Question: What is a prayer?

Answer: A prayer is called work in the heart. But why is it work? Don’t I know what I want? No. I don’t know what I want, and I don’t know what to want—this is all our work—to stabilize ourselves correctly.

But if this is a deficiency, what can I do? A baby cries not knowing the reason why, he simply feels bad. A person who has revealed different Reshimot (reminiscences), has felt the taste of receiving and bestowal and already knows what makes him feel bad and what makes him feel good, so he can point at a specific deficiency. It isn’t just a deficiency, not in form, but a deficiency in which there are different depictions and discernments.

So what do we have to do? Not just to cry out like a baby, but to find out what it is exactly that you want. Suppose I want to love a friend whom I don’t love. I have to feel a deficiency for that. It says: “Make your desire like his.” But how can I do that if I don’t have any desire for it?

Perform different actions and by them you will see to what extent you don’t want it. But by performing these actions, you have invested your powers and these powers bring you sorrow that you don’t want the things you should actually want.

I want to buy a house, for example, but in order to do that I have to exert myself, to go to work, and to trouble myself. I have no power to do that and no desire, but I do want to buy a house. This is wrong. A person should process his desire so that the desire will be connected to the goal.

So what is a prayer? A prayer is not just a request that I have now, it is a series of actions in which I stabilize the request I will later live by. Each time I process and correct my deficiency to a greater degree so that my prayer will be processed as correctly as possible, more accurately and more sharply.

A prayer is called Malchut, a deficiency, and I must constantly worry about it. There is nothing else I should worry about, but the right deficiency. So it says: “If only he prayed all day long.” It isn’t the same prayer as a person who falls to the ground or reads from the Siddur (prayer book). No. A prayer is when I clarify internally, as it says about Malchut: “I am a prayer.” This means that a person says, “This is my prayer, this is my deficiency!” And it isn’t that it is written somewhere or something that I have heard or have been taught.

So “I am a prayer” means to cleanse myself of different external impressions and to clarify internally my true deficiency, my “self.” This is Malchut. To such a prayer, a person receives an answer from Above, since it is a clarified deficiency.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/19/12, The Zohar

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Rabash. “Love of Others”: I look at a small point called the love of others and I think about it: What can I do in order to help the society. It’s because when I look at the society, I see the sufferings of the individual, illness and pain and also the general sufferings, which means wars among the nations. There is nothing I can give other than a prayer and this is called “feeling sorry for the public.”

People in our world understand that when times are hard we usually help one another in different ways. We host people who have to leave their homes; we send help and essential products in order to ease the life of people who find themselves in extreme conditions. Everyone understands that we have to feed those who are in trouble and to give them a place to sleep and to support them. That’s the way it is in every culture throughout history, among all the nations.

Kabbalists have a different approach to this. This doesn’t mean that they disqualify the ordinary mutual help. We see that throughout history, even from the time of Abraham and the other forefathers that they invited guests and how important the idea of hospitality was for them, both in the corporeal and in the spiritual sense.

But the question is what should we do if we are under a constant threat, like we feel these days, and on the whole throughout history. If we think logically it turns out that there is no chance that Israel can succeed here, surrounded by enemies whose only desire is to erase us from the surface of the earth.

How can we, despite all this, go on living on this land under this constant threat, till when? From a logical perspective it is impossible and perhaps we should build our state somewhere else, like it was once suggested in Uganda?

But the only thing that can help us is what Kabbalists tell us about the place from which the world develops and about the spiritual message, about the upper force that is connected to us and that is with us. We work in connection with it, in one direction and can thus change our fate.

First we should understand that everything that is happening was given to us as assistance. Then it will be clear that we have to work in this place and only here, under these special conditions can we advance and fulfill the goal of creation. It isn’t by chance that we are in such a hostile environment, but according to a certain goal according to the upper plan.

The small point of love of others Rabash speaks about is the spark in us. We have to arrange this spark, to reinforce it, to support it, and to aim at attaining our source, our root. Thus we will be able to fulfill the thought of creation for all the nations.

So our role, with all the difficult conditions that the upper force presents us with, is to respond correctly, inclined to connection, unity, and mutual guarantee,until we attain the state of “love thy friend as thyself.” Eventually the whole world will join this love as it says “and all the nations shall flow to Him,” and by that we will fulfill the thought of creation.

