A question I received: How do I check whether I did really ascend on the spiritual ladder and am not deceiving myself to please my egoism?

My Answer: From the World of Infinity to our world and back up to the World of Infinity, there leads a ladder of spiritual steps that differ in the thickness or coarseness of desire (will to receive) and its screen which transforms it to bestowing. All differences are only in the screens.

As I am ascending the steps, the measure of my bestowal increases to equivalence with the one existing on the next higher level, yet my character, the original attributes, remains the same. Therefore, each of us ascending the same step bestows in a different way, in one’s personal style.

In our world, which in reference to the spiritual world appears as only one step, there are 7 billion people, all of whom are different. Similarly, at any one of the 125 steps of the spiritual worlds, there are 7 billion, and all of them are different, but they exist in one common form. In the spiritual world all exist for the sake of bestowal; but each step differs in the type of bestowal.

It seems to us that the only difference is in the quantity: greater or lesser bestowal. However, the 125 steps do not differ in the quantity of bestowal, but rather each of them is an absolutely different relationship with the Creator, another type of connection. This is why they are separated from each other.

From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/25/10, “Preface to the Sulam Commentary”

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The only freedom of choice we have lies in our desire for spirituality or more precisely the point in the heart, which we can raise above all the other desires. As soon as I raise the point in the heart above the whole heart (egoistic desires) and aim myself directly toward the Creator (become “Isra-El”), my heart immediately begins to turn, swell, and increase in size. I experience this as feeling a descent, whereby spirituality ceases to be important for me and nothing shines; there is only darkness.

This indicates that the point in the heart is already, again, situated below the desires of the heart and that egoism has risen above it. Again, I begin to work in order to escape these desires and to elevate the spiritual point above them. However, as soon as I do this, once more my heart receives an additional heaviness. In this manner their mutual importance flips around.

From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/10/10, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

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Question: Can Kabbalah combat epidemics, such as Swine Flu?

My Answer: Yes, just like everything else.

Question: How do we measure one’s adequate standard of living? Is it by the level of one’s corrected egoism? What is the condition of existing below the standard of living and at it?

My Answer: It will be determined as you advance toward the “human” level of existence. This level itself will define what you need or don’t need. The same will happen with every person.

Question: You said Kabbalah has no meditation. But I read that one of the most important Kabbalists, Rav Abraham Abulafia (sec XIII), brought a meditation method that had been used for generations. What’s your opinion about this?

My Answer: Contrary to what is ascribed to him, Abulafia wasn’t a founder of meditation. He was a very realistic Kabbalist. Inability to understand his writings, as those of other Kabbalists, creates such an impression for laymen.

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The World Zohar Convention marks the beginning of a new phase. The convention has transformed us significantly. We also feel how the world is changing in the light of the latest events. Its problems will only intensify.

We have to reach the ultimate goal. Imagine that humanity is a runner who is beaten along his way and these blows give him strength to continue to the finish line. He must run and reach the goal. The time is set for him; he has no choice but to come to the finish line. He can only choose to run with the desire for the goal or to wait for the blows and run trying to escape them.

There is also the third path. By uniting we can trigger the force within us which will make it easy to rise to the goal. It will take us on its wings like an eagle takes its nestlings, and it will lift us up.

However, we cannot abandon the world and rise on the wings of the eagle, Bina, by ourselves. We have to stay connected with the entire world. We will ascend only if we think of all people and give ourselves to them. This seems to be a contradiction. Yet the world is standing on the brink of an abyss, and we have to help it rise on the eagle’s wings.
[14077]
Post Zohar Convention Lesson 5/11/10

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A Question I Received: Could you describe your first spiritual experience, the first encounter with the Upper Light? What is this feeling like?

My Answer: The first spiritual experience is common for all because in general, people go through the same states. When a person first encounters the Light, he or she feels that the whole world is filled with love, like one warm force without any limitations. It is a warm and kind sensation, and the whole world is perceived that way. A person sees the usual world around him, yet feels that the air has become thicker, warmer, and gentler. There is a sensation of being treated softly and gently.

Such is the first spiritual sensation that comes to a person. As a rule, one forgets about it. Regardless, it occurs in order to give a person some proof and support, to build new vessels of perception (Kelim) within the person, making advancement possible.

After this first spiritual experience, which is given to a person from Above, one must exert great effort in order to achieve the same sensation independently. Later, sensations that are a billion times stronger follow. However, one will already dominate over them, understand them, and work with these sensations.

All of these impressions, starting with the very first one, are felt by a person within the developing point in the heart. It is inside the spiritual vessel of perception (Kli) rather than within the bounds of physiological or psychological phenomena.

From the 8th lesson at the World Zohar Convention 5/9/10

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What is the difference between the World of Infinity and our world? In the World of Infinity everything exists inside one closed space, where we are all together, everything is shared, everything belongs to all and to every person, and there is no difference between myself and others, or between what belongs to me and to others. Everything exists without any boundaries.

In our world everything is the opposite. Everything is absolutely divided and a person is always guarding his boundaries whether he wants to or not. He has to break down these boundaries in order to come close to another person even slightly. Then he once again closes himself off inside as if nature is pulling him back. And then he once again wants to come closer to others and after that he escapes inside himself again.

Therefore, as long as we don’t attain Infinity, there is a very important principle for our spiritual work. It is the same principle that guides the functioning of an oscillatory circuit which consists of a condenser and an induction spring connected into an electrical chain.

If we supply energy to the circuit it first passes through the condenser, then through the spring, and then it again enters the condenser, and then once again the spring. That is how it oscillates between them.

This principle operates elsewhere as well besides electrical chains because whatever takes place in one of nature’s mechanisms also works in all of nature and all of its parts. However, it takes place in different forms depending on the type of system it is (whether physical, biological, or social, meaning a person’s relationship with society).

