Question: What is better: reading the original Hebrew text during a lesson without understanding it or reading a translated text?

Answer: This is a big question. In general, the Kabbalistic lexicon is so limited that students gradually become accustomed to it. We are talking about approximately a couple of hundred words that allow you to understand the Hebrew text. We see it in Moscow group which reads original texts in Hebrew.

I don’t think that in the future any person who pursues the goal will study Kabbalah in any other language. It is very hard. We haven’t learned the Hebrew letters yet and haven’t started studying their external or internal meaning.

Knowledge of the Kabbalistic language is extremely helpful. I am sure that you already know half the major terms in Hebrew, and can assert that you won’t be able to abide without understanding the original text.

Yes, it is not simple. We are talking about an unusual language that is very different from Latin. But there is nothing we can do about it, the Light descends to us from right to left, that’s why in Hebrew the direction of writing is the same.

Besides, we write the letters from right to left and from top to bottom, according to the direction of the Lights of Hassadim (Mercy) and Hochma (Wisdom). All letters consist of these elements. Their shape is defined by various combinations of the Upper Forces.

All linguistic rules and grammar also have a spiritual foundation. They are built on interaction of Bina and Malchut. There are no rules in Hebrew that are invented by human beings.

Since Adam’s birth 5772 years ago to this day, nothing has changed in the language, neither written nor verbal. If you met a person who lived thousands of years ago in Egypt or Babylon, you would understand each other with ease. Everything depends on the Upper root which is unchangeable. Laws of interactions between Bina and Malchut are eternal, and that’s why the language doesn’t undergo any changes.

Other languages transform according to the mentality and ethics of the people speaking them. A thousand years ago your ancestors used language that you would hardly recognize today. Spelling and the external form of the letters themselves also change with time.

However, Hebrew is not a human language but a projection of the Upper Forces and their combinations. Even though it is not convenient for contemporary people to use Hebrew, we have no choice. Kabbalists cannot convey Kabbalistic knowledge any other way.
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From he 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/15/10, “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose”

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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: During the parts of the lesson when we study The Zohar and TES (Talmud Eser Sefirot), I experience tremendous difficulty understanding anything. What is the correct approach to the content so that it would help me strengthen the bond between us?

Answer: Baal HaSulam and Rabash wrote articles, letters, and other similar texts. In addition, Baal HaSulam wrote a commentary on The Book of Zohar, The Study of Ten Sefirot (TES), “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah” and the book Beit Sha’ar HaKavanot, all of which are the primary sources we get nourished by.

I drew a dividing line between them for the following reason. We use the above mentioned books as an instrument to draw the Light (Segula). And we read all the other works not only to draw the Light but to also understand the content. In the first case, understanding plays a supplementary role, whereas in the second it is in the lead.

The Book of Zohar doesn’t leave anything for the mind to cling to. At times, it explains something or provides a hint, although we don’t especially need it. In the end, we need a method called “the Torah” since the Light it conceals reforms us. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how much you understand. It’s not the wise one who learns. Intelligence doesn’t play a role here.

Some people write down every word, which is good for as long as it helps them connect to the source emotionally, in the desire. But if everything is determined by the mind, it isn’t worth it. We are not in the university, and from studies alone you will learn nothing unless you obtain a desire to bestow, connection with others, and love. Only this will allow you to feel the material since man is a desire, a vessel of sensation and perception.

Mind is powerless in itself; it is a mere means to direct and strengthen the desire.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/15/10, “The Essence of Religion and Its Purpose”

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The map below shows the addresses of all Bnei Baruch groups from around the world. The left column lists the groups, while the map on the right shows their location.

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I want to warn you that all Kabbalistic texts should be perceived only in their inner sense. They discuss not the corporeal world, but the correction of man’s desire.

The desire to receive is divided into “Isra-El” (straight to the Creator) and “the nations of the world” (desires not aimed at the Creator). Such desires exist in every one of us: Some (for now, only “the point in the heart”) are aimed at the purpose of creation, while others (called “the nations of the world”) are not directed at reaching this goal.

“Exile” is the exile from the Light, from the spiritual world, meaning from the property of bestowal. “Redemption” is appearance of the force to bestow, to unite with the others, to love, within me. “The Creator” or “the Light” is the property of love and bestowal.

