Question: Rabbi Shimon and his son escaped from the Romans and hid in a cave for 13 years. What does “cave” mean from a spiritual point of view?

Answer: In the spiritual sense, the “cave” is that part of Malchut that has unique properties that can be comprehended to the highest level.

That is, these were special conditions that enabled Rabbi Shimon and his son to unite and in connection with each other achieve the entire ladder of spiritual elevation.

Question: Why were they in the cave for precisely 13 years?

Answer: Because 13 years is a perfect stage, what is called Bar Mitzvah. It is believed that a child who has reached the age of 13 becomes an adult man and must fulfill all the commandments.
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From KabTV’s “Introduction to The Book of Zohar” 12/24/23

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In Rabash’s article, “What is ‘The Torah Exhausts a Person’s Strength,’ in the Work?”  it is written that there are three stages of work: the first—when we work in Lo Lishma (for ourselves), the second—when we work in Lishma (for the Creator), and the third—613 commands or deposits.

Question: What is this third stage?

Answer: The third stage of spiritual work is a complete dissolution in the common Kli. But we rarely talk about this. The main thing for us is to overcome the state of concealment we are in and get out of it.

Question: Does a person have to go through all three stages in any state a person engages in spiritual correction?

Answer: Yes, in the state of complete concealment, partial concealment, partial disclosure, and full disclosure.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/5/23, Writings of Rabash “What Is, ‘The Torah Exhausts a Person’s Strength,’ in the Work?”

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The thirteenth commandment is to do redemption for his son, to tie him to life (Introduction of The Book of Zohar, “The Commandments of the Torah”).

Everything that is born from the earth, animals, or people, initiates such actions that we must raise up to the Creator.

There are two appointees, one over life and the other over death, standing over a person. When he redeems his son, he redeems him from the hand of the one appointed over death. He cannot govern him

Question: Can you explain what this is about?

Answer: We sort of separate the evil force from the good one and make a corresponding sacrifice in the form of a son’s redemption.

Usually, a son in spirituality means the next state of a person.
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From KabTV’s “Introduction to The Book of Zohar” 12/10/23

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Question: What are the signs that a person is not working for the Creator?

Answer: It is when there is no intention in his actions to come closer to the Creator.

Question: Is the partnership between the friends realized through one’s restriction?

Answer: Without restriction, there can be no connection with others at all.

Question: Does it make sense for a person to ask to stay in the right line, in a state of perfection? Or is it against the purpose of creation?

Answer: No, a person only asks for greater connection with the Creator.

Question: It is said, “Sit and do nothing.” What kind of condition are we talking about?

Answer: We are talking about a bad state: if you do not know what to do, sit and do nothing until you feel the laws of new states revealed to you.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/3/24, Writings of Rabash “What Does It Mean that a Judge Must Judge Absolutely Truthfully, in the Work?”

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Question: Kabbalah says we must create a group of like minded-people where everyone understands the ultimate goal—love of friends. But not everyone is in groups like ours; therefore, they want to apply this knowledge at work and in their family. Is that right?

Answer: If these communities are not prepared to embody the principle of love, it can be wrongly interpreted and eventually serve to divide people.

Preparation for its implementation should be combined with the study of articles explaining why this should be so, why all nature is based on love and not hate, and so on. That is, it takes many hours of education.

Question: Why can’t I find a group of people I can give to without any reward and train this way in order to come to the qualities of the Creator?

Answer: You will not come to the qualities of the Creator because you will not receive feedback from others. As a result, you will not have the strength to give.

You should see an example before you, hear how people talk about it, how they try to get closer to each other and discuss their weaknesses, and understand how their actions are contrary to laws of nature.

Therefore, you must be in a group that understands they are egoistic inside and are studying to become altruistic.
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From KabTV’s “Practical Kabbalah” 12/19/23

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Question: What is the difference between experience, reason, and knowledge? Or is it the same thing?

