Question: Why is it said in The Zohar that “There is nothing new under the sun”? Is there something new above the sun?

Answer: There is something new above the sun since the Light does not bring new desires (Kelim) to the creature. The creature has to discern within itself, want, put forth efforts, and find new desires and deficiencies of fulfillment.

The Light of the sun is the Light of Infinity. Creation senses the sun’s Direct Light as minimal illumination (Nefesh de-Nefesh), and in this way it discerns new deficiencies within itself against the revelation of the Creator’s greatness. This occurs through multiple discernments of being opposite to the Light and of egoism being opposite to bestowal. By doing so, the creature discovers new possibilities of bestowal. Because of this, in the light of His greatness, the previous Light of Nefesh de-Nefesh, a sensation of the Creator, is then sensed as endless “Yechida” of the Light NRHY.

The revelation of this great Light, the greatness of the One Who bestows, is the reason for the Light “above the sun.” It is higher than knowledge, desires, and fulfillments coming directly from the Creator to the creature. Therefore, the Light of the sun is only a spark of life, and the rest of creation is built above the sun, adding the aspiration of love to the original desire.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/5/10, The Zohar

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Question: What is the unity between us that we demand from the Creator when we read The Zohar?

Answer: In truth, we don’t know what unity is. What does it mean to unite? Is it to be friends like in our world, where we connect through common interests, desires, and pursuits, and where we enjoy spending free time together playing soccer, fishing, drinking beer, or working out in the gym? Or, should we be like a solid submarine crew where everyone has gone through hard psychological training and is prepared to die for the others?

Unity in spirituality means something completely different. The spiritual life that you find in such unity is collective. It is similar to that of Siamese twins where, when one dies, so does the other. They can live only as one. There is no division into “mine” and “yours,” or “half for one and half for the other.”

This common life is called spiritual unity since everything that you gain is through the bond with the others. You share one “body.” It is a spiritual vessel called the body of the soul. Inside this spiritual vessel is the Light of the soul; it is one soul. If this oneness disintegrates, the body disappears and the Light with it. As a result, there is no soul or spiritual life.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/4/10, The Zohar

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Question: Can we say that the flow of the words in The Zohar changes the strength and the direction of the forces that bind us together?

Answer: We do not know how it works. Something about it is still deeply hidden from us. The Book is written in a language that seemingly allows us to discern quite logical things in it, relate to them, and somehow picture ourselves in them or them in us. There is a certain interaction between me and the book, a connection and understanding that the Book talks about me and I am inside of it.

But this is a completely false sensation. It is simply the form in which the story is presented to us, the story that is extremely distant, unfamiliar, and foreign to us. It is like some beast that acquired a human form, talked to us, and we could only grasp its outer form: its arms, legs, or head. But it is absolutely not the case.

Consequently, we need to relate to The Zohar as to the Book that contains a certain secret code, a sequence of spiritual instructions. I do not know how they are written from the inside and cannot come into contact with them. In order to establish at least some sort of connection with these spiritual instructions, I read The Zohar. However, the connection emerges not by my hearing or reading the text; rather, it is built to the measure of my desire to unite with this inner code so that it could transform me.

The Book can be written in a variety of forms, and I may not understand a single word of it. What counts is my desire for the inner content of the Book to correct me. Its inner content is the spiritual world with its entire apparatus, actions, and forces, not the paper and print within the cover.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/4/10, The Zohar

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Question: It is difficult to tear ourselves away from our current state and bring ourselves into the hands of the environment in order to rise to the next degree. Is there some other way that this can this be done?

Answer: This is the only way to ascend the spiritual ladder! It seems to you that the spiritual world is something opposite to nature. However, this is not the case. We are part of nature, and by following the advice of Kabbalists, we act according to the laws that exist in it.

From a higher degree, which emanates Light and brings about darkness, the two opposites, the Light and desire, become revealed. They come and develop from there according to their nature: One is giving, while the other is receiving. In this manner, these two attributes of bestowal and reception spread out from Above downward, intertwined together, until they reach us. In turn, we study how we are arranged according to this two-fold nature (the double helix of spiritual DNA) and how we can ascend by these natural degrees.

So do not look for some other ways. Kabbalists describe indisputable facts that exist in nature. Whether we like it or not, we will be forced to accept them. After all, one who does not follow the laws of nature will be punished by suffering.

An animal, contrary to a human being, never makes mistakes since it is a part of nature and cannot act against it. Meanwhile, a human being is the only creature that has egoism. Yet, egoism raises us above nature. The inanimate, vegetative, and animate parts merge with nature. They cannot think, desire, or act otherwise. There is an additional level above them called “human.” This level is opposite to the Upper nature, meaning to the Creator.

And egoism is the source of all our mistakes and transgressions. It is created precisely for the purpose of showing us our opposition to the Creator. Our whole problem is: What do we do with the degree of “human” in us? The whole potential of our development above the natural level is instilled in it.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/2/10, Article, “The Matter of Truth and Faith”

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Question: In work with three lines, the left line looks big, heavy, and thick since it embraces our entire evil inclination. In contrast, the right line looks very light and works only as a “spice.” Is this only my personal sensation?

Answer: Of course, a person sees himself as an important “substance” that “owns” the whole material world with all of its egoism. This is an extremely heavy weight. On the other side, there is spirituality, some lightweight, insubstantial “spirit” (Ruach). One wonders: “What power can it have if it is totally elusive?”

Quantum physics investigates elementary particles that cannot even be “caught,” but rather detected only by the deflection of a needle. We know from this world that the more invisible a force is, the more powerful it is. Likewise, spiritual reality defines and retains everything in its “network” by applying its power. Everything that happens originates from the inner forces; their actions materialize and thereby enable us to see elementary particles as well as our entire Universe. Spiritual energy gives birth to the whole material world.

Hence, it is unfeasible even to compare the powers of Light and matter. The Light has created only one black point, “Yesh Mi Ain” (existence from absence). This point never changes, it always remains a point. Within this point a process of apprehension begins: “I am black. I am different from the Light. How different am I? Can the difference be that big?” Afterward, this enormous divergence that, in fact, is represented by just one black point widens to the extent of the realization of its evil nature, thus creating all the worlds. This one point is the essence of everything there is; all of its power comes from the Light.

Due to the presence of the Light and its small desire, this point is able to produce the Returning Light. It is similar to an amplifier that produces a weak signal at the entrance, but by applying an outside power to enhance the weak initial signal, it  intensifies it and thereby turns it into an extremely powerful signal at the exit. That is how you use “outside” energy of the Light, apply it to your tiny desire towards spirituality, and thus make huge changes.

By using your desire to produce the Returning Light and give bestowal back to the Creator, you engage the whole power of the Light, the strength of the Creator, and apply it to a small desire of yours. That is when a huge Reflected Light emerges and equals itself in strength with the Direct Light, the Creator’s influence.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/30/10, The Zohar

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Question: Lately people often ask me, “What is the science of Kabbalah?” And I am unable to give them a simple definition in one sentence. How do we explain what we are learning? Is it to love the neighbor?

Answer: We are learning how to reveal the Upper Force which controls us. According to Baal HaSulam’s definition, “Kabbalah is the revelation of the Creator to the creatures.” Love for the neighbor is only a means. Revelation of your evil inclination is also a means, and the Torah is a means for correcting that inclination. The result of all these efforts is the revelation of the Creator.

However, a regular person will be confused by the word “Creator” and is likely to assume that it has to do with religion. Therefore, we should explain that there is a force in our world that controls everything and puts everything in motion, and we need to study it.

In fact, our fate depends on this. The science of Kabbalah reveals that Upper Force to us and then we begin to understand everything that happens to us in life. This explanation is more comprehensible to people because everyone is concerned with their fate.

From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/2/10, “Introduction to the Book, Panim Meirot uMasbirot”

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Question: Suppose, I want to purchase a car. I will gather all the information about the model’s advantages and benefits, and I can easily understand all these facts. But if I want to reach bestowal in spirituality, it appears to be something fleeting and incomprehensible. Why is it so confusing and what should I do about this?

Answer: That is a fair complaint on the part of a beginner who has just embarked on the spiritual path: Why there is no simplicity or clarity in spirituality? Why don’t we see the future and its advantages?

In this world, at the time we apply to a university, it is normal to know when we will graduate, the kind of work we will find afterward, and how much we will earn. The examples of other people who have already completed the same path enable us to invest the effort required to achieve the same result. Why is it not the same in spirituality? Why is it so puzzling and never clear at the outset? Where are we going in the first place? If after a lesson someone on the street asks me “What did you get there?”, I will have nothing to say.

And yet, having no answers is a clear sign that we are close to revelation since this is the only way for us to uncover the concealed. We can only get it from the sensation of shortage and deficit. It comes to us out of absence of…I don’t even know what! The sensation of insufficiency is in and of itself preparation for revelation.

Therefore, this feeling of yours is very useful. It is not pleasant, but it is correct and happens right before revelation, which can only occur to us from the state when we ask: “Where is it? Why? What for?” That is, it occurs from emptiness. It will always be like that, at any level.

Don’t worry about the states we are going through. Most important is that they change quickly! We have to go through all of them anyway. That is why we don’t care much about our sensations at any given moment. The frequency of change we experience is what matters. Only that!

It does not matter if I feel good or bad, am confused, or understand more or less. What counts is moving forward. Those who scrutinize their inner conditions procrastinate; that is not good. Always strive ahead and don’t think too much. Rapid progress is what is important.

From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/30/10, “Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah”

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Question: If a few people create a group and connect with one another, how can they spread this sensation of connection to the entire world?

Answer: It is enough for me to reach the property of connection, bestowal, and love through my small group. When I turn to the big world after having obtained this property, I see it as unified. After all, if I can step out of myself toward one person, likewise I can step out toward all and to the Creator. A sensory organ for the external world (the screen and Ohr Hozer) appears in me. As a result, the world falls into the range of my vision.

Without it, I only detect things that correspond to my ego. I simply do not see whatever my egoism does not like or has no interest in. There are plenty of things in the world that I am not able to perceive. There is a formidable and extraordinary universe, the spiritual world, but I am blind to it. I simply do not have the necessary organ of perception. I do not feel the spiritual world. It just flows by me. It is here and now, but I am missing it all!

I have to acquire a new sensory organ: a feeling of love and bestowal. Then, I will feel the bestowal and love that permeate the world. This is what is called the Creator. When I receive such sensations, even the smallest one, to this degree, I will feel part of the spiritual reality. This will mean that I have risen to the first spiritual level. Then, I’ll expand my perception, obtain the ability to love and bestow more, and will feel more.

The greater my spiritual vessel, my instrument of perception, the more I feel the spiritual world. In this manner, I climb 125 spiritual degrees and gradually achieve the full sensation of the attribute of bestowal. Thereby I reach the complete correction of my spiritual vessel and now I perceive the entire reality, all of the Creator, and all the force of bestowal and love there is. I feel this force, and it fills me. The Creator and I are now together. I now act with the newly obtained property, the new sensory organ.

Therefore, not having this property of love and bestowal, I cannot complain that I do not sense the spiritual reality which exists here and now. It is not concealed somewhere far away in a different place. I simply do not sense, discover, or see it. It is like I took my glasses off and lost the ability to discern objects: The whole world disappeared and doesn’t exist for me.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/25/10, Shamati #99

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Question: What is freedom and freedom from what? How do we achieve it if both the corporeal and the spiritual worlds are defined by rigid laws?

Answer: The only freedom that exists is freedom from our egoism. I want the Upper Light to descend, take me over, and replace my egoism. I perceive the power of egoism or altruism over me as necessary: It is either one or the other.

There are only two types of nature: the nature of the lower one (reception) and the nature of the Upper One (bestowal). Both are preset, and function in accordance with invariable laws. The only free action we are able to take is to rise from one nature (egoistic) to the other (altruistic). In other words, we can break free from the power of the laws of egoism (reception) and transcend to the “jurisdiction” of bestowal.

We will not be able to evaluate even our own initial nature until we acquire the second, altruistic nature. We are currently locked within a single dimension, and for as long as we remain in it, we cannot comprehend it.

Look how often we err! For thousands of years, we developed within our egoistic nature, and we still do not know it. This is because we are locked inside it, but in order to understand it, we need to have something opposite to compare it with.

If we possessed an opposite nature (that of bestowal), we would be able to compare it with our egoism and thereby comprehend what reception and bestowal mean. However, in our world, there is nothing but receiving. Whatever we do, we do it solely for our own sake and benefit. This is why we cannot understand our own actions and how this world operates.

You see that humankind continues making mistakes, and doesn’t know what further direction to take. And now that we have reached the peak of egoism, our complete inability to understand this world is obvious. This fact pushes us to the realization that none of us has a choice but to transcend our egoistic nature.

Moreover, in order to simply live well within the boundaries of our egoism, we need to step out of it and study it from above. It is impossible to learn about an object while remaining within its bounds. We have to be above it in order to be able to study it. Only if we rise above ourselves can we learn who we are and what the right way to live is, at least in this world. This is what today’s global crisis is pushing us toward.

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/25/10, Shamati #99

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Question: Is a person’s soul connected to his body like a spiritual root and its branch?

Answer: The soul is not connected to the body. The soul contains 613 desires which I have to correct with the help of 613 Lights. These desires are not connected to our world in any way and they are not present in a regular person.

They surface only in those who study Kabbalah with the intention to create a connection among the students based on bestowal and love, meaning to correct the breaking of the single soul of Adam into parts, into separate souls. These uncorrected desires or mutual hate do not emerge in those who do not study Kabbalah and therefore they have nothing to correct.

The correction takes place in two phases:

1. Not using the 613 desires. This is called carrying out the "613 recommendations of the Torah (Eitin).

2. Reception inside the 613 desires for the sake of bestowal. This is called carrying out "613 instructions of the Torah" (Pkudin).

The desires that were corrupted and became egoistic have the intention "for one’s own sake.” When they are corrected, they acquire the intention of being used "for the sake of others." These desires are the fulfillment of a commandment, since the Creator commanded us "to correct our souls."

This is a spiritual action that does not depend on the physical body. A person may have no arms and legs, or may even lack the whole body, but he can still carry out these actions. The correction of one’s desires is in no way connected to physical flesh. One’s presence in the spiritual world is not connected to this world.

Everything is felt inside the desire. Matter is desire. The sensation inside the lowest desire creates the picture of our world for us or the reality in which we live. The lowest level, called "this world," is impossible to correct. It is the still level which is not subject to correction.

However, besides the still level of desire called "this world," I also receive a small desire of the next level, a "point" of the higher level which is in no way connected to the material level. This desire is called a "point" because in it I perceive only an aspiration to something beyond this world. I can develop it by drawing Light that will connect it to the points of other people, or stated differently, it will connect my soul with other souls. Inside the connection that emerges, I will begin to feel the spiritual world.

When more points connect to my point, then a system emerges and the Light brings it to life. Then all the participants feel life!

From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/1/10, “The Matter of Root and Branch”

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