This is the only way to view all Kabbalistic texts: only within oneself and solely for the correction of self. Otherwise, you will drown in corporeal images (idolatry) and start growing new religions based on Kabbalah.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/2/10, “Exile and Redemption”

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Question: In “Introduction to The Study Of Ten Sefirot,” Baal HaSulam writes that a person must strive to understand what he is studying. Does this apply to studying The Zohar?

Asnwer: Of course! After all, in both TES and The Zohar we understand nothing. But to understand means to aspire to know. Know, not understand! Understanding comes later. First, we must know, meaning we must reveal the Upper world and connect with it in the equivalence of form, as it is written: “And Adam knew Hava (Eve).”

In spirituality, mind (the Light of Hochma or Wisdom) comes in the degree of the desire’s corrections, in the Light of Hassadim (Mercy), and not according to the excellent work of the cells of the cerebrum, memory, or electrical impulses passing through the brain. We can attach electrodes or add memory cells to the human brain, but it won’t help to attain knowledge! It is described as: “Not the wise one learns.” It all depends on the correction by the Light of Hassadim since then the Light of Hochma has something to clothe in.

The connection between Hochma and Hassadim is regarded as “And Adam knew Hava, his wife.” Adam is Hassadim, and Hava is Hochma clothed in Hassadim. We can advance only in accordance with this principle.

Hence, no matter what we study, The Zohar or TES, we must think solely about the correction of desire, the place which the Light of Hochma will clothe. Thereby, we will indeed become wise for we will obtain inner wisdom, when the Light of Hochma will clothe in the inner Light of Hassadim.

We see little value in the external wisdom that characterizes “Kabbalists from Jerusalem,” as Baal HaSulam labels them. No matter how well a person has memorized everything written in the books, it will only confuse him.

It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know these texts, but we must aspire to have them revealed as the Light of Hochma in the Light of Hassadim. We shouldn’t strive to fill the mind with information from the book.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/1/10, The Zohar

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Question: Three or four times a week I get up and go to the lesson, and I don’t really understand why. What’s going on here? Why do I do this?

Answer: You receive an example from Above: the Creator forces you out of sleep, and you come to the lesson. This is meant to show you that you are capable of getting up and coming to the lesson, but only three times a week, when the Creator awakens you. The rest He leaves up to you. Now let’s see what you do when you don’t get this impulse.

If you don’t understand why you are here, you should analyze the situation. It appears that you come here because if you don’t, you’ll feel bad. It follows that you come in order to escape evil.

Question cont.: So what can I do to start coming every day and on my own?

Answer: For that you need another kind of fuel. You need to come here not to escape from evil, but in order to realize the importance of the goal. You need to get up not because otherwise bad things will happen, but because a lofty goal is awaiting you.

Question cont.: How do I exalt the goal in my eyes?

Answer: You are incapable of doing this alone. The goal cannot be achieved individually. Here you need to see your true state: There is a single system of souls, similar to the Creator, within which the Inner Light of life (NRNHY) is revealed. This is the Creator. We are separated from this state by 125 “filters” which weaken the Light. I want to receive the strength to return to that state.

Looking at the system of souls I see that it unites everybody into a single whole, and thanks to this the Light fulfills them and gives them life. Consequently, in order to ascend, I must establish a stronger connection with the friends.

The Creator does not relate to any individual alone. Any step toward correction ought to be regarded as an even greater level of unification in the group.

It follows that if you were to unify with the friends ahead of time, you would receive from them the inspiration and fuel to come to the daily lesson. Whereas now you are isolated from them, and even on the corporeal level the flame burning within them does not rub off on you.
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From 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/26/10,  “All of Israel Have A Part in the Next World”

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In “Within My Flesh Shall I See God,” section “The Realization of Attainment – Only through the Method of Kabbalah,” Baal HaSulam writes that the denial of Providence is like asking a person: “Who wrote this incredibly wise book?” and him answering that there is no such sage in the world, that everything only happened because his small son spilled ink on blank sheets of paper, and the ink spread to form letters which combined into the words of this incredible science.