Answer: Try to define experience, reason, and knowledge yourself, and you will see that they differ from each other.

These are not just three different words, but three states in a person and three completely different approaches to exploring our states.

Question: Is faith above these parameters, or is it based on one of them?

Answer: A person must create a platform within himself on which he will use the method of faith to study his states. That is the fourth approach to exploring the world.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/1/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Embrace of the Right, Embrace of the Left”

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Breaking the silence
Of an ancient pond
A frog jumped into the water—
A deep resonance. 
(Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa)

Question: The concept of shibui refers to a Japanese aesthetic of a refined understatement in artistic representation. It has an underlying notion of life’s transitory and evanescent nature. This is reflected in traditional Japanese clothing that is more beautiful on the interior than the exterior fabric.

What is hidden beauty?

Answer: Hidden beauty is something one cherishes, treasures! It is more important to him than anything in the world.

Question: And this, it turns out, is not shown off and put on display?

Answer: It is not shown to anyone. Many nations have many prohibitions against exposure.

Question: Is it the same in spirituality?

Answer: In spirituality, necessarily.

Question: But how can I, an outsider, feel this hidden beauty if it is hidden?

Answer: You don’t need to feel it; you should strive to create your own beauty for yourself.

Question: Am I ever looking for another beauty?

Answer: No, you will not find the beauty you are looking for there.

Question: Won’t I find it in others?

Answer: No, no way. You will not be able to find another person who could display your beauty, what you need, or what you prefer.

Question: Is my life the search for my beauty? Specifically beauty?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What other word would you use to define beauty?

Answer: I would call it inner perfection, harmony.

Question: Where is the upper one you keep talking about in this? Where is the Creator here?

Answer: The Creator determines this from above. And we get it below and thank Him.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/23/23

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Question: Are there states when you feel that you have to cancel all your knowledge or it will drag you down?

Answer: Yes, it is a lack of faith.

Question: How can you cancel your knowledge correctly? Do you have to forget everything you learned, what you knew, and start everything from scratch?

Answer: No, you just have to move in the quality of bestowal and relate to everyone based on that quality.

In order to attract knowledge for the sake of bestowal, we must strive for it and at the same time for knowledge in order to be above. In this way we will obtain this stage.

Question: Is there a difference in what kind of knowledge to strive for?

Answer: You do not know this yet. Strive, and as a result, it will lead you to the desired result.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/3/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Receiving in order to Bestow”

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It is known that the Sitra Achra has no lights…. Therefore, as one rises from one’s bed daily and washes oneself to purify his body from the filth of the body, so one should wash oneself from the filth of the Klipa (Baal HaSulam, Shamati 59 “Concerning the Staff and the Serpent”).

Question: It is said that Sitra Achra (Klipa, evil spirits) does not have its own lights, but at the same time we can easily fall under its power.

Where does the Klipa get its strength and power without lights?

Answer: From us, because our egoism works for the Sitra Achra. And only if we go against it do we gradually weaken it.

To do this, we need to unite in a ten, accept the desires of the ten as higher than our own, and so continue to advance.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/30/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Concerning the Staff and the Serpent”

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Question: The twelfth commandment is to bring the first fruit of the tree (Baal Hasulam, Introduction of the Book of Zohar, “The Commandments of the Torah”, paragraph 245).

What does this mean in spirituality?

Answer: From everything that you have in the vegetative and animate world, from everything that is born and comes to you as suitable for consumption, you must separate a tenth and not use it. In this way you confirm the governance of the Creator in all nature.

Question: What is the difference between the eleventh and twelfth commandments? One says that one should separate the tithe of the fruits of the ground, and the other says that one should separate the tithe of the first fruits of the tree.

Answer: The only difference is in the technique, how and when it is done. But in principle, the essence is the same, separating the part that you cannot correct.
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From KabTV’s “Introduction of The Book of Zohar” 12/10/23

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