Therefore, my relationship with the group must be built on the same principle: When I feel inspiration and the importance of the goal, I have to pass them on to the group; and when I feel empty, I receive inspiration from the group which I contributed to it before. It becomes multiplied by the might of the group. That is how we take turns working within a closed chain.

From the 9th lesson of the World Zohar Convention 5/9/10

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A question I received: After all is said and done, what is the secret of attaining the goal? There has to be one, since only a small percentage of people who come to the science of Kabbalah are able to attain it.

My Answer: I will let you in on a secret: If a person does not leave the path, then no matter what happens to him along the way, he attains the goal. There is no other formula for success.

A person goes through very difficult states. Sometimes he looks back and can’t even believe all of the things that happened to him. However, no matter what takes place at every moment, he must only see one goal before him, and that is the key to success. Besides this, nothing else is important.

Therefore, I could wish a person just one thing: Stubbornness in attaining the goal! Nothing else will help, neither a special mind or refined sensitivity, nor hard efforts, knowledge or even friends who are beside you. You just have to grip the goal with your teeth like a bulldog and don’t let go of it no matter what happens.

Post Zohar Convention Lesson 5/11/10 

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A question I received: Do we have to know what our personal function is in the general system in order to perform it correctly?

My Answer: You don’t recognize your function yet, but you will get to know it in the course of time. As you advance and act with a greater awareness, together with the others, your connection with them, your function, and the way the whole system influences you will become clearer for you.

You will reveal a lucid, multilayered world. Besides what you already discern in it, you’ll disclose its depth; you will distinguish active forces and learn how to trigger them. The air will suddenly become “compressed” as if filled with multiple forces, but you will know how to operate them.

You will be like a little child who discovers a new world filled with many interesting things: He can open, close, and manipulate them, and he sees they are all interconnected. Slowly, he gets a better grasp of this world. At the time of his birth, the child is not aware of anything around him, nor can he see or hear. After a while he starts to hear, see, and taste. The same happens to us in the spiritual world.

What you do at this time is called a “miraculous force” (Segula). You activate the system without knowing how you do it. Similarly, an infant screams and has no clue about his surroundings. But his scream concerns his mother and prompts her to take care of him.

Similarly, our desire, just like an infant’s scream, can affect the Upper Mother (Ima Ilaa), Bina (it is also called Ima – mother) and then she will take care of us. We don’t have to know anything else, similar to when we were little and didn’t know what exactly we are supposed to demand. We didn’t explain to our mother which bottle she had to get out of the refrigerator and to which temperature it had to be heated. We simply screamed! The same happens in spirituality.

Later on our screams become more mindful and we start demanding and striving at something more concrete. We build relations with the Upper One and gradually develop them further and further.

Lecture on Lag BaOmer 5/1/2010

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If I don’t reveal a new “letter,” “word,” “sentence,” or “page” in my “Book of Life” at every given moment, I should be worried: Why don’t I have any sense of renewal, and why did I descend to an animal existence? Humanity is constantly looking for new fulfillment (by developing science, technology, and different kinds of entertainment) just to feel as though life goes on and everything changes. However, when a person receives something new, he sees that it fails to fulfill him. This is because nature pushes us to develop new Reshimot as we approach a new world.

Our story will be renewed and will move ahead. There will be new skies, which also means a new earth, or a new desire. The skies mean Bina, and if this force that comes from the skies (the force of Bina) rouses the Light in us, within Malchut, this will bring us the sense of renewal in life.

Everything advances only due to the Light that comes and reveals new desires, Reshimot, in us. We need to make sure that the environment and the books constantly rouse new desires in us, and that new times come to us. This should become a normal routine for us: Something new should be revealed all the time.

We cannot allow ourselves to simply drift with the flow of life; we need to constantly rouse it ourselves. Don’t wait for changes from Above. Every change should occur from a person’s demand; this is the only way for one to open the Book from the start. “Not the dawn awakes me, but rather I wake the dawn!” All the Light needs to come due to my request. Otherwise, darkness will force me to act, rather than Light….

From the preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/28/10, Shamati

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The Creator created us with the desire to receive pleasure. The fulfillment that we feel in it (either within it – egoistic fulfillment, or in others – for the sake of bestowal) is in fact, called our life or to be more precise, “our book of life” since it constantly needs to be renewed.

This “book” is renewed according to the data (Reshimot) that are instilled in us. If they are revealed on their own through natural means this is called that we are advancing through life “in due time” (Beito). However, if we ourselves rouse the force that hastens the revelation of new occurrences (Reshimot), this means that we are advancing through life by “hastening time” (Achishena).

Whether we wish to be successful in this world or in spiritual development, we need to hasten the revelation of the corresponding events (Reshimot). Spiritual development starts when a “point in the heart,” a spiritual Reshimo, awakens within us. Then gradually a person switches from natural development of this Reshimo due to help from Above to beginning to hasten the development of this Reshimo on his own with the help of an external force, the influence of the environment. In this manner, one switches to the path of “Achishena,” the path of Light.

We do not reveal a “new book.” The whole book already exists and it includes the whole World of Infinity, a desire that is infinitely filled with the Light. Yet everything depends on how quickly we “read” it, meaning to what extent we reveal the Reshimot of this infinite reality, which is called a “book.” And I become its “author,” since in order to open it I need to “write” this “story of “life” in my heart, meaning on my desires.

The “story” means revelation. I demand the Surrounding Light which rouses the next Reshimo in me, and I advance myself to the goal on my own. Therefore, I see everything in the Light of development, rather than as forced steps due to lack of choice, through darkness.

From the preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/28/10, Shamati

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