By denying the presence of the Upper Governance, people act according to the principle of “whatever I do not feel does not exist.” That’s so even if they see that there is a reason for everything, which is the essence of a materialistic approach.

All of our scientific experiments are based on studying the preliminary causes; otherwise our natural sciences would have no value. But at the same time there are those who deny the existence of the source of the entire creation. Even though man understands that his knowledge is limited and there are many things that he does not grasp or understand, he tries to prove that the universe is exactly what he perceives.

But in order to study the universe, it is necessary to rise above nature because I can study a certain state only when I am above it. In order to study animals I need to be a human for animals cannot study themselves. I can study the stages below me, but I cannot study myself.

Psychology, a science of human behavior, is an example of this. In psychology we base our knowledge on real facts that we have experienced, but we are unable to rise above ourselves to begin to understand the actual methodology of human relationships, the system of connections, or human mentality even though it seems to us like we are capable of doing this objectively.

This is why Baal HaSulam writes that he respects materialistic psychology; its data is based on the study of matter and its form. But until man is able to examine the matter of the spiritual world and the form clothed into this matter, he is unable to say anything about himself, just like a cat is unable to study human behavior or explain its actions.

Thus, Baal HaSulam says that attainment is only possible through the method of Kabbalah because it lifts a person to the next level of consciousness.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/8/10, “From My Flesh Shall I Know God”

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Question: Despite the fact that you so meticulously keep trying to explain to us the mechanics of the spiritual worlds described in Talmud Eser Sefirot (The Study of Ten Sefirot), I still don’t understand anything.

Answer: I cannot be meticulous because there are too many details in it, which you are unable to remember. A person can remember what he feels and not some mechanical data. Even the latter he has to translate into impressions and only then he may remember them. Although memory seems to be part of the mind, it is the sensory experiences that are preserved in the memory cells.

Suppose I am entering some information into the computer now;  this data is the outcome of my sensory experiences since my substance is based on feelings. It perceives good and bad in multitude of forms. When I enter this information into the memory, I give my impression a definition; otherwise, it won’t be recorded.

I have to assign a specific place for this in my memory, give it a title and definition, similar to how we specify the complete passage through many “slashes” when we are dealing with a link on an Internet page. In the same manner, the “address” in our memory is formed. And even though this memory is “mechanical,” it still records impressions. If I begin to remember an event from the distant past, I suddenly experience my forgotten feelings and remember a scent, a sound, and so forth.

Therefore, if we have never felt the spiritual world, we cannot remember information about it. That is why Baal HaSulam was so angry when he met “Kabbalists from Jerusalem” who were practicing mechanical memorization of  Kabbalah theory and thought that it was enough to succeed. This is not our way. We try to study Talmud Eser Sefirot, but do not evaluate our spiritual advancement by how much knowledge we obtain. We measure it by how much we can feel!

What can you possibly know if you don’t feel the words, as it is written: “Taste how wonderful the Creator is”? Does a person know what these words mean? Has he ever felt what they signify? If not, then his knowledge is worthless. We are studying in order to draw the Light that Reforms! Our desire, as described in The Book of Zohar and Talmud Eser Sefirot, gives us an opportunity to connect with the material.

But we don’t understand what it means that Zeir Anpin is falling asleep or is ascending with MAN to Bina; for us, they are merely words for now. Hence, for now, the entire Kabbalah is an empty science, but it gives us the foundation for a desire, preparation, and the cause for revelation. I wish to know it since everything in the text is talking about me and what is happening within my soul!

Who is ascending from Malchut to Zeir Anpin and Bina? My soul ascends, receives fulfillment there, and returns back down! All these actions are occurring in me right this instant, but I don’t feel it. I wish to finally feel what are they like? Why do I suddenly have such eagerness? This is because your spiritual gene, your  Reshimo, has woken up.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/7/10, Talmud Eser Sefirot

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Question: I have an opportunity to study with my group in New Jersey, but this group is new. Wouldn’t it be better for me to go to the Brooklyn group? They have many years of experience and a well equipped classroom?

Answer: I recommend staying where you are and building your own group. This advice does not only apply to you, but to all the new groups. Connect among yourselves and with us, my lessons, and the Learning Center. This is enough. Old groups often have their problems, and you need to advance. Be independent!
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