Entries in the 'Spiritual Work' Category

What A Virus Looks Like Under A Microscope

592.01The Creator hardens Pharaoh’s heart more and more, increases our egoism, but we are not obliged to fall to the very bottom in order to force the upper force to open up.

We do not have to fall if we attract the forces of nature right now in order to use the desire to enjoy together with the sparks of bestowal and try to walk in the middle line. Then we will see our illness and, right now, we will begin to treat ourselves correctly, without bringing us to death.

Any disclosure is possible only inside of some kind of flaw, but for this it is not necessary to reach real problems because our soul is already broken. Therefore, if we try to unite, then we discover this splitting even before it manifests itself in a material form. We identify this problem in the connection between us and find a solution.

Since we are broken, we can attract the light that returns to the source and solve all our problems. If I can feel the slightest bit of splitting, that is enough to start the fix and complete it. I do not need to get hit all the time, because when I reveal the smallest split, I can already perceive it as a big problem and raise myself up. It all depends only on my attitude.

Therefore, it is not necessary at all to fall to the full depth of the abyss that separates us, but it is enough to make out at least a small crack and begin to rise until the end of the correction. It all depends on the awareness of evil.

This is what all our work is about. Otherwise, we will have progressed only on account of the whip, like animals receive a blow and start running. But this is not the job of a person, because a person must know how to prevent a blow with a medicine.

Here it all depends on what magnifying glass I look through at the small virus in order to see a terrible monster in it that can eat me. It is very tiny, but I examine it through a microscope and therefore I see that it can cause me great harm.

A person can react to the weakest blow if he is attracted to goodness, unification. Indeed, discovering even the smallest disconnection, he perceives it as a huge problem and can avoid it by striving for good.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/25/20, Writings of Baal HaSulam, “The Arvut (Mutual Guarantee)”

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Should I Nurture My Ego?

232.05Question: If I have a small ego, should I study the wisdom of Kabbalah or should I first focus on nurturing my ego?

Answer: Don’t worry about your ego, but just think about how to rise above it. The moment you begin to rise above it, it will begin to expand inside you, and on it, like on a hot air balloon, you will rise higher and higher. Indeed, in order to advance, you must have a large, growing egoism.

You will not lose anything corporeal. On the contrary, you will become a more avid egoist. And this is good because you cannot ascend to the upper world without a big ego. You need both: the left line and the right line.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 11/11/18

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The Holiday Of Sukkot: Aaron

177.13The Torah does not really distinguish Aaron. He accompanies Moses all the time as if hiding in his shadow. Moses acts as a connector between the Creator and the people, and Aaron stands beside him as his assistant and brother.

The role of Aaron is not very clear from the story. But exactly because it is not understood, it is apparently more hidden. It means it is closer to a person, to you and me in relation to our work.

Aaron prepares the vessels, the connection of people with the Creator. Moses comes from above, and Aaron comes from below, from the people, from all the properties of a person, the entire group, the ten in relation to the Creator. And therefore, the role of Aaron does not stand out so much because one must add his work to it. Moses acts as the representative of the Creator before the people, and Aaron is the representative of the people before the Creator.

If I am under the rule of the Creator and there is none else besides Him, then I must always be content in any state. And if I am dissatisfied with something, then it means that I am separated from the Creator. Therefore, I need to return to the connection with Him, and a sign that I have this connection will be my joy in any state, whatever it is.

The quality of Aaron is the most important quality in a person. The qualities of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses are just preparation from above. And the quality of Aaron is our work from below, which we realize when we achieve faith above reason, that is, mercy (Hesed), which is above all, bestowal, which is above any desire to receive pleasure.

To study the qualities of Aaron means to accept him as a guest in our Sukkah. We want his property to build our soul, the right connection between us. To clothe the Hesed property on all of your inner properties called “the people of Israel” means to do the work of Aaron—to take over his property on yourself, on all your desires to receive pleasure.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/7/20, “Sukkot“

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Success = Work + Prayer

236.01We must try to build as many correct relationships, correct qualities, Hassadim, between us in the group as possible and not wait. Usually the inner Klipa persuades a person: “Wait and you will receive everything. The Creator will take pity on you and help you.”

But without our request, without awakening from below, that is, without beginning to work, we will not get help from above. You must know this.

People have been standing on one spot for years waiting for the Creator to give them spirituality. But you have not started working! You must start, and when you are pleading that everything is about to collapse and an unbearable burden is about to fall upon your back, then the Creator will help you. This moment needs to be held and realized. This is the secret of the spiritual work: we start, and the Creator finishes; this is so in every action.