All this is attained by prayer, which means by our work in the heart.
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/18/12

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Egoism pressures us, holding us in its slavery and not letting us rest. Every moment we continue doing selfish calculations in its favor with no end to it. How can we escape from this slavery? By all means of establishing ourselves stronger in this demand, that we are in the group, study, and participate in events, dissemination, workshops, gathering of friends, and festive meals only to obtain the force of bestowal. This is called faith.

A person experiences the suffering of Job which is the symbol of unbearable human suffering, revealing all of his egoistic nature to the deepest level and discovering that he can do nothing with it. No matter how much he checks himself, he won’t find a single grain that will bring forth something good. This is called the suffering of Job that can’t be overcome and somehow healed because in fact it’s impossible to find any clue in our nature from which correction could begin. That is, we have no power by means of which it would be possible to perform the actions of bestowal.

But it’s said that the Creator created the evil inclination and the Torah as a means to correct it. That is, there is a remedy: the upper force, the Reforming Light that comes to a person on condition that he requires correction. All that we need is to discover our plea, and then the Light will affect us.

A plea is a desire, the need to be corrected. It’s not just an egoistic desire to enjoy, but a regret that one was born an egoist. This requires preparatory work carried on from generation to generation, the influence of the environment, of the Surrounding Light that reaches a person even unconsciously and without his knowledge.

Even without studying Kabbalah, a person begins to get to know his evil. As in our current state of crisis, humanity is about to do this in order to discover that we are all egoists, and there’s no way out. Everything is heading towards this, and we’ll just devour each other, and will it be the end of civilization on the earth? What are we to do?

There’s a general and personal preparation period in which a person’s evil nature is slightly revealed. He feels that there’s no escape, and it needs to be corrected. And if the point in the heart awakens in him, he begins his correction. But those in whom the point in the heart is not awakened, they feel the true suffering of Job, with no hope to change themselves. Any actions that seem altruistic to us, any charity and noble impulses will nonetheless turn out egoistic in the end. Becoming more aware, a person begins to understand that throughout everything, egoism is manifested, acting only for its benefit. No matter how nice charitable organizations and actions look, they do not bring any correction.

The world is built in such a way that if we act according to the law of the correction of nature with the help of the Reforming Light, then we correct it. And if we don’t follow this law, all our best actions are turned into harmful ones. And with these best intentions, we cause the most damage, not bringing any good. That’s why Rabash writes that when he looks at all the suffering that the world experiences, he has nothing to help other than to pray for their correction.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/18/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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When a person carries out spiritual work, he usually doesn’t feel that he is really performing it, that he is investing efforts. They somehow get lost, as if into space, into a hole, which afterwards slowly, slowly becomes filled. A person doesn’t see it, and only when his efforts reach the edge of the hole, ready to spill outwards, then he begins to feel the results of his work. Thus in filling this space, mutual support is very important.

Baal HaSulam gives a very good example, when a person enters the treasury of the King and gradually takes out a certain amount of coins, as much as they give him, and then the guards knock them from his hands, and then again he enters and again they spill them, etc. This means that constant and most serious efforts are required.

A person is not able to work in this way. He needs to see results; either the troubles push him from behind or some kind of intentions pull him, some worthy cause. And when none of this exists, he finds himself as if in space, he makes movements, but there’s no energy. And here the group needs to give him this energy. Also it isn’t important if it was correct or not correct, or if it was real; the important thing is that he will receive inspiration.

Thus the main thing in our work is to constantly discover the greatness and to show to the others that you are already there.

When a person sees that others have some kind of intention, suddenly think, suddenly show him that they exist in inner tension, then he is also forced to wake up: “What is happening with me? Where am I?” In this way he returns to the intention. Gradually these intentions connect together and give their influence, the results. Thus, there is no need to forget this, but from necessity to see it.

In this sense, women can do even more than men, since from the beginning, from their nature, they were created in order to create desire and in that to push the men to implement it. Thus they need to work together and not to forget that during all our activities.

It doesn’t matter what we do. We can add our intention to everything.
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From a Meal at the Georgia Convention 11/7/12

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Rabash, Letter 34: As it is said, “And the Lord shall be unto you an everlasting light.” When? When you are all one society, as it is written, “live every one of you this day.”

