Baal HaSulam, Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah, Item 25: Thus, as long as not all five Kelim KHB TM have grown in a Partzuf, the Lights are not in their designated places. Moreover, they are in inverse relation: in the absence of the Kli of Malchut, the Light of Yechida is absent, and when the two Kelim, TM, are missing, Yechida and Haya are absent there, etc. This is so because in the Kelim, the Higher ones emerge first, and in the Lights, the last ones are the first to enter.

The opposite order between Lights and vessels is very confusing. According to this order, the more we advance, the greater the darkness we enter. It is because we need thicker vessels in order to discover greater and stronger Lights. Therefore, I need greater support from the group and need to attend the lessons regularly, which means to sustain myself by greater powers than before.

Usually, the more I advance, the more I understand and feel, and the more I discover, but at the same time, I find myself in greater darkness since that’s the way it always is: greater Lights require thicker vessels.

You will also find that each new Light that reenters dresses only in the Kli of Keter. This is so because the receiver must receive in its purest Kli, the Kli of Keter.

For this reason, upon reception of each new Light, the Lights that are already dressed in the Partzuf must descend one degree from their place. For example, when the Light of Ruach enters, the Light of Nefesh must descend from the Kli of Keter to the Kli of Hochma…

We must make an additional effort in the vessel by the darkness that we discover and its correction. Thus, the vessel of Hochma is added to the vessel of Keter, and then the Light of Nefesh that was in the vessel of Keter descends to the vessel of Hochma and the Light of Ruach enters the vessel of Keter. The difference between the Light of Nefesh and the Light of Ruach is very large. It is a new world, a new attainment, a new feeling that never has been felt before.

The perception of reality is upgraded each time. Reality seems new and different. The upper force is revealed more in some new form, and the world, the general vessel, seems new. Every slight shock in the spiritual world summons a change in the whole integral system, and it is, therefore, very meaningful whether one is in Nefesh of Keter or in Ruach of Keter.
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From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/23/14, Writing of Baal HaSulam

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The emblems embroidered on the four major banners conform to four terrestrial creatures that surrounded the Throne of Heavenly Glory:

1. The human image at the foot of the Throne corresponds to the Reuben banner embroidered with plants that have roots that bear external resemblance with a human being;

2. The exterior of a lion under the Throne replicates Yehuda’s flag with a lion depicted on it;

3. Ephraim’s banner embroidered with a bull corresponds to the heavenly image of the bull;

4. The eagle embroidered on Dan’s flag is similar to the image of the eagle at the Throne.

Spirituality is a world of forces. Therefore, the four emblems on the banners symbolize spiritual qualities: Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet, and Yesod.

When these forces interact and affect the ego, each force demonstrates its certain properties. Egoism per se has no shape, nor does it desire anything but receiving. Whereas, when the quality of bestowal and love influences it, the ego manifests its selfish impulses.

Therefore, the image of a lion or the face of an eagle, etc., signify the states that one can achieve if one is ready to become a tool of manifesting the Creator’s properties. This denotes a very high qualitative level because the face of the animal turns into the face of a human—Adam (one who is similar with the Creator).

The face of man, as the face of the sun, emanates energy when it reaches the state of bestowal.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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Question:  What happens to a person after he or she dies? What’s happens to their soul?

Answer: Those who are capable of perceiving their soul live within it because it is not connected with the death of the body.

And for those who have never attained their souls, there remains only a Reshimot (from Hebrew “roshem” – a record), which is a piece of information similar to DNA, a certain code that includes everything that a person had ever consisted of.

When the body dies, this informational part (Reshimot) must connect with a new body in this world and start all over. Every person has a Reshimot, which is the particle from which we eventually develop a soul.

Comment:  You have said that people who have a soul are only those who build it.

Answer: Yes, it’s true. They build it out of their egoistic desires that are based on Reshimot,  some particle of information that works inside the desire forcing people to build a soul.

Question: What do I have? What’s missing? What am I supposed to build?

Answer: Our egoistic will to receive is all we have. But it may be the case that suddenly a special desire sparks in us. This is a desire to perceive our soul and figure out why we live, what is the purpose of our existence and the source of life.

It means that a Reshimot, that tiny spark, the so-called point in the heart wakes up within us. At this point, we start contemplating what we should do next since this aspiration presses on us and doesn’t leave us alone.

Then, we address our egoistic desire and start searching for a place where we can realize this spark. Eventually, we come to a place where the authentic wisdom of Kabbalah is taught and where we receive an explanation of how to build a soul. Creating a soul means changing the will to receive for our own sake to being for the sake of others.
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From Israeli Radio Program 103FM, 5/10/15

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The Light emanates from the East, for there the sun rises. From there comes the eastern wind, the most harmful of all winds. From the west comes snow, hail, heat, frost, and heavy rains.

The South, a source of blessing of dew and rain. is the source of the blessed dew and rain. From the North is sent “darkness” and malicious forces.

(The Torah, “Bamidbar”)

The location of the banners of the camps of the Jews corresponds to the four sides of the Light.