I must act as if everything depends on me. And if in the middle of the way I suddenly find that I can not cope on my own, then I will add a prayer to the actions. Thus, my work and prayer together create the conditions for this to be realized. Remember this, start implementing it, and you will see how it opens the path for you. Step by step, you will certainly move forward.

A person waits for many years and does not want to start the work himself, waiting for a miracle from above. Our egoism convinces us: “Wait, the Creator will take pity on you, He will come, do everything, and reveal Himself to you.” But it will not happen! Until we start working and see that we are not able to cope and then ask for help, the Creator will not come and do it.

It is said: “The Lord will finish for me.” But it is precisely: “He will finish.” It is my responsibility to start it. Therefore, anyone who complains that he has been studying for many years and has not seen success, he simply did not work correctly. He had to start the work, find out that nothing comes out of it, raise a prayer, and demand that the Creator take part in it. Then you will see that He will help.

The Creator wants to participate in your work but only together with you in the same way as we do with children. If a child starts something himself and then an adult helps him, then the child understands how it needs to be done and learns. This work is called the work of the Creator, not of a man. After all, the Creator does it! But only when the person really needs help.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/7/20, “Sukkot“

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The Holiday Of Sukkot: Moses

276.02The days of Sukkot represent the building of our soul one Sefira after another. The first three days are devoted to the first three qualities: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob—Hesed, Gevura, Tiferet (HGT). These are the first stages of the Creator’s work within the creation, and therefore they are called the forefathers.

And then we move on to the sons Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David and complete the entire structure. Therefore, the Sukkah that is built is called the Sukkah of David.

Moses is the main character of the Torah, the main quality. It is he who receives the Torah and passes it on to the people of Israel and the forefathers are the upper system. This is why it is so important to understand the work of Moses within our soul and within the Kabbalistic group.

The main thing is to allow the upper force that has already built the first three qualities, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to descend from HGT into our desire to enjoy NHY (Netzach, Hod, Yesod). And here all the work proceeds by faith above reason when I annul myself and wish for the Creator to control me and fill me, giving me everything that He has in the qualities of HGT—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, meaning to bring it into my ten.

Therefore, Moses’s work consists of total annulment before the first three qualities of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob so then the qualities of HGT can be clothed into NHY. Moses is called a “faithful shepherd” because it is important for him to completely annul himself to what the Creator wants to realize through him, that is, with his help, with all the desire to enjoy, with all the people.

The Creator addresses the people through the qualities of Israel that are able to unite and strive for the Creator for the sake of bestowal and acquire His qualities, His form. And then these qualities become imprinted on all of humanity, on all of reality.

Moses’s work is in faith above reason because he is in the middle between the power of faith, the upper force of bestowal, and the lower force of reception. He is the very first of the Sefirot NHY where the upper force is clothed in the desire to enjoy, and therefore he stands in the middle between the Creator and the creation and plays such an important role in the Torah.

The entire Torah tells of the steps of Moses’s ascent. This is the most important practical action because it guides us through all the states and organizes the creations so we can acquire the form of the Creator. Moses’s task is to establish the correct connection between the Creator and the creation, and therefore the Torah is called by his name: The Torah Of Moses.

After all, the Torah is given for this purpose, so that we can gain faith above reason. The quality of Moses, faith, must always be above the desire to enjoy for us so that this desire takes on the form of Moses and begins to work in bestowal.

To imprint the qualities of the HGT within the Sefirot of NHY means to establish the power of the Creator within the creation. Let us do this in one desire and one heart, in a common connection. It is more important here than ever. This is already practical work in connection between us.

Moses was the greatest of all the prophets. A prophet is not a person but a special quality. A desire that is completely devoted to the Creator and takes on His form is called a prophet, i.e., it is the dressing of the Sefirot HGT in NHY.

This is why Moses is called a “faithful shepherd” because he shows us an example, takes care of us, and brings the quality of bestowal to us from above so that by revealing this quality inside us we could gradually build the form of the Creator within ourselves. The quality of Moses brings us to similarity with the Creator, to adhesion with Him.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/6/20, “Sukkot“

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Guest Of Honor — Abraham

530The spiritual Partzuf begins to build from Keter. Keter, Hochma, Bina—these are properties that come to us from above. And we need to reproduce them within us, in the connection between us, that is, not inside each, but in ten.

Therefore, the construction of the Partzuf begins with Sefira Hesed, the quality of Abraham. This means that all ten are working on the quality of Abraham in order to connect with each other through this quality.

It must reign in us and begin to rule us so that we understand and feel that the power of Abraham, Hesed (mercy), clothes in us. Abraham, which the Torah talks about, is a force of nature.

This is where the spiritual Partzuf begins, that is, the sensation of our soul. During the week of the holiday of Sukkot, we will try to realize within ourselves the properties of all the Sefirot: Hesed, Gevura, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malchut. Then they will manifest in us and begin to live. That is, we will feel this spiritual structure, a special atmosphere that connects us, and from it we will reveal all the new elements and forces of the spiritual world.

