Question: How can being on duty during the convention advance me on the spiritual path?

Answer: All those who will be on duty have to be supplied with a radio and headphones so that they will take part simultaneously with all other participants at all the events. We must try to schedule duties during lectures, questions and answers, and breaks, but not during the events such as workshops. Those on duty should rotate constantly.

Question: How important is it to be on duty?

Answer: Actually, this is the most important thing. When I do something for society, it does not even matter how much I hear or if I am physically involved in an event because here, I am doing the right job one-hundred percent.

That is why being on duty physically gives a person a huge push forward. There were many people who came to big conventions just to work, and it was during that work that they suddenly began to feel the emergence of a shared, common, and great field. This is the beginning of the feeling of the Creator.
[83976]
From the Virtual Lesson 7/15/12, “Fundamentals of Kabbalah”

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Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Item 46: Malchut is the coarsest cover, hiding the Light of Ein Sof. The Light it passes from Him to the receivers is only a small portion, related to the purification of the still body of man.

The Light is filtered, and it weakens on its way to the desire, and the level, the intensity, and the strength of the connection that it carries, depends on it. When it goes through Malchut, it can purify the desire only on the level of the still nature.

A person who receives the Light from Malchut totally annuls himself. He cannot perform independent actions and totally annuls himself, thus enabling the Light to operate on him. If the Light comes through Zeir Anpin, it purifies it on the level of the vegetative, and, in addition to annulling himself, it enables him to move for the first time.

Later, the Light that comes through Bina raises the desire to the animate level. Now, it can operate by itself, give birth to new levels, and resemble the Creator. Finally, when a person receives the Light of Hochma, there is no limit to what he can do with his desire and with his nature, with his inner potential.

So, it all depends on the level from which the Light that Reforms comes. We must be under that level and to resemble it somehow.

Question: In what way is the vegetative level different from the animate level?

Answer: First, measure the growth from the beginning or in other words, compare it to the level of the still nature. Inanimate nature cannot move on its own. It is totally annulled by the Light and is in absolute rest.

On the other hand, on the vegetative level, the desire that has grown can take on more advanced forms and to change, but this still has to be attained, and so the level of inanimate nature develops as it resists changes.

The desire to receive changes, but a person keeps himself, his structure, and attributes. Thus, he acquires a basis that is created of all the four phases on which he stands by not annulling his desire, but rather by leaving it under the Masach (screen) and the restriction.

Then, from his level of the still nature, a person can build the next three levels: the vegetative, the animate, and the speaking. Everything stems from the level of the still nature. Therefore, on the level of the still nature, a person goes through all the phases only in the form of the still nature. Then, on every level, there are the particular levels of the still nature, and they are all be the result of the Keter of the still nature that is stabilized from the start.

As for the level of the vegetative, it can generate independent movements under the influence of the Light. In other words, if at first I could only admire different delicacies, covering my mouth with my hand, which means covering the desire with a Masach, now I already can taste a bit in order to bestow.

Then, there is the level of the animate that already can give birth to new forms. It can move and extract waste materials and organize in groups, but only according to its nature. It doesn’t take an example from the Creator yet and acts like a baby in which the level of the animate is expressed for the time being.

This is the difference: The level of the vegetative cannot move independently, it doesn’t give birth to anything new, and only responds to the influence of the upper Light. At this point, a person gradually begins to work with his desire to receive, which means that he doesn’t just restrict it, but uses it to bestow in order to bestow. On the other hand, the animate level is ready to receive in order to bestow.

The level of the speaking already takes an example from the Creator, and this is different from all the rest. The whole point is to resemble the Creator.
[83932]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/25/12, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

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Question: How can we give the same importance to the congress in Kharkov as we did to the congress in the north of Israel?

Answer: First of all you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions during the congress and receive answers.

Secondly, a congress is a great action in unity, and in this unity between us, we reveal the upper world. Therefore, all our aspiration is aimed toward correcting the broken Kelim (vessels) and revealing their unity. The upper world is the world of unity.

When a few thousand people gather at a congress it creates a great force. Even if these people aren’t totally ready but there are many of them, then quantity multiplied by quality still creates this great force. I personally give it a great regard. This action really has a serious effect on people.

Therefore, we should try to encourage as many people as possible to find a way to come. Who knows when we’ll be able to organize another congress? After all, times are not getting any better.
[83902]
Fundamentals of Kabbalah Lesson 7/15/2012

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Question: If we say that the books that we publish should actually be of assistance in the transition to the next level, then what should be the nature, for example, of economic and other articles?

Answer: While we might find it difficult without the help of experts to give some exact, next steps for further development and to explain how integrality in the world can immediately influence the solutions for the economic, financial, industrial, organizational, commercial, international, problems, etc., at least we can show the general lines of the message of nature and the need to search for solutions to these problems through connection and unity.

Then, if not today, then shortly, experts will see that everything is really integrated and resolvable specifically in this way. And this undoubtedly will happen. We can prescribe the solution for all individual problems of humanity that stand in front of the simple man and also for the entire international society. We will be able to gradually do this. As a result, the practical means to address the general crisis of the entire civilization will emerge.

Question: Is it possible to say that the main idea of each article should be the transition through our unity from a linear society to an inclusive, circular one?

Answer: Yes, since if one looks from perspective of the wisdom of Kabbalah, then we enter a system that is “circular,” to a system of correction that is not the linear, human ego, but a system which includes others and by that creates together with them a society. Through the neutralizing of his ego, by ascending above it, a person begins to connect to others and to create, together with them, one complete whole. Any movement should be directed specifically at this.
[83824]
From a “Talk on Integral Upbringing” 5/31/12

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Question: While you were away last week, the world group had some active interactions. For the first time, we truly felt that we depend on one another. How can we hold onto that moment now and not fall back into passivity?

Answer: We must not recall the situation we experienced. The past is burnt. We must not look back like Lot’s wife. What belongs to the past is gone, and we don’t go through what we went through, not in our feelings and not in our thoughts.

Even if you think that you are leaving something special behind, it makes no difference. You must keep away from the best state just as from the worst state.

Under no circumstances should you try to recall it in your thoughts, desires, or your words, and do not try to reconstruct anything. Empty yourself completely of everything that was. Even if you felt good, now, you will feel even better. We must start every day anew and turn over a new leaf.

No one is disturbing you, not me and not the friends, no matter what they feel. The state of things in the outer world also has nothing to do with it. You must enter a new state, a new phase of connection without any burdens, as if you don’t know anything, as it is written, “Each day they shall seem new to you.” We must not compare the current state with what was before. Start everything anew, and only thus will you reach a new structure.

Even if you have succeeded, now it is as if nothing happened. Don’t be afraid to lose it. By being afraid to lose something, you are expressing a contemptible form of receiving. Everything that you have attained and everything that you have felt, doesn’t exist now, and it shouldn’t exist. Otherwise, you care only about your feelings.

The main thing is to detach yourself from the past. Without it, you will not advance forward. You are advancing toward bestowal, and this means burning all the bridges.
[83926]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/25/12, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

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Today, we need to create a system of integral education and upbringing. Within its framework, we’ll explain what the method of correction is, how the world works, what the freedom of choice a person has, and how our egoism developed throughout history and the dead end it has entered today. We’ll talk about the fact that the end of the egoistic development is felt as a crisis, that a new global and integral world is being revealed to us both from the side of nature as environmental disasters and in human society, which inevitably joined the framework of an integral system, with the result that now everyone depends on each other.

All of this is not revealed accidentally, but in order to force us to correct the connection between us and to move onto the next stage of development. The peculiarity of this stage is that it consists of two integrated and interconnected forces: Forces of egoism in the left line and forces of bestowal and love in the right line. Thus, we build a new relationship with the world and have to look at it differently. By improving ourselves, we fix family, the environment, education, culture, science, economics, finance, and everything else. After all, it’s us humans who have built all of that, and therefore by changing ourselves, we’ll change all these systems as well. This will be the consequence of the new internal human nature that changed and reached equilibrium.

We’ll distribute that knowledge to people through courses available to everyone. Fifteen meetings of two to three hours will open a person’s eyes to a new world in which he finds himself. The meetings will expand a person’s horizons, make a link between history, today, and tomorrow, and will reveal his own nature and the nature of the world. It will give an understanding of the evolutionary process through which we are going.

Everything will be presented in one set, including the role of the people of Israel and the nations of the world. By revealing this integral picture, a person sees that everything is based on mutual support and responsibility, thus mutual help is required from each and everyone in order to reach a “round” world. In fact, this methodology introduces nothing new in comparison to the same methodology of Abraham which laid the foundations of the Jewish people that we use today.

Mutual responsibility courses will quickly enable people to feel the situation changing for the better, both in their countries and around the world. The results will be seen within several months.

Question: What should be emphasized: mutual responsibility training or roundtable discussions?

Answer: This is a single system: Workshops are a part of the course program. The main thing is to start realizing it, and a positive result won’t keep you waiting.
[83830]
From a Conversation 6/5/12

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Question: You communicate with scientists a lot. What is your impression: Do people feel the transition to a new integral system?

Answer: Sure! Plenty of people write about this on their own without any prompting. They express correct, although, in a sense, fragmentary thoughts because they lack generality. They lack our integral method that talks about general nature and general management.

So, of course, not having this method, it is difficult for them to see globality, but many of them still see it, and the rest talk about it mostly in their areas. In general today, we even cannot say that there are people who would not agree with it at least partly.

There is plenty of material online on this topic. We have compiled a huge database of statements from and communications with these people. Basically, they are Western and American scientists, but I am sure that we can find the same in Russia.
[83821]
From a “Talk on Integral Upbringing” 5/31/12

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Question: Earlier, we spoke about the importance of interacting with scientists to interview them, gather materials, listen to their opinions, and use them to support the legitimacy of our remarks from a scientific point of view. Should we continue this work? In what form is it better to do it?

Answer: I don’t think that we need legitimization. Based on the fact that we want to introduce the idea of integral education and upbringing to society, we need to do it quickly and not just the idea, but its practical application and to obtain a broad view from the scientific community. That is all, perhaps.

The next stage is practical application when, together with scientists, psychologists, sociologists, and political scientists, we can come to a practical solution. To do this, we need to take an example of a small town or even a small community, such as a village, school, or business, and create there such a community of people that would be able to help solve numerous internal and external problems.
[83819]
From a “Talk on Integral Upbringing” 5/31/12

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Question: When we speak about integrality, this idea is so new to people that they can’t perceive it. The innovation and the simplicity of the information, despite the urgency, make its perception very difficult even for an educated person. How can we overcome this obstacle?

Answer: I believe that we should provide less information. On the whole a person has to feel the idea. In a short conversation, a person should receive just the amount of information that he will be able to immediately understand and perceive; this means every word should be weighed and the ideas should be expressed in a simple language as the whole idea—very simple. Then people should discuss this idea in integral circles since every person should have a chance to express himself.

First, the participants should discuss an idea that comes from integral education, for example, “the ego as the source of evil,” and then discuss it. Then they should take the next topic “an attribute that is opposite from the ego,” which means altruism, mutual help, and discuss it. The discussion should be brief so that they’ll be left with a good impression at the end and most importantly so that they feel unity among themselves with an emphasis that there is no pressure, no coercion, and not some party trend, not a game of lies, but an essential tool for survival.

When a person leaves with this feeling, it’s a serious, desirable outcome. Thus every lesson should advance them a step further.

Several lessons will probably be required in order to collect and to process the ideas about the human ego, the world, personal life, and the family, and each time to show somehow that we can solve our problems by rising above them, which means to teach people the technique of growth.

All the opinions, the feelings, the rejections, and the negativity remain below. By respecting each individual, we rise to the general collective unity and from there we begin to solve our problems. These lessons should end with a workshop each time, and people should be left with an emotional impression that stems from something they have learned.
[83817]
From a “Talk on Integral Upbringing” 5/31/12

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Question: How does our connection become the basis for the revelation of the spiritual levels?

Answer: Every level is a world that you feel, a world that is woven by the connection among all the souls. The first connection that has come from the world of Ein Sof (Infinity) gradually diminished until it was shattered and became totally detached in our world. Now, from this point, the ascent in the same levels of connection begins, and it is the only thing you have to reveal.

The “matter” of the souls is the desire to receive and the connection among them is the system we study about. The Ten Sefirot, the spiritual Partzufim, are all the essence of different methods of mutual connection of the souls between them.

On the whole, a whole body is thus formed as we rise to Malchut of Ein Sof, and all the connections are 100% bestowal without any obstacles and deficiencies. Then all the resistance in the transition among us disappears and the connection is immediately fulfilled in infinite speed. This is the state of Ein Sof.

The adhesion indicates a simple thing: What I have at a certain moment, you have too, and vice versa. This communication is unlimited. It isn’t confined to time and the resistance of the ego. The “resistor” among us disappears and our desires cooperate freely and to their full extent.

Question: How should it be expressed in the workshops?

Answer: Our adhesion during the workshops is an effort: We want to unite so strongly, as much as we can imagine, so that each one will lose his feeling of self and we will feel one desire, one thought, one whole. By these efforts, from the point of unity, we think about a solution to the question we were given by the teacher. The solution is within the connection.

Therefore, during the workshop we yearn to find the answer through the unity. Each time we search for a solution, we want to attain it by the unity, without using our logic. After all, we are not going to logically examine the words of the Kabbalists.

Without connection, there is no point in sitting in a circle. So what do we need it for? For an intellectual conversation or a scientific debate? No, the mission is given only in order to create a new quality. Then by feeling the collective quality, you find the solution.

The workshop is only meant to create a collective vessel that belongs to an upper level. We try to reach it as hard as we can, but if there is no solution, it means that we have not succeeded.

There is no point mentioning the connection while we are in the process, it has to be the goal from the beginning. Can we come to a workshop not in order to connect, and in this connection find the next level or at least find the solution to the question that leads to it?
[83843]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/13/12, Writings of Baal HaSulam 

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