Usually, if someone takes a pile of branches, can he break them all at once? But if taken one at a time, even a baby can break them. Similarly, you find that Israel will not be redeemed until they are all one society, as it is said, “In those days and at that time, says the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the sons of Judah together.” Thus, when they are united, they receive the face of Divinity.

I presented the words of the Midrash so that you don’t think that the issue of a group, which is love of friends, relates to Hassidism. Rather, it is the teaching of our sages, who saw how necessary was the uniting of hearts into a single group for the reception of the face of Divinity.

We can only feel the connection with the Light from a whole and perfect vessel; a vessel in which all the desires in order to receive are covered by a Masach (screen), which turns them to in order to bestow. This is possible only when there is connection, since to whom can I express my intention to bestow? Only towards others! So by connection in our desires and intentions in the heart and mind, we reconstruct the shattered vessel and by that get closer to the Light, until eventually it can illuminate for us.

If in the meantime, we only try to get closer to one another, we summon upon ourselves an illumination from a distance, which is called the Surrounding Light. This is the law we know from the wisdom of Kabbalah, which is the law of all of reality, the law of nature.

So the condition for receiving help from Above for the revelation of the Light is our connection. If we want to improve our condition, there are no other methods but that. There is no point in looking for anything else and just wasting our efforts. We must only yearn for connection by which we will evoke and draw the Light that Reforms us.

If we don’t act towards connection, then nothing good will come out of our efforts. So in the very difficult and tense situation the people of Israel find themselves in today, we should try to connect as hard as we can and to attain unity. It’s through this that we bring the Light closer to us, and bring it closer to everyone. Thus we advance to a better state in a better way, through the Light.

We should do that before the sufferings reach us and force us to connect by putting pressure on us. We should always have the inclination to connect out of our goodwill and not because we are forced to do it. This is the difference between the “path of the Light” (hastening time) and the “path of suffering,” the natural process of developing (in its time).

Let’s try to understand that the connection summons the influence of the good force upon us and explain this to everyone. The more people will join this connection and unity, by feeling this condition and understanding that the more we disseminate and publicize it by every available channel, by Internet and TV, the more people hear about it and incorporate in it, the closer we will be to the good Light. The Light is the only thing that operates. It’s a waste of energy to think that there are other actions that can improve our situation except for connection and unity.
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From the Preparation the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/16/12

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Question: What kind of changes should take place in me in order to draw the Light that Reforms? What can I do in order to draw this Light?

Answer: This is exactly what I have to find out, that’s the whole point. From now until the end of correction I only need the Light that Reforms. This is the Light that fills my soul, that is incorporated in all the other souls, as all the differences between the souls disappear and the Light of Ein Sof (Infinity) fills everyone 620 times more than in the initial state. This is where the Light that Reforms comes from, exactly like every MAN (prayer) rises to Ein Sof, and in response MAD (a response) comes down from there.

So all along the way, from now until the end of correction, I have to worry about one thing only, the maximum Light that Reforms that I can draw. It is as if I am sunbathing and calculating: Which way should I turn, how long should I lie in a certain position, at what time, etc.? This is how I should clarify my internal movements: How should I operate in my desires in working with the group, with individual friends, with the teacher, with the study, at home, everywhere.

In everything that I am, I have to clarify how I can make the most of my different actions 24 hours a day, so that each time the Light will operate on me most efficiently. There are no other worries except for this worry. What else is there in life? After all, everything depends on the Light, including my corporeal life.
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From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/14/12, The Zohar

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Question: Nature is built and balanced on the principle of “plus-minus.” The Creator is a completely positive property. After the whole of humanity reaches unity, after the adhesion with the Creator, it will also be able to advance with a positive property. How serious will this change be? Due to what will the change of properties happen? Will the balance with nature be restored?

Answer: We don’t do anything ourselves; we produce nothing but one thing: the desire that the Light does everything for us. That is why, there is no opportunity to spoil anything, somewhere to go wrong, to bring harm.

Either we accelerate the process of our development and make it gentler, or it proceeds on its own, and it is evil, bad—one of the two.

The more we affect the Light, the better we will be, and the faster we can achieve a good state. The less we affect the Light, the slower we will advance, and the more troubles we will have.

It all depends on our efforts to draw the Light. And It performs all the actions. That is why, it is impossible to make a mistake here.
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From a meal at the Georgia Convention 11/05/12

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When I studied with Rabash, we had our meals in absolute silence. It was simply a state of silence; no one said anything to anyone, people didn’t even look at each other, but simply ate and drank in great inner tension, and it was absolutely quiet. He always demanded that and was very strict about any disturbances if someone suddenly made a noise or an interruption occurred. At that time we didn’t have many opportunities to gather, only during a lesson or a meal.

Today we have many opportunities. This may be the reason we forget the intention. It becomes such an ordinary event. We have to pay attention to the intention. Every action that is performed together, even if it is by two people, already leads to an immense outcome if it is with the right intention.

This is especially true when we gather in conventions in different places and make so many efforts to be together. So it is a pity if a minute goes by without an intention.
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From a Meal at the Georgia Convention 11/7/12

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Rabash, “A True Prayer Is Over a True Deficiency:” When a person wants to observe the Torah and Mitzvot (commandments), in order to bestow upon the Creator, it natural for body not to move if it doesn’t see any reward in it. So there is no way he can work for the sake of Heaven and not for his own good. Here the exile begins, which means the sufferings, that no matter how hard he works, he doesn’t see that he advances, but that everything is based on self-love.

It turns out that the suffering and the pain he experiences are because he cannot work for the Creator. He wants to work in order to bestow and the body, which is totally enslaved to the shells doesn’t let him aim at this goal. Then he cries out to the Creator for help, since he sees that he is in exile among the shells and that they dominate him, and he sees no way out, so that he can be free of their domination.

Then his prayer is called a true prayer, since it isn’t in a person’s power to leave this exile…and since this is against nature, only the Creator can take Israel out of this exile.

A person goes through the states of exile and redemption internally, in his attitude to his nature and to the Creator; there are these two forces, two goals for which a person can work and aim himself at: either for his own benefit or for the Creator’s benefit.

He knows instinctively what it means to work for his own benefit and he does so naturally. Then he begins to criticize himself. This recognition usually comes from the work in the group, in the study, in dissemination, in using all the options to draw the Light that Reforms upon himself.

Then a person sees that all his intentions and his appeals, all his movements were aimed only at his own good. In the meantime he determines only this fact, like a psychologist who understands that this is nature. But if he begins to disagree with this, it is already an influence from Above, a real call from Above.

Thus a person begins to feel that he is in exile. The more he tries to stop working for his own good in different situations and to turn to bestowal upon others, upon the Creator, he feels that he is more in exile, under the domination of Pharaoh.

If he actively struggles and tries to leave his intention to receive so that he won’t constantly think about himself, then the contrary happens, and he sinks more deeply into his ego, like into a swamp. The more attempts a person makes to get out of the swamp, the more it swallows him.

He cries out and gets no response! On the contrary, the Light that comes and that seemingly reforms, shows him more clearly how immersed he is in his desire to receive, that has absorbed everything up to the most subtle appeals, thoughts, and desires. Previously he didn’t see that he is such an egoist and now he discovers it more and more in great detail.

He sees that he is totally in Egypt, thinking and worrying only about himself.

The more he tries to get out of exile, the more he sinks into it, until “and the Children of Israel sighed from the work,” which means that he has reached such a dead end that the only thing he can do is cry out…

A person cries out when he sees that there is no other way to change his situation by himself. This is called a true prayer, which in response he gets the force of bestowal, the force of the intention to act for the good of others. This is what he calls redemption.
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From the Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/13/12

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Question: Currently the entire Internet is buzzing with prognoses that some unpleasant events will take place in December of 2012. What does Kabbalah say about this? Please reassure the world!

Answer: How can I calm you down?

I think it all depends on us, including you. I am not going to calm you down, but completely the opposite because we indeed exist in a very sharp freedom of will and December and the entire next year depend on us. In addition, these states, which we will have to go through, are completely determined only by our world group and by no one else.

Thus, I will not be calming down anyone of you. On contrary, you have to feel very clearly that the entire world depends on you. You have to consciously realize this, meaning that you need to have a serious attitude toward our task, a constant mutual aspiration in your hearts.

Do you feel how our hearts are gathering more and more into one ball? Only this will save our situation and will make it wonderful. It will be wonderful in the sense that we will remember that we have to be closer and more united until we get all of our one heart together. Then we will not be fearful of any calendar.
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From the Georgia Convention 11/6/12, Lesson 3

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