Ushpizin is an invitation of a guest, a new force to the group. It is when we make efforts to unite and want this force to be revealed between us as the beginning of our soul. It is known that such a force, the light of Hochma, cannot shine in us constantly, but oozes drop by drop intermittently, drip-drip, drip-drip. When we receive such drops of light, it means that good luck has come to us.

And in order to receive this light, we need to prepare a wide space between us, that is, a connection in the light of Hassadim where everyone is ready to open up to meet the other. The light of Hochma can shine only in the garment of the light of Hassadim. And the light of Hassadim (mercy) is called “wide,” as it is said, “wide heart” and “broad hand.”

The light of Hochma is called Ushpizin, a guest who comes and dresses in the light of Hassadim. And if there is no light of Hassadim, then the light of Hochma cannot come and clothe in us.

We are talking about ten friends who want to experience the spiritual. Therefore, they must unite with each other in mutual bestowal in order to relate to each other “with a wide heart and a broad hand,” which is called the quality of Abraham. If they organize such a connection with each other, then the force of Abraham is clothed in it, the first sensation of the disclosure of an upper force, a higher world, the Creator.

We do not allow any criticism of our friends, no verification, and thus we build the basis of the Kli called Abraham, Hesed, within which we feel the first spiritual revelation. The light of Hochma begins to unfold within the light of Hassadim that we have created.

The main thing is not to make any calculations except for our good association and trying from the bottom of our hearts to treat comrades as equals and to think only about how to give back to them. This means that I try to prepare a place for them for the disclosure of the Creator so that He opens up in each of them. This will mean that I am doing a merciful deed for them.

There can be nothing negative in the property of Hesed (mercy). It is above any clarifications and criticism as simple love for one’s neighbor, only a kind attitude.

We must constantly make efforts to maintain such an attitude, Hesed, because this is the basis of the spiritual Kli, the condition for being in the spiritual space. Therefore, Abraham is called the father of the people. All the spiritual people, that is, everyone who wants to come closer to the Creator, must acquire this property.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/3/20, “Sukkot”

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Man’s Relationship With Nature And Himself

720Question: In classifying interpersonal relationships, the main thing is considered to be the contact between man and nature. What is the basic principle of the connection between man and the upper nature?

Answer: The principle is very simple: a person must bring himself to convergence with the upper nature. The upper or inner nature is based on the quality of bestowal, love, and mutual assistance. In this, it is the opposite of a person who is in egoistic love for himself. If we attune ourselves properly to feeling nature, then we will discover it.

Question: How should a person relate to himself, to his “I”?

Answer: As to a certain detector, a receptive device, that is located in certain conditions and must use itself and these conditions to reveal the essence of everything that is happening, the real nature of our world.

Question: Most of the time a person talks to himself, conducts an internal dialogue. Although this happens unconsciously, is there any way to control what this dialogue should be about?

Answer: In Kabbalah, there is a whole technique about the inner dialogue of a person with himself, with friends, with a group, with the world, and with the Creator. In this regard, we must always be in the continuous flow of information.
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From KabTV’s “Communication Skills” 7/30/20

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Sukkot — The Start Of Building The Soul

285.02The Sukkot holiday symbolizes the beginning of building the soul. The soul begins from the quality of the Creator, the quality of Abraham, which is called Hesed, bestowal, an open heart, everything that is aimed at loving the created beings for their benefit.

Obviously, it is impossible to reach the purpose of creation in this form because the quality of Abraham does not yet have the quality of creation, the will to receive, which must be present in all this process. After all, that is what it was devised for.

We need to correct ourselves because the purpose of creation is to bring a person to the degree of the Creator, to adhesion and equivalence with Him. The quality of Abraham is not enough for this; we need to add to it the matter of creation, the will to receive.

The quality of Abraham, Hesed, fills the entire space created by the Creator. The Creator wants to see all the created beings there, connected with each other in love and unity together with Him. However, there is no creation there yet. Creation appears only after the birth of Isaac, the will to receive that joins the quality of bestowal of Abraham.

Abraham and Isaac are opposite to each other. The result of their combination is also not enough to reach the goal of creation and complete adhesion with the Creator, but it is still a great step that gets closer to this. This is mainly due to the sacrifice of Isaac, the main action performed on this quality, on the will to receive, to which the second day of Sukkot is dedicated.

The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David, are not people, but are the main spiritual qualities that exist in the system created by the Creator through which we can correct our souls.