A unified system called the common soul consists of twelve parts (the twelve tribes) that relate to and are connected with each other in accordance with the four sides of the world that signify the four parts – Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin and Malchut.

And the banners must stand against each other:

Bina – Hochma

Malchut – Zeir Anpin

Each part consists of 3 lines, a total of 12 parts (12 tribes). Their location represents the pairing of the vessel of the common soul.

The Torah specifies which banner they have to be under. The banner symbolizes the private purpose of each camp that has its own characteristics and properties. Therefore, the one common goal is expressed in them in a slightly different focus, from a different angle.

As an example, a human body consists of various organs. Each in their own way senses the body’s movements, supports, etc. In the same way, thanks to the variety of properties and the way they connect among each other, the properties of the general force, the Creator are shown.

The property of bestowal shows up as a result of huge egoistic differences. Bestowal is as absolute like a mother’s love: Do whatever you want; I still love you.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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Question: Who in the spiritual hierarchy can obtain the closest proximity to the property of bestowal?

Answer: Spirituality is the world of forces. Everything there is about forces.

The closest to the property of bestowal are Cohens (priests) who represent the most internal part of the general soul; then come Levites who gather around the Cohens, and then the people of Israel follows.

Erev Rav (the mixed multitude) is behind the Cloud of Glory (the Surrounding Light). Even though they make all efforts to grab as much as they can for their own sake, they cannot get inside it because they do not accept the property of bestowal, to work for the Creator’s sake, for the benefit of others.

This is a quantitative and qualitative balance of forces in a single system called “the common soul.”
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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The weekly chapter of the Torah “Bambidar” tells us how the Israeli army was built. We learn how they gathered around the Tabernacle and what was displayed on the flags of each camp, etc.

This speaks about the building of the general soul: about the forces, intentions, and attributes of which it is made. The structure of the general soul reminds us of the structure of an atom, where only those parts that can withstand the radiation of the nucleus, the radiation of bestowal, can be close to the nucleus. It is according to this principle that the camps gather and are classified.

It says that it is forbidden to come close to the Tabernacle since one can die (“the stranger that approaches will die”). This means that your vessels, your desires, may not be able to hold on, and so become egoistic, causing you to die spiritually.

Comment: But all of humanity accepts these words as rigid laws and a threat of physical death.

Answer: The laws of nature are indeed rigid because the system that governs the world is very tough and uncompromising, but everyone still follows the stream of goodness.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/31/14

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Comment: There is an entire discussion in The Book of Zohar as to which letter the creation of the world should begin with. Eventually it was decided that the first letter would be “Bet” (Bereshit, Genesis).

Answer: The first letter is very important since it determines the meaning of the whole act of creation.

In the article “The Letters of Rav Hamnuna Saba” in The Introduction to The Book of Zohar there is the description of the “struggle” over which letter should control the world to bring all egoism, all the attributes opposite to the Creator, to compatibility with Him.

The attributes have to be opposed to each other because it is only as a result of the conflict between the positive and negative forces that we can begin to study and reveal the Creator; it is impossible to do it any other way. It is impossible to discover any attribute, anything in the world, if we don’t have attributes that are opposite from the Creator.

But how could anything opposite to Him be created? For this purpose the constantly growing egoism was created, so that it could be compared to the positive force and in the contrast between them compare: the attribute of the created being and the attribute of the Creator, day and night.

A person has to feel alternately this and that, and then together; these properties are opposite to each other. During this comparison, he either lowers the Creator to the level of darkness or raises darkness to the level of the Creator.

This work helps the created being discover the Creator from the attribute that is opposite to Him, but not in contrast, one against the other, like in our world. A person ascends and dresses his ego with the Creator’s attributes making them into a form that is totally egoistic internally and opposite from the Creator while all His positive attributes are revealed externally.

Then the created being begins to attain the two opposite attributes through one action, in one thought, in one deed, at the same time. As he ascends from our world upward, he begins to build all the creation by himself.

This is why it is said that the righteous build worlds. It is as if the Creator has destroyed the world He created (which is indeed so), and they build it and recreate it just like a child who is given a toy that is totally disassembled in order to teach him to put it together.

Thus, a person gradually ascends to the Creator’s level , and thus becomes equivalent to the Creator. He passes all the emanations and acquires the Creator’s attribute in all his filling.

Question: When you speak about a person, do you refer to the united figure of all mankind?

Answer: Yes, it is all the people in the world; it is their corrected inner core that is connected into one unique correct state called Adam (a human being) that resembles the Creator.

Comment: The wisdom of Kabbalah is so deep and rich that one constantly thinks about how he can absorb it.

Answer: It is impossible to do it in any theoretical manner. The wisdom of Kabbalah isn’t an ordinary wisdom that can be learned from a distance; it isn’t a performance that can be acted and thus felt. We have to fully penetrate and be incorporated in this figure and that is the problem.

Here there is absolute adhesion with the levels of ascent and a person constantly changes his form from a dark point to an enlightened figure of complete love and bestowal.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/31/14

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Question: In an atmosphere of complete disconnection and lack of understanding, how can we convey the law of love for others to people?

Answer: The same state of disconnection occurred at the time of receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Before that, the people of Israel came out of Egypt, where Pharaoh, the evil that separates us, was revealed.

We found ourselves in terrible darkness, passing through the “49 Gates of Impurity.” That is why we were rewarded the revelation of the force of unity, the Light of the Torah.

It is said that the advantage of light is known from the darkness. So today, when no one considers others and everyone hates each other, the light of the Torah is revealed to us.

Question: Why is this light hidden from us?

Answer: The light is hidden because we do not use it. The evil force is revealed to us through our egoism and desires, and the force of good has no place to be revealed. Let’s begin to perform good actions, bringing the force of good from concealment, and we will suddenly find out that we have two forces: the plus and the minus, the good and evil.

We will be able to balance these two forces and live in a world where we will become the masters of everything we do. The world will be opened before us.

Question: What would you like to wish the people of Israel on the holiday of the giving of the Torah (Shavuot)?

Answer: I would like to wish that we all understand that we have been given the Torah. We need to recall every day that we were given the Torah and that we must receive it. It is the only thing that we lack. This is not about religious traditions but about the method of correction, which allows every person to correct himself and attain love for others.
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From KabTV’s “A New Life” 5/3/15

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Question: Why must we receive the Torah every year during the holiday of Shavuot if we already received it at Mt Sinai?

Answer: It isn’t a physical action and about being physically at the foot of Mt. Sinai. We are told that a person should see himself as if he is coming out of Egypt every day. He must hear the Ten Commandments every day as if he is receiving them over and over again. It is because our ego, our desire to receive, is renewed every day. In contrast to this, we continuously must awaken the desire to bestow, the power of love. This is the reason that the Torah is given to us on a daily basis.

Now, however, we are in exile, which means that we don’t feel the good force which is concealed from us. We only can reveal it through the wisdom of Kabbalah, which was also intentionally concealed until not too long ago.

Question: How is the Torah related to the wisdom of Kabbalah?

Answer: The wisdom of Kabbalah is called the wisdom of truth, the wisdom of the Light, since it is actually through this wisdom that we can attain the force of goodness, the force of love and bestowal, and fulfill the mutual guarantee and unity between us. We have been trying to do that for decades in the state of Israel, but things are getting worse and worse. We already have reached a point in which the situation is unbearable.

The wisdom of Kabbalah, on the other hand, reveals to us the force of goodness, the force of love, that ties us together and allows us to use it. We begin to feel how we must balance evil wherever it is revealed by the force of goodness. Then, we have two forces by which we can advance in the right direction to unity and love, and can develop in a good and wonderful manner.
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From Israeli Radio Program 103FM, 5/17/15

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Question: For some time great Kabbalists lived in Russian cities: the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, and others. Did this influence the spirit of Russian Jewry?

Answer: Without a doubt, students of the Baal Shem Tov lived in every city. The Baal Shem Tov first began to apply the wisdom of Kabbalah that the Ari revealed in the 16^th century. He taught this to his many Kabbalist students, those who attained the highest level in the system. Their role was to arouse inspiration in the people, to correctly elevate, stabilize, and lead them forward. This was the idea of restoring the spirit of the people, which they had already lost at the time of the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (Temple), when they fell from the level of mutual love to mutual hatred. So the need ripened to raise the people from the egoistic level of rejection, to the altruistic level of mutual love.

The Baal Shem Tov established what was called Hassidism, practical Kabbalistic work. But it is necessary to say that the Hassidism of today is much different. The Baal Shem Tov changed the study of the Ari to bring it closer to the people and show them them inner correction. In this way, he implemented the general rule of the Torah, “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” The people were then able to leave both spiritual and physical exile, because one is connected to the other. But if a person was not ready for spiritual redemption, he also would not attain physical freedom.

So for two generations until the 18^th century, the Kabbalistic current that was called Hassidism prospered. In every village and settlement, there were people who were involved in attaining the Creator on the basis of the right connection between them, which is what the Torah requires. In this way, Judaism became spiritual, and many people appeared who became teachers. At the same time, opponents of Hassidism appeared, but no matter what, both groups began to rise spiritually and this played an immense role in influencing the environment.

Around that time, opportunistic people began to appear, which changed everything and replaced the popular current so that they were no longer involved with the attainment of Torah. Instead, they simply carried out the physical Mitzvot (commandments) with some kind of slightly greater inner aspiration, but no more than that. This means that Hassidism fell to a lower level. But until the end of the 19^th century and in spite of all this, there were still a multitude of Kabbalists who felt the higher world, the system of management. From this, they taught others. This very strongly influenced the spirit of Russian Jewry and was rooted in them forever. So the continued discovery of the spiritual world, the discovery of the soul, the feeling of the upper world, and the entire system of discovery of the Creator as the higher force of management, pushed, and today still pushes a large part of the Jews of Russia towards true spiritual attainment.

Among my students today, it is possible to find many from the former Soviet Union and Russians still living in Russia. Even today, the spiritual potential that was inserted into them by the followers of the Baal Shem Tov still lives within them.
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From KabTV’s “About Our Life” 5/07/15

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