smooth transition from “grade to grade,” from one level to another. Even if an ordinary person wants something, like a baby who opens his mouth instinctively, that’s enough. After all, he already has a digestive system, which means that the food he receives from the great ones will help him grow.

This is what Rabbi Abba knew how to do: to disclose with intimation, thus allowing even a beginner to approach the secrets. Rabbi Shimon attained the whole world, and Rabbi Abba knew how to bring his words down and to arrange them for our ascent. This is why The Book of Zohar is like a spiritual ladder for us.

Baal HaSulam adapted The Book of Zohar even more for modern times through his Commentary on The Book of Zohar. We think that he added Kabbalistic terms, but it isn’t so, it’s something else. The additional explanations do not add anything by themselves. On the contrary, they can distance a person who wants to learn this book from the inner essence. This is because then a person simply fills himself with knowledge.

No, Baal HaSulam eased our way even more so that we will hold on to it and advance by both the mind and our emotions. Kabbalists were worried and made sure to pave this path, the ladder, and to provide us access to it.

Question: We too would like to disseminate the wisdom of Kabbalah in a clear envelop and at the same time with a “filling” that will advance people. How do we do that?

Answer: It’s imprinted in us on the instinctive level because we study by the method Kabbalists passed on to us. A person who studies here and is dedicated to the path has it, thanks to the connection between Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Abba.

After all, everything stems from The Book of Zohar and only that spiritual root operated for all the generations: the upper attainment (Rabbi Shimon) and the path, the access to it (Rabbi Abba). All the other friends from Rabbi Shimon’s group, including his son Rabbi Elazar who speak about the end of correction, are incorporated in this system.

So this is the meaning of “disclosing with intimation”: Even during the concealment, everything that a person needs is revealed on the way.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/5/12, “Messiah’s Shofar”

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To Reveal Or To Conceal?

Dr. Michael LaitmanIn the days of the prophets, Kabbalists revealed the wisdom of Kabbalah a bit to the sages of the nations of the world. Aristotle, Plato, and other philosophers in Ancient Greece really wanted to know the truth without any malicious thoughts. By the way, many gentiles joined the nation of Israel in those days and reached very high levels in spirituality.

As for the philosophers, since they based their ideas on Kabbalistic ideas, they developed theology. Their approach may seem as wisdom since their desire belongs to AHP, and they simply cannot understand that there are other options. It is beyond a person’s power to rise above his desire.

So as The Book of  Zohar says, Rashbi cried: “Woe to me if I reveal and woe to me if I don’t reveal. How will people reach the end of correction without my revelation? After all, they will not have the source of the Light that is only in my generation.” Rashbi was the last one who attained all the Lights of the first three Sefirot of the world of Atzilut before the destruction of the Temple, which means the private end of correction of all the 125 degrees.

“If I don’t reveal it in the form of a written source, the souls that yearn for spirituality will not be able to draw the Light and to use it in order to correct themselves. On the other hand, if I reveal the wisdom, the nations of the world will surely corrupt it even more severely.” Rashbi already saw what had happened since the time of the prophets until his days. So what will happen next? If the wisdom falls into evil hands, what afflictions will it bring?

Rashbi still wrote The Book of Zohar, but it was concealed. Later according to the will of the upper Providence it reached Rabbi Moshe de Leon whose widow sold it when she had no means of support. Thus The Book of Zohar was revealed to the world and it did actually bring about many corruptions and many corrections.

Question: What motivates a Kabbalist to reveal or to conceal the wisdom?

Answer: The call of the time. On the one hand, Rashbi knew that his time was a time of growing concealment that would continue until an almost total rupture between the correction and the shattered Reshimot (informational genes). But he had to leave a fine thread of Light between the Light of Ein Sof (Infinity) and the Reshimot on the level of this world, so that people could use it. This is The Book of Zohar. Like Baal HaSulam whose basis is on earth and his head reaches Heaven, the first three Sefirot of the world of Atzilut, and the Light of the end of correction.

In addition, The Zohar was written with the help of Rabbi Abba who concealed it so that only a person who has internalized the wisdom of Kabbalah and exists in the attribute of bestowal will be able to find it. Others see only tales in The Zohar; however, many details and terms from these “tales” have been used in false wisdoms. The egoistic desire distorted and shattered this book in its warped mirror, as if it tells about forces that operate and influence the fate of people in our world.

If we look through the prism of the desire to bestow, we see that it is about the corrected and uncorrected parts of the soul that have different names. The Book of Zohar speaks about inner corrections and not about the bodies, which are not accounted for.

Question: Does a Kabbalist take into account the potential corruptions of the revelations or does he only see the correction?

Answer: If Rashbi hadn’t taken the corruptions into account, he wouldn’t have cried thinking about them. Still it is impossible to do without them. Eventually, although it seems that “a handmaid is heir to her mistress” this is exactly how she helps her reveal herself.

Question: In contrast to Rashbi, Baal HaSulam revealed everything that he could.

Answer: This is because the time has come. The special era has come, and Baal HaSulam wrote that he was happy to be born at a time when it is possible to reveal the wisdom of Kabbalah.

Today we already lag behind the pace of development; our times require a much greater pace of dissemination than we are doing.

So, it is all about the right time to act. If it weren’t so, we wouldn’t approach the masses and this should be clear.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/3/12, A Handmaid that Is Heir to Her Mistress”

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This Changeable World

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: When a Kabbalist reveals the method of correction, are his books enough or should there be someone who should use them correctly?

Answer: ARI in his generation outlined the oral method and the three generations that followed him put it writing. Then came Baal Shem Tov who began to implement the method practically. His disciples who were great Kabbalists continued his legacy and wrote the wisdom of Kabbalah in great detail.

In addition, there were many figures throughout history like Spinoza, Marx, and Einstein who expressed their attitude to society, to science and to the perception of reality in different nonreligious forms and thus expanded the approaches for this method for the world.

Marx for example, regardless of what we know about him, actually began to speak about the fulfillment of the wisdom of Kabbalah in the world. What is socialism if we disregard the false Soviet improvisation? It is the method of our mutual connection in one equal society in which we manage our whole life. Actually, it is about Kabbalistic principles. So it turns out that Marx is one of the “angels” in the hands of the Creator.

What did Spinoza do? He took the Jew out of the external frameworks of Judaism and “shook” him in order to take him on an alternative path and a new perspective of spirituality that is not limited by the performance of external commandments, but which include another element.

It doesn’t matter how accurate this direction was; the Creator brought about this development, which was enough in those days.

Then Einstein did the same thing in the field of science when he discovered the concept of relativity and the natural limit and the speed of light. He studied the mutual relations between matter and a dimension that was unknown until then, in terms of changing time and distance, in a changing reality, where everything is relative.

Thus, gradually all the methods lead to the picture of the new world that loses its previous stability and becomes changeable in a person’s perception.

The wisdom of Kabbalah speaks about the same thing: Everything changes according to our attributes. Even now, we can already change our world and everything that we see if we rise to the level of more sublime desires. Then another world will open up for us of different mutual forces and relationships; instead of people, we will see totally different creatures, souls.

We are actually approaching this perception through different intermediate phases, through a virtual world. Many people have been through this path besides the three that we have mentioned. On the whole even the smallest detail in history leads to this point of correction. Eventually everything is concentrated in it.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/3/12, “A Handmaid that Is Heir to Her Mistress”

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Not To Take The Poison of Death

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: In the process of studying, everything is changing: There are both physical and virtual workshops. At what point is the individual work with oneself, with a book, with the source?

Answer: What for? Where do I solve the problem of creating within me a sense of the spiritual world? It’s only in the group! What is the use if I sit down and study on my own?

Sometimes, it is necessary to better understand what happens to me in the end. In such cases, I must admit that I need to study on my own, reread at home, not only such serious materials as The Study of the Ten Sefirot diagrams, but also the articles, the letters of Rabash and Baal HaSulam.

If individual studies are needed to better understand correctly what you have to do for the group, then study and if not, then why do you need other studies? They may even discourage you.

You will begin to understand a lot, to think that you are a wise person and that you don’t need anything else. As a result, you get the poison of death instead of the elixir of life. There is a symbol in medicine, a bowl with snake venom that can be a poison and can be the basis for drugs. So here; you need to be very careful when it comes to studying. The main thing is intention!
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From the Kharkov Convention “Uniting to Ascend” 8/19/12, Lesson 7

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Recharging With The Upper Light

Dr. Michael LaitmanTo actually achieve the desired result in spiritual advancement, we need to use all of the allotted time.

This is not a couple of hours a week, a few hours of dissemination or any other activities. We have to continue the same work that we did during the workshops; it continues in everyone internally during the breaks, during the meals, while travelling—no matter what! This is the most important thing!

After all, a morning lesson or a meeting like a workshop is like recharging, like connecting to the power source. When you connect to the group, you attract the upper Light to yourself; you charged yourself and can go safely in your life for 20 hours. Then come back again.

This is required once a day! Otherwise the spiritual connection is cut off. At least an hour a day, but there must be a connection to a physical or virtual group, to the Light; you recharge yourself and continue the rest of the time to work on this charge.

Now, we are gradually switching to a different kind of work, which is much more difficult than sitting in circles with each other. In this work, there are thousands of various disturbances. But we understand that these are not a hindrance, that we are surrounded by the Creator Who wants us to be connected to Him all the time through these disturbances. And then we will see that these are not disturbances, but opportunities to connect, to amplify the signal. Let’s try!
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From the Kharkov Convention “Uniting to Ascend” 8/19/12, Workshop 7

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