However, every person also has to go through all these changes within themselves: first to completely annul themselves before the quality of Hesed, then to awaken a critical attitude a little and allow the will to receive to reveal itself. Then one begins to combine the quality of Abraham, Hesed, with the quality of Isaac, Gevura, by faith above reason.

This means that we use our will to receive only in order to establish over it the control of the desire to bestow. Only in this form do we allow ourselves to work with our egoism. When we correct it in this way, the middle line, Jacob, will come out of it.

How do we ensure that the left line in the ten obeys the right one? Everyone bows their head and lets the others be higher. We are competing by who nullifies themselves the most. The one who will be the lowest will gain the most and rise the highest. This is a competition in who uses more their will to receive in order to bestow.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/4/20, “Sukkot”

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The Holiday Of Sukkot: Abraham, Isaac, And Jacob

200.01Jacob is the most important spiritual attribute, and therefore, he is called our forefather. Abraham symbolizes bestowal from the Creator and Isaac is the revelation of the desire to enjoy in the creation.

Jacob is a combination of two qualities, giving and receiving, the right and the left line, due to the inner work of a person. Man connects these two lines that come from above in order to achieve similarity with the Creator.

Man, Adam, means similar (Domeh) to the Creator. Therefore, Jacob is the most important of the three because these are the qualities revealed within a person to the extent of his similarity to the Creator. This is why the property of Jacob is called Tifferet—splendor, beauty, honor—the properties of the Creator revealed within the creation.

It is through this work that man reaches spirituality. We are granted these two qualities from above, the good and the evil inclinations. The good inclination comes from the Creator through Abraham. The evil inclination revealed in creation also comes from the Creator who created it. But the right combination of these two forces is achieved through man’s work, and we must execute it.

The left and the right lines do not cancel each other, but rather emphasize each other. If there is the right line, bestowal, then it is permitted to awaken the left line, reception. And it is precisely because the left line is opposite to the right that it increases and highlights it.

This is why Jacob includes both lines and intensifies them. The miracle of correct spiritual work is that opposite qualities are emphasized and increased even more, each one emphasizing the other.

Precisely because of the fact that there is the force of bestowal against the force of reception and the force of reception against the force of bestowal, each becomes more intense, more significant. This is why the quality of Jacob is called Tifferet (splendor) because it combines two opposites in one.

When they are correctly combined and enhance each other in the middle line, they are manifested in man not as a simple sum of the right and left lines, but as an illustration of their opposites and glory.

In our world, there is plain darkness and plain light. But if we mix darkness with light, we get a lot of different shades that can be distinguished neither in the bright light nor in the dark.

Our whole life is based on combining the left and right lines. If we want to reveal the Creator, we need the two forces bestowal and reception. By creating all possible combinations of one with the other in all forms, we will reveal the quality of the Creator relative to the quality of creation.

Abraham is the desire to bestow, Isaac is the desire to receive, and Jacob is the combination of desires to receive and to bestow. In combination, these two qualities begin to enhance and emphasize each other. As a result, the right and left lines are revealed in Jacob 620 times stronger than they were before they combined in him.

It turns out that correctly combining the force of reception with the force of bestowal allows us to experience the force of bestowal in contrast to reception 620 times greater. It is through the middle line that we increase the creation made by the Creator from a tiny Kli, a single black dot, in infinite white light to the scale of the entire light of infinity. As it is said “The darkness will shine as light.”

Thus, we reveal the Creator inside our Kli and attain the entire light of Infinity in it. But this Kli begins as a black dot with a very small change in the light.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/5/20, “Sukkot“

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What Is Needed For Our Spiritual Development?

630.2Question: What is needed for our spiritual development?

Answer: The basic condition for our spiritual development is the desire to develop and understand who am I, what am I living for, how everything revolves around me, and how I can participate in it, how I should attain something eternal, whole, and real in my life, and how do I reveal the network of forces that impact the world and the secrets of the world?

If a person lives up to all this, if he has the desire to attain nature, the Creator, he will later determine the whole way of his development.

It depends on how much a person thinks about the meaning of life even from his childhood, about why we exist and about why other people do not think about that. He looks around and does not understand why people are so caught up, so engaged in the global commotion, and what use they find in it. How can a person not engage in something so shallow and corporeal but instead hold on to something whole and eternal?

If a person has such a desire, he yearns for spirituality.

Question: How are questions about the meaning of life related to the network of spiritual forces? After all, it is a different dimension.

Answer: They are directly related as the network of forces is built on bestowal, on mutual participation, on love, on exiting yourself, but it operates on the basis of these questions.

This means that the questions remain the same and you can find the solution to these questions only if you develop the attribute of bestowal in you. Then you will not engage in swallowing everything there is, but instead, you exit yourself, outside your egoistic self, where everyone else is. This is actually how you should act.
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From KabTV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah” 11